Denver will become the second team in NFL history to open its season in four consecutive Monday night games.

        The Broncos' opponent, the New York Giants, opened on four Monday nights (1986-89), but Dallas holds the record for five Monday in a row to start a season (1982-86).

        The Monday night game will be the first in the Broncos' new home, Invesco Field at Mile High.

        The other new stadium opening this season is Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, which will open next Sunday night when the Cleveland Browns visit.

        But first this week's games:

        FALCONS (0-0) at 49ERS (0-0) SF is favored by 3 1/2, but it won't be that close. QB Jeff Garcia threw for almost 4,300 yards last year and will get off to a good start against Atlanta. 49ERS 31-17.

        PANTHERS (0-0) at VIKINGS (0-0) Minnesota will win this one for their late teammate Korey Stringer. Everybody knows about Daunte Culpepper to Randy Moss and Cris Carter, but watch out for rookie running back Michael Bennett. Carolina QB Chris Weinke is 29, but he's still a rookie. He's first fourth-rounder to start first game since Colts' Mike Pagel in 1982. VIKINGS 28-10.

        BEARS (0-0) at RAVENS (0-0) Bears quarterback Shane Matthews could have the worst day of his career against a defense that gave a lot of QBs headaches last season. Super Bowl champs will go to the air early and often without RB Jamal Lewis. Newcomer Elvis Grbac should be able to pad his stats. RAVENS 24-0.

        LIONS (0-0) at PACKERS (0-0) Detroit has never beaten Brett Favre in Wisconsin and won't end that streak today. Favre has 97.6 passer rating against Lions at home. Favre and Antonio Freeman have connected on 51 TDs, tied for ninth all-time with Bengals' Ken Anderson and Isaac Curtis. PACKERS 21-13.

        COLTS (0-0) at JETS (0-0) The Colts are the emerging power in the AFC East. Marvin Harrison's 217 receptions in past three seasons are a league high. This rivalry is always close; 10 of past 13 meetings have been decided by eight points or less. COLTS 24-17.

        SAINTS (0-0) at BILLS (0-0) Buffalo's defense will keep them in a lot of games, but New Orleans was NFL best 7-1 on road last year. Saints should pick up where they left off with league-high 66 sacks last year. SAINTS 17-9.

        RAIDERS (0-0) at CHIEFS (0-0) Oakland is a three-point road favorite, and QB Rich Gannon should get his 21st victory in 33 games as the Raiders' starter. The start will be only the 20th of Trent Green's career. Raiders' ground game (No. 1 in 2000; Bengals No. 2) should wear down KC in Dick Vermeil's debut. RAIDERS 21-20.

        STEELERS (0-0) at JAGUARS (0-0) This will be another one of those AFC Central ground wars, matching Jerome Bettis against Jacksonville's Fred Taylor. Pittsburgh is a three-point underdog but won in Jacksonville last season. The Steelers will do it again with Bettis going over 100 yards (Steelers are 27-8 when that happens). STEELERS 16-13.

        RAMS (0-0) at EAGLES (0-0) St. Louis, minus-10 in turnovers last season, will give the Eagles an easy score in Philadelphia. Defensive linemen Hugh Douglas and Corey Simon had 24 1/2 sacks for the Eagles last season. EAGLES 23-21.

        SEAHAWKS (0-0) at BROWNS (0-0) Seattle added four veteran starters on defense: defensive tackles John Randle (Vikings) and Chad Eaton (Patriots), linebacker Levon Kirkland (Steelers) and safety Marcus Robertson (Titans). QB Matt Hassalback (former Packers) had the league's second best passer rating at 116 in the preseason. SEAHAWKS 24-13.

        BUCCANEERS (0-0) at COWBOYS (0-0) Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson will have a productive debut against Dallas, a team he has torched in three regular-season games for five touchdowns and 841 yards passing. Dallas is the worst team in the league. BUCCANEERS 28-3.

        REDSKINS (0-0) at CHARGERS (0-0) Former Redskins coach Norv Turner also debuts as San Diego's offensive coordinator and will give his old team fits. Chargers QB Doug Flutie is 18-3 all-time in home NFL starts. The Redskins will pull the upset for new coach Marty Schottenheimer, who ranks second among active coaches with 145 victories (Dan Reeves, Atlanta, 171). REDSKINS 14-10.

        DOLPHINS (0-0) at TITANS (0-0) Miami's opening-day winning streak of nine games will end tonight. Tennessee, which has Eddie George running the ball, unveils its sack pack of ends Kevin Carter (trade from Rams) and Jevon Kearse who are Nos. 1 and 2 in the NFL in sacks the past two years, 27 1/2 and 26. TITANS 13-10.

        GIANTS (0-0) at BRONCOS (0-0) Denver had the AFC's best offensive at 410 yards a game. Broncos were plus-19 in takeaways. New York was plus-7, and was 11-0 last year when it won turnover battle. But QB Brian Griese doesn't throw the ball away and has a 1.2 percent interception ratio. Mike Anderson of the Broncos tied former Bengals back Icky Woods (1988) with 15 rookie rushing touchdowns. Eric Dickerson (Rams, 18, 1983) has the mark. BRONCOS 20-7.

Bengals finally sign No. 1 pick Kitna era begins, by God Bengals need to keep pressure on Bledsoe Key matchup: Dillon vs. Malloy Who's got the edge? By the numbers NFL power ratings Sizing up this week's NFL games

Pirates 5, Reds 2
Hamilton likely to join rotation
Boone back in full swing
Fans-eye view of the Reds
Pirates starter ends 7-game slide
Reds box, runs
UC 24, Army 21
Tressel's in harmony with OSU
Ohio St. 28, Akron 14
Iowa 44, Miami 19
Kentucky 28, Ball St. 20
Otterbein 56, Mount St. Joseph 14
Baseball Insider
Best and worst of week in sports
Boomer ready for some fun on FSN
PREP FOOTBALL COVERAGE
High School Insider
High school highlights
Cincinnati high school results
N.Ky. high school results

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