Sunday, September 15, 2002
Mark's Curnutte's NFL picks
Offense was the rule for Week 1 of the NFL season. An average of 49.3 points a game were scored, most for the first round of games.
The Bengals' six points make them the league's lowest-scoring team, followed in futility by the Ravens' seven points.
The league also set a Kickoff Weekend record with 89 touchdowns. The Bengals were the only team not to score a touchdown.
This week's games:
BENGALS (0-1) at BROWNS (0-1): Browns 24, Bengals 19.
BEARS (1-0) at FALCONS (0-1): Chicago scouts watched Michael Vick against the Packers and weren't sure what they saw - he was that good. The Bears have too much talent on both sides of the ball. BEARS 24-21.
BUCS (0-1) at RAVENS (0-1): Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden will get revenge on Brian Billick for the 2000 AFC title game spanking of the Raiders. Baltimore is bad. BUCS 23-7.
LIONS (0-1) at PANTHERS (1-0): Carolina has a chance to double its 2001 victory total. Detroit could find itself in the driver's seat for the first overall pick of the 2003 draft. PANTHERS 17-13.
TITANS (1-0) at COWBOYS (0-1): The Tennessee franchise is riding high after rallying to beat Philly. The Titans defense, which sacked Donovan McNabb six times, will give coordinator Bruce Coslet's offense fits. TITANS 24-13.
DOLPHINS (1-0) at COLTS (1-0): Miami running back Ricky Williams should have the advantage in his personal match with Edgerrin James, thanks to an offensive line that should shred Indy's front seven. DOLPHINS 27-21.
JAGUARS (0-1) at CHIEFS (1-0): As he did in St. Louis with Marshall Faulk, KC coach Dick Vermeil is building another offense around a running back who can run and catch in Priest Holmes. CHIEFS 23-16.
PACKERS (1-0) at SAINTS (1-0): It has been almost seven years since these two teams played, and Brett Favre's last trip to New Orleans ended with the Super Bowl XXXI title over New England after the '96 season. PACKERS 27-24.
PATRIOTS (1-0) at JETS (1-0): Tom Brady's magic emerged in full bloom last time New England was in New Jersey to play New York. The Pats came out in the no-huddle to erase a halftime deficit. PATRIOTS 27-20.
GIANTS (0-1) at RAMS (0-1): St.Louis has lost two in a row (counting the Super Bowl) to teams that talked about how they minimized Rams receivers with physical play. Not today. RAMS 30-17.
CARDINALS (0-1) at SEAHAWKS (0-1): Trent Dilfer, the quarterback who never loses but got away from the Bengals in free agency, is expected to return for Seattle's home opener. SEAHAWKS 21-10.
BILLS (0-1) at VIKINGS (0-1): Minnesota's defense gave up 27 points to a mediocre Chicago offense, and Buffalo QB Drew Bledsoe has a lot of talent around him to exploit it. BILLS 27-24.
TEXANS (1-0) at CHARGERS (1-0): Houston aims to be the first expansion team to start 2-0. Marty Schottenheimer teams are 94-46 at home. CHARGERS 23-12.
BRONCOS (1-0) at 49ERS (1-0): Denver's defense passed its test in the home opener against the Rams but will fail to stop talented San Francisco and QB Jeff Garcia. 49ERS 28-20.
RAIDERS (1-0) at STEELERS (0-1): Pittsburgh is 3-0 against Oakland under coach Bill Cowher and can give him career victory 100. STEELERS 23-17.
EAGLES (0-1) at REDSKINS (1-0): Reality will set in on Washington coach Steve Spurrier, who will face a solid NFL defense for the first time. EAGLES 20-19.
LAST WEEK: 7-8. SEASON: 8-8.
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Boys cross country results
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Field hockey results
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Girls volleyball results
Boys soccer schedule
Girls cross country results
Volleyball schedule
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Mark's Curnutte's NFL picks