FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-REG-1 9/1/98

Debuts…farewells…openings…achievements…anniversaries -- and a revised look on TV -- will highlight the 1998 NFL season that begins on Kickoff ’98 Weekend, September 6-7.

In a season that celebrates perhaps the most pivotal game in NFL history – "The Greatest Game Ever Played" 40 years ago – the NFL in its 79th year will once again present its unique regular season: 16 games per team, each one vitally important.

"You have to look at the whole picture," says Kansas City Chiefs head coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER. "The whole picture is 16 games."

Those 16 games for 30 teams start Sunday with 10 divisional matchups:

Kickoff Weekend concludes with the beginning of a quest. The Denver Broncos, just seven months ago winners of Super Bowl XXXII, begin defense of that crown on Monday night (ABC-TV, 8:20 PM ET) when they host the New England Patriots. It marks the first time in 14 years that an AFC team is defending a Super Bowl title.

"We know it’s tough to stay on top when everyone is going to be gunning for us," says Broncos quarterback JOHN ELWAY, who will start his 16th – and last – NFL season. "But it’s nice to have everybody gunning for you."

It will be the first time Denver kicks off a season on Monday night and the first time since 1981 (San Diego at Cleveland) that two AFC teams begin the season on ABC’s NFL Monday Night Football.

Kickoff ’98 Weekend has many other firsts.

Four new head coaches will debut – CHAN GAILEY (Dallas), JON GRUDEN (Oakland), JIM MORA (Indianapolis) and WADE PHILLIPS (Buffalo). The "rookies" of the group (first NFL head-coaching position) are Gailey, who received his first pro head-coaching experience in the World League (now called the NFL Europe League), and Gruden, at 35 the youngest head coach in the league and the 10th youngest ever appointed (34 years, five months).

"Youth is associated with inexperience and immaturity, and there’s nothing I can do about that," says Gruden. "I consider it a plus."

The plus of youth also will be seen on the field starting on Kickoff Weekend. Sprinkled throughout the NFL will be rookie starters -- some high draft choices, some low. None come higher than two rookie quarterbacks who make their pro debuts this weekend – PEYTON MANNING of the Indianapolis Colts and RYAN LEAF of the San Diego Chargers.

The two were selected first and second overall, respectively, in the 1998 NFL Draft, only the fourth quarterback duo so chosen. With the Colts hosting the Miami Dolphins, Manning, fittingly, faces one of the key graduates of the heralded "Quarterback Class of ’83," the Dolphins’ DAN MARINO. Manning will be only the fifth rookie quarterback to start an opener for the Colts.

Leaf will be the first rookie quarterback in Chargers history to start an opener and goes against a young quarterback starter also new to a team, ROB JOHNSON of the Buffalo Bills.

Several rookies had impressive enough training camps to have earned starting positions on Kickoff Weekend, including cornerback CHARLES WOODSON, Oakland (first round); punt returner R.W. MC QUARTERS, San Francisco (first);

safety ERIC BROWN, Denver (second); safety TONY PARRISH, Chicago (second); center OLIN KREUTZ, Chicago (third); and tackle JASON FABINI of the New York Jets (fourth).

Some familiar names will be back, including all-time sack leader REGGIE WHITE of Green Bay, who like Elway will be playing his final year, and last season’s "milestone maker," BARRY SANDERS of the Detroit Lions. In 1997, Sanders became only the third running back in history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season (2,053). On Kickoff Weekend he can extend ’97 milestones while building new ones. With 100 yards rushing at Green Bay, he would add to his NFL record of 14 consecutive such games, and also extend his league record of 10 100-yard road rushing games. With 222 rushing yards, Sanders can join WALTER PAYTON as the only players in NFL history with 14,000 career rushing yards.

Others who can reach significant career milestones:

• JOHN ELWAY can become the second quarterback (Marino) in NFL history to throw for 50,000 yards (he needs 1,331).

• DAN MARINO can become the first player in NFL history to throw for 400 touchdown passes (he needs 15).

• WARREN MOON can become the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for 50,000 yards (he needs 2,535).

• EMMITT SMITH can become the NFL’s all-time rushing touchdown leader with 12 for 124.

The opening of the season is also highlighted by a grand opening in downtown Baltimore, as the Baltimore Ravens officially christen their new 68,400-purple seat (Ravens colors) stadium when they play the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The opening will be preceded by a "Touchdown Baltimore" celebration from Friday through gameday that includes free concerts by singer ARETHA FRANKLIN and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, a children’s football clinic, and the commissioning of the naval ship USS Raven in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

"The stadium is our new identity," says Ravens wide receiver MICHAEL JACKSON. "If I was a fan, I’d really love it. It’s vivid, really vivid, with the purple seating."

In Week 2, the Tennessee Oilers, now based in their new home city of Nashville, will play their first home game of the season at Vanderbilt Stadium, their venue this year until they move into a new 67,000-seat stadium in 1999. And in Week 3, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers open their new stadium, 65,000-seat Raymond James Stadium.

Fans at home should enjoy the view from their seats this year, too. The NFL will continue to be the only league that televises all of its regular season and postseason games on free, over-the-air television. But with the new eight-year TV agreements with four networks come some new ways to follow America’s favorite sport:

• START TIMES – They have been adjusted to give fans a better opportunity to see all the action. On Sundays, the "late" games of network doubleheaders will now kick off at 4:15 PM ET instead of 4:05 PM, allowing extra time for late-running early games. Prime-time games on Sunday and Monday nights will begin at 8:20 PM ET. On Mondays, the approximately 50 percent of the nation that lives in the Eastern time zone and the combined 80 percent that live in the Eastern and Central zones will be able to see the entire game before it’s time to "turn out the lights."

• PREGAME -- There will be a new 20-minute pregame show, "NFL Blast," previewing ABC’s NFL Monday Night Football, and ESPN’s NFL Countdown will expand to two hours on Sundays prior to the early-game kickoffs.

• IN-GAME – The sponsorship of in-game elements such as lineups, statistics, scores and trivia will be eliminated, resulting in an uncluttered focus on the game.

• DURING THE WEEK -- The NFL and its network partners will present more NFL news and entertainment programming outside of the games.

One element of the television package will be familiar, though -- the return of the first network to televise (in 1962) all NFL games in a season, CBS.

With all the new aspects of the NFL in 1998, certain traditional events will be remembered through a lineup of anniversaries that will be celebrated throughout the year. Perhaps the most notable – because of what it meant to the NFL’s development – is the 40th anniversary on December 28 of "The Greatest Game Ever Played" – the 1958 sudden-death overtime NFL Championship between the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants.

The excitement that all of America saw in pro football on national TV in the first sudden-death NFL title game…the larger-than-life players…the fact that the game was played in New York City, the center of the advertising and marketing community …and the realization by the TV networks that the country could be captivated by this "new" sport, positioned the game as "a defining moment in the growth of pro football," says ROONE ARLEDGE, chairman of ABC News.

But "The Greatest Game Ever Played" is not the only anniversary in 1998:

third Kickoff Weekend meeting in four years. Panthers inaugurated Ericsson Stadium with 29-6 win over Falcons on 9/1/96. Falcs topped Panthers in franchise’s first game ever, 23-20 (OT) in ‘95……FALCONS: Won 5 of last 6 in ’97, including 3 of last 4 on road……QB CHRIS CHANDLER’s 90.6 passer rating in September over past 5 seasons ranks third-best in NFC. Finished second in league with 95.1 rating in ’97 & made first Pro Bowl appearance……Falcons held 4 of last 5 ’97 opponents to 20 points or less……Streak of 8 games not allowing 100-yard rusher second-best in NFC……S EUGENE ROBINSON (UFA, G.B.) leads all active players with 49 career INTs. Needs 1 to become league’s 27th player with 50……K MORTEN ANDERSEN’s 378 career field goals are third all-time, 5 behind NICK LOWERY (383) & 7 behind all-time leader GARY ANDERSON (385) of Minnesota……PANTHERS: Club added RB WILLIAM FLOYD (UFA, SF), who rushed for 231 yards, 3 TDs & caught 37 passes for 321 yards in ’97……WR RAE CARRUTH led all rookies with 44 receptions, 545 receiving yards & tied for rookie lead with 4 TDs in ’97. TE WESLEY WALLS’ career 1 TD per 9.0 receptions is third among active NFC players. He has 225 career catches & 25 career TDs……LB KEVIN GREENE, returning to Panthers from 49ers, has 133.0 career sacks, second among active NFC players (REGGIE WHITE, 176.5). Needs 5 to move into third place all-time, passing RICHARD DENT (137.5). He has career-high 20 sacks against Falcons. DE MIKE FOX tied for NFL lead with 5.0 preseason sacks.

LIONS: Won 5 of last 6 ’97 games……Opponents ’97 record is 137-117-2 (.539), third-toughest in NFC……RB BARRY SANDERS has averaged 90.6 yards in 8 opening games. He leads all players with 2,121 rushing yards in September in past 5 seasons. Can extend NFL record of consecutive 100-yard games to 15 & is 1 of only 2 players (JIM BROWN, 104.34) to average more than 100 yards/game career (100.57; min. 32 games & 2,000 yards)……WR HERMAN MOORE leads all players with 1,968 receiving yards in September in past 5 seasons. Can become first player in league history with 4 consecutive 100-catch seasons. Has nine career TDs vs. Pack, most vs. any team……Held 5 of last 6 ’97 opponents to 20 points or less……DE ROBERT PORCHER had career-high 12.5 sacks in ’97, fourth in NFC & most by Lion since WILLIAM GAY (13.5) in ’83…... PACKERS: Won 10 of last 11 in ’97……Team’s 74-54 (.578) record in ’90s ranks third in NFC……Seek 24th straight victory at home vs. Lions. Need 5 wins for NFL record 28 straight at home. Under head coach MIKE HOLMGREN, Packers are 35-4 (.897) at Lambeau……Finished ’97 with NFC’s No.1 pass offense (231.6)……QB BRETT FAVRE’s 89.3 career passer rating ranks second among active players & third all-time. Favre has best home record as starter in NFL history (41-5, .891, min. 25 starts)……Club held opposing QBs to league-low 59.0 passer rating in ’97. Defense did not allow TD pass in final 23 quarters……New starting S DARREN SHARPER set club rookie record with 3 defensive TDs in ’97.

JAGUARS: Club scored NFL-high 300 points on league-most 63 trips into red zone in ’97……QB MARK BRUNELL won first-ever AFC passing title in ’97 with 91.2 passer rating. Brunell’s first career 300-yard game came vs. Bears (302 yards, 3 TDs on 10/15/95)……WRs KEENAN MC CARDELL & JIMMY SMITH top AFC tandem in ’97 with 167 catches for 2,488 yards (9 TDs). McCardell & Smith are 1 of 8 teammate receiving duos in NFL history with back-to-back 1,000s……DE JEFF LAGEMAN had career-high 2.5 sacks vs. Bears, 9/25/94 (with Jets)……UFA LB BRYCE PAUP joins club after recording 33 sacks over past 3 seasons with Bills……Defense has not allowed individual 100-yard rusher in 12 games – second in AFC to Pittsburgh’s 19……BEARS: Club’s 38-26-1 (.592) Kickoff Weekend record second-best in NFC. Have won 12 of past 14 openers. Won 2 of last 3 games in ’97. Have won 3 of last 4 vs. AFC at home……’98 opponents record of 140-115-1 (.549) is NFC’s toughest, including league-most 10 games vs. playoff teams……Acquired RB EDGAR BENNETT (UFA) from Packers. He leads team in postseason experience with 10 games. First-round draft choice RB CURTIS ENIS (Penn State) rushed for 53 yards on 11 carries (4.8 avg.) in 2 preseason games……WR CURTIS CONWAY played in only 7 games (collarbone) in ’97, but had 3 100-yard receiving outings (Bears 3-0 in those games). WR MARCUS ROBINSON named 1998 NFL Europe League offensive MVP with 41 catches for 925 yards & 6 TDs for Rhein Fire. Also led club to World Bowl title……Defense tied Giants for most fumble takeaways (17) in ’97.

TEAMS COMBINED for 123 total points (61.5 avg.) in 2 games in ’97……SAINTS: Club opens on road for only 7th time in 32-year history……Head coach MIKE DITKA has won 9 of last 10 openers……Club acquired WR SEAN DAWKINS (UFA-Ind) in offseason. Dawkins had 68 catches for 804 yards & 2 TDs in ’97……Saints averaged 5.7 yards on first down in ’97, second-best in NFC……Club has at least 1 sack in 49 straight games & need 1 in each of first 12 to break Washington Redskins (60) NFL record. Led league with 59 sacks in ’97, including 30.5 by starting front 4. Defense allowed 4.3 yards on first down in ’97, third-best in league…...KR ERIC GULIFORD’s 25.6 career kick return average ties for first in league among active players (TAMARICK VANOVER, KC)……P MARK ROYALS led NFL with 45.9 avg. in ’97 & NFC with 48.4 ’98 preseason average……RAMS: Team celebrates 50th anniversary of Ram’s horns logo on helmets, first in NFL……Rams have won 4 straight Kickoff Weekend games, longest NFC streak. Won 3 of last 4 in ’97……QB TONY BANKS completed 35 of 62 passes for 493 yards, 5 TDs & 2 INTs for 95.7 rating in 2 games vs. Saints in ’97……WR ISAAC BRUCE has 28 catches for 488 yards & 5 TDs in last 4 contests vs. Saints (avg. of 7 for 122 & 1 TD)……Defense held 4 of last 5 ’97 opponents to 20 points or less……Have forced league-high 114 turnovers over past 3 seasons……CB RYAN MC NEIL led league with 9 INTs in ’97. S KEITH LYLE’s 17 INTs over past 2 seasons & 20 INTs over past 3 seasons each lead in each time span. He tied for second in NFL with 8 in ’97.

REGULAR-SEASON OPENER at new 68,400-seat stadium……STEELERS: Have won last 4 AFC Central titles…… Head coach BILL COWHER’s 30-12 (.714) division record best among active coaches with at least 20 division games……RAY SHERMAN (Vikings) new offensive coordinator……QB KORDELL STEWART’s 11 rushing TDs in ’97 second-best season by QB since 1970 (STEVE GROGAN, 12, 1976). Had at least one TD run in both games vs. Ravens last year……RB JEROME BETTIS has 100+ rush yards in all 4 games vs. Ravens……In ‘97, Pittsburgh led NFL in rush offense (154.9) & rush defense (82.4) – one of 7 teams to do so since 1970……Defense led NFL in rush yards per carry in ’97 (3.3) & has not allowed individual 100-yard rusher in last 19 games – tops in NFL……Steelers second in AFC in ’97 with 20 INTs. CB CARNELL LAKE had an INT in each game vs. Ravens last season……RAVENS: Coach TED MARCHIBRODA 7-4 in season openers……Club traded for QB JIM HARBAUGH (Colts) & RB ERRICT RHETT (Bucs)…… WR MICHAEL JACKSON averages TD every 6.8 receptions – tied with JERRY RICE for best ratio among active receivers with at least 200 catches. Twenty-six of his 46 career TD grabs have covered more than 20 yards. WR JERMAINE LEWIS led NFL with 15.6 PR avg. in ’97……T JONATHAN OGDEN in ’97 was first Ravens player selected as Pro Bowl starter……LB PETER BOULWARE recorded 11.5 sacks last season – 4th most ever by an NFL rookie.

SEAHAWKS: Team opens regular season with 3 straight vs. NFC East……Club had NFL’s top passing offense (247.4) last season……QB WARREN MOON had club record 3,678 passing yards in ’97……UFA RB RICKY WATTERS joins Seahawks after 3 straight 1,000s for Eagles……WR JOEY GALLOWAY set career highs with 72 catches for 1,049 yards last season. Six of his 12 TD grabs covered at least 30 yards……’97 October AFC Offensive Rookie of Month T WALTER JONES joined on OL by Pro Bowl C KEVIN GLOVER (Lions) & G BRIAN HABIB (Broncos), who, respectively, blocked for NFL’s top 2 rushers in ’97 – Detroit’s BARRY SANDERS (2,053 yards) & Denver’s TERRELL DAVIS (1,750)……S DARRYL WILLIAMS tied for 3rd in NFL with 13 INTs over past 2 seasons……EAGLES: Were 6-2 at home in ’97. Under head coach RAY RHODES, Eagles are 17-7 (.708) at home. Have won 4 of past 5 vs. AFC at home, including 2-0 in ’97……Eagles offense (349.4) finished third in NFC in ’97……QB BOBBY HOYING started final 6 games of ’97 & finished fifth in NFC in passing with 83.8 rating……WR IRVING FRYAR’s 736 catches rank third among active NFC players. He needs 64 catches for 800 career (6th ever) & 573 receiving yards for 12,000 career (7th ever)……Traded for DE HUGH DOUGLAS from NYJ. Has 22 sacks in first 3 seasons, including 18 in first 2. Led Jets in sacks in 2 of 3 years……Tied with Pittsburgh as least penalized defense in the league (708 yards).

BUCCANEERS: Strive for first back-to-back playoff seasons since 1981-82……Were 9-0 when leading at halftime in ’97……Head coach TONY DUNGY was Vikings defensive coordinator from 1992-95……QB TRENT DILFER’s 48-game starting streak is second-longest among active QBs (BRETT FAVRE, 93). Dilfer set Bucs record & finished second in NFC with 21 TD passes in ’97. Also reached career high with 82.8 passer rating……RB WARRICK DUNN named ’97 Associated Press Offensive Rookie of Year. Led all NFL rookies & set Bucs rookie record with 1,440 yards from scrimmage (462 receiving)……Club adds WR BERT EMANUEL (UFA-Atl.), who has 214 catches over past 3 years…..Bucs’ 77 penalties were fewest in league & tied team record (’90)……Defense allowed NFC-fewest 263 points & had NFC’s No. 3 rush defense (101.0)……Set team record with 44 sacks……VIKINGS: Club has won 10 of past 11 home openers……Last 2 times Vikes had perfect preseason (1992 & 1973), they won NFC Central……QB BRAD JOHNSON’s 94.5 passer rating in September over past 5 seasons, including 14 TDs vs. 6 INTs, is NFL’s second-best (STEVE YOUNG, 98.0) ……RB ROBERT SMITH’s 169 rushing yards vs. Buffalo last season is third-best Kickoff Weekend performance of ’90s…...WR CRIS CARTER needs 9 catches to pass JAMES LOFTON (764) for sixth all-time. Needs 1 receiving TD for 90 career. Has averaged 1 TD per 8.5 receptions, second-best among active NFC players (JERRY RICE, 6.8)……DT JOHN RANDLE leads league over past 7 seasons with 84.5 sacks.

MATCHUP: NFL’s top rookie rushers in last two seasons meet – Oilers’ EDDIE GEORGE (1,368 in 1996) & Bengals’ COREY DILLON (1,129 in ’97)……OILERS: STEVE MC NAIR led all NFL QBs with 674 rushing yards in ’97……Club had NFL’s third-ranked rushing offense (150.9) last season. Oilers 9-3 when Eddie George rushes for 100 yards. His 216 rush yards vs. Raiders last season (35 carries & 1 TD, 8/31/97) was second highest opening day total in league history (250, O.J. SIMPSON, 9/16/73)……’97 Pro Bowler UFA WR YANCEY THIGPEN (Steelers) joins club. WR WILLIE DAVIS has 3 TD catches in last 2 vs. Bengals……G BRUCE MATTHEWS makes his 166th consecutive start – NFL’s longest active streak……Run defense (98.3) ranked 2nd in AFC in ’97……K AL DEL GRECO has converted 17 of last 19 FG vs. Bengals……BENGALS: Club 11-2 (.846) at Cinergy Field under coach BRUCE COSLET……New QB NEIL O’DONNELL has won 5 of last 7 starts vs. Oilers……Club has won last 5 when Corey Dillon scores TD. Dillon set NFL rookie single-game record with 246 rush yards (4 touchdowns) in last meeting.……WR CARL PICKENS (52) needs 2 TD catches to pass ISAAC CURTIS for all-time club mark ……DE CLYDE SIMMONS needs 1 sack to pass GREG TOWNSEND (109.5) in 10th place all-time & 4.5 to pass SEAN JONES (113.0) in 9th place…… S SAM SHADE has 1 sack in each of last 2 vs. Oilers……Rookie CB ARTRELL HAWKINS (Cincinnati) could make first start in college town.

REDSKINS: Have NFC’s second-best September record of ’90s, 20-12, .625 (S.F., 23-10, .697)……RB TERRY ALLEN’s 1,524 rushing yards in September over past 5 seasons are NFC’s third-best……Scored 111 points off turnovers in ’97, second-most in NFC……Team’s pass defense (176.1) ranked third in NFL in ’97……CB DARRELL GREEN’s 44 career INTs are second among active players (EUGENE ROBINSON, 49). Enters 16th season, tying SAMMY BAUGH & MONTE COLEMAN for most in club history. Will be oldest CB in history to start game, 38 years, 204 days……’Skins acquired DTs DANA STUBBLEFIELD (UFA, SF) & DAN WILKINSON (Trade, Cinn.) in offseason. Stubblefield second in league with 15 sacks in ’97. Wilkinson No. 1 overall pick in ’94 Draft……PR BRIAN MITCHELL’s 11.3 career average ranks third among active NFC players……Two-time Pro Bowl P MATT TURK leads active NFC punters with 44.3 career average……GIANTS: Aim for first back-to-back division titles since ’89-90. Became first-ever NFC East team to go undefeated vs. division with 7-0-1 record in ’97. Defeated last 2 NFC East opponents by combined 50-17……Open at home for only 20th time in 74 seasons……QB DANNY KANELL leads all active QBs with .750 starting win pct. (7-2-1)……Rookie WR JOE JUREVICIUS averaged 27.3 yards per catch (8 for 218 yards) in preseason……In ’97, defense led league with 44 takeaways, 27 INTs, tied for NFC lead with 17 fumble takes & finished tied for third in NFL with 54 sacks. Finished second in NFC against run (90.7). Held 12 of 16 opponents to 20 points or less.

CARDINALS: Embark on 100th season. Club founded in 1899 as Morgan Athletic Club in Chicago & is oldest continuing operation in pro football……QB JAKE PLUMMER, who set NFL single-game rookie record in ’97 with 388 yards passing vs. NY Giants (11/16), finished preseason with 105.1 passer rating, including NFL-high 69.7 comp. pct.……Traded for RB ADRIAN MURRELL (300 rushes for 1,086 yards) from N.Y. Jets……WR ROB MOORE led NFL with 1,584 receiving yards in ’97 & his 2,600 yards over past 2 years also lead league. WR FRANK SANDERS’ 196 career catches are most ever by Cardinal WR in first 3 years……CB AENEAS WILLIAMS has 38 career INTs, third-most among active NFC players. Has at least 6 INTs in each of past 4 seasons & 5 INT-TD returns in last 3. Held Cowboys WR MICHAEL IRVIN to 4 catches for 18 yards, including 0 in last 36 minutes (8 in OT), in 25-22 win last 9/7……COWBOYS: Dallas’ 28-9-1 (.750) opening game record is league’s best. Club’s 83-45 (.648) record in ’90s is NFC’s second-best & 19-12 (.613) ’90s September record is third……QB TROY AIKMAN’s 82.3 career passer rating is third highest among active NFC QBs……In past 5 seasons, RB EMMITT SMITH’s 1,697 rushing yards in September are league’s second best (BARRY SANDERS; 2,121). His 11,234 career yards are second among active NFC rushers (Barry Sanders; 13,778) & RB CHRIS WARREN’s 6,706 yards are third. Smith’s 112 rushing TDs lead active players & needs 12 to pass MARCUS ALLEN (123) for first all-time.

BUFFALO BILLS AT SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

FIRST MEETING since 1985……BILLS: Club boasts NFL-best 24-7 (.774) September mark in ’90s & 82-46 (.641) overall record in ’90s is second-best in AFC (Chiefs 86-42, .672)……Bills new QB starter is ROB JOHNSON (Trade, Jaguars)……RB ANTOWAIN SMITH ranked second among AFC rookie rushers with 840 yards and eight touchdowns in ’97……WR ANDRE REED (11,764) needs 71 receiving yards to pass DON MAYNARD in 7th all-time. Reed (80) needs 2 TD catches to pass ART POWELL in 10th all-time……Pass defense (191.3) 3rd in AFC in ’97……Pro Bowl DT TED WASHINGTON led team with 105 solo tackles last season……DE BRUCE SMITH has topped AFC in sacks in each of past 2 seasons. Smith has six straight 10-or-more sack seasons……CHARGERS: Rookie QB RYAN LEAF set Washington St. record for career TD passes (58) & ranks 2nd in passing yards (7,102)……RB NATRONE MEANS (Jaguars) returns to club. Had club record 1,350 rush yards in S.D.’s SB XXIX season (1994)……Rookie WR MIKHAEL RICKS had 11 catches for 135 yards, 1 TD for 12.3 avg. in preseason. FREDDIE JONES’ 41 catches (505 yards, 2 TDs) most by Chargers TE since 1987 (KELLEN WINSLOW, 53)……OL adds T JOHN JACKSON (Steelers), G AARON TAYLOR (Packers) & C ROMAN FORTIN (Falcons)……LB JUNIOR SEAU has at least 1 sack in 6 of his last 9 Aug./Sept. games……Club’s 10 return TDs (3 INT, 3 FR, 3 PR, 1 KOR) tied with Broncos for tops in NFL in ’97……K JOHN CARNEY ranks 3rd in NFL history with 80.34 percent FG conversion rate (min. 100 FGs).

MATCHUP OF NFL’s No. 2 pass offense (Dolphins, 237.0) of ’97 vs. AFC’s No. 1 pass defense (Colts, 176.3)…… DOLPHINS: Are 2-0 in season openers vs. Colts (1997 & ’93) & boast 21-9 (.700) September record in ‘90s……Club 17-3 under coach JIMMY JOHNSON when it has 25-or-more carries. KIPPY BROWN promoted to offensive coordinator……QB DAN MARINO becomes first-ever Dolphin to play in 16 seasons. He has 61.5 completion pct. with 33 TDs & 15 INTs for a 97.8 passer rating in first starts of season. His 19 wins vs. Colts most vs. any team……RB KARIM ABDUL-JABBAR (26) needs 3 rushing TDs to pass JIM KIICK (28) & 4 to top MERCURY MORRIS (29) for third- and second-most in club history……WR O.J. MC DUFFIE (268) needs 2 catches to pass DURIEL HARRIS (269) in fifth in club history……DE JASON TAYLOR had 1 sack in each game vs. Colts in ’97……COLTS: New coach JIM MORA was 93-78 in 11 years with New Orleans……Seven of club’s 13 ’97 losses came by 6-points or less (5 by 3 or less)…… Rookie QB PEYTON MANNING set 33 school records & was 39-6 as starter at Tennessee……Colts 7-3 when RB MARSHALL FAULK rushes for 100 yards. Faulk has catch in all 61 career games & needs receptions in first 2 to pass JESSIE HESTER (62) for club record for most consecutive games with a catch……TE KEN DILGER had 5 receptions for 100 yards & 3 TDs in last home game vs. Miami (12/14/97)……DE DAN FOOTMAN has 10 sacks in last 10 games.

JETS: Club 3-1 vs. NFC last season……Jets’ 8-win turnaround in ‘97 (1-15 to 9-7) tied for third-best in league history……QB GLENN FOLEY makes first opening day start……RB CURTIS MARTIN joins club after 3 straight 1,000-yard rush seasons for Patriots. KEITH BYARS needs 4 receptions to pass MARCUS ALLEN (587) for most catches by RB in league history……In ’97, RB-KR LEON JOHNSON became only player in club history & 6th NFL rookie since ’70 with PR & KOR TDs in same season. His 619 PR yards 3rd-most ever for a rookie……Rookie DE DORIAN BOOSE tied (MIKE FOX, Carolina) for NFL lead in preseason sacks (5.0)……CB AARON GLENN led AFC in ’97 with 26.5 KOR avg. (1 TD)……49ERS: Have won 9 in row at home & 5 straight home openers……Have league’s best record in ’90s (97-31, .758) & best NFC September record in decade (23-10, .697). Team’s 63 interconference wins are most in NFC……QB STEVE YOUNG has 81-44 (.648) record as starter, third-best in NFC (min. 10 starts). He is 78-28 (.736) as starter with 49ers. Young’s September rating (98.0) leads all active QBs……WR JERRY RICE tied with STEVE LARGENT for second all-time with reception in 177 consecutive games. Needs catch in each of first 7 to pass ART MONK (183) for all-time record. Rice & Young (75) need 5 TD passes to become all-time leading QB-WR duo, passing DAN MARINO & MARK CLAYTON (79)……Total defense (250.8) first in NFL in ’97. Rush defense (85.4) topped NFC & pass Defense (165.4) finished second in league. Club’s 41 takeaways second in NFL.

RAIDERS: QB JEFF GEORGE has 92.8 passer rating in Aug./Sept. games over past 5 years (4,369 yards & 30 TDs)……RB NAPOLEON KAUFMAN third in AFC last season with 1,697 scrimmage yards (1,294 rush, 403 rec.) & had NFL-long 83-yard run (10/19)……WR TIM BROWN has 34 catches for 490 yards in last 5 vs. Chiefs. Brown has five straight 1,000s……’97 Heisman Trophy winner CB CHARLES WOODSON (fourth overall draft choice in ’98) starts ……WRs TERRY MICKENS & rookie RODNEY WILLIAMS tied for 3rd & 5th respectively in AFC with 13 & 12 preseason catches……CHIEFS: Need 1 win for 300th regular-season victory……Team 7-1 in last 8 openers……Club has won 8 straight at Arrowhead……Are 15-2 vs. Raiders in ’90s (including 1-0 postseason)……Chiefs 57-15 (.792) at Arrowhead under coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER, including 29-7 vs. division……QB ELVIS GRBAC’s 14-5 (.737) record as starter tops among AFC active QB’s with 10-or-more career starts……KIMBLE ANDERS (288) needs one reception to pass ED PODOLAK for most receptions in club history by RB……Defense adds DE LESLIE O’NEAL (FA, St. Louis, 122.5 career sacks) & DT CHESTER MC GLOCKTON (Franchise player, Oak. Had 39.5 sacks in 6 seasons with Raiders, 1992-97).

FIRST ALL-AFC MNF season-opener since 1981 (San Diego vs. Cleveland)……Matchup features top receiving TEs of ’90s – Denver’s SHANNON SHARPE (No. 1, 465 catches for 5,991 yards) & New England’s BEN COATES (No. 2, 391 catches for 4,433 yards)…… PATRIOTS: Club welcomes ERNIE ZAMPESE as new offensive coordinator…..QB DREW BLEDSOE has passed for 1,284 yards (three 300s) & has a 91.2 passer rating in last 4 openers……2-yr. SEDRICK SHAW starts at RB……Coates has 5 TD receptions in past 5 season openers. He needs 1 TD to move into sole possession of 5th place in club history & 3 to pass TONY COLLINS (44) in 4th. Also needs 157 receiving yards to pass GINO CAPPELLETTI (4,589) in 4th in club history……Rookie DE GREG SPIRES (3rd round, Fla. St.) tied for 2nd in NFL with 4 preseason sacks……LB CHRIS SLADE has 7 sacks in last 7 Aug./Sept. games……BRONCOS: Super Bowl XXXII champs had NFL’s top-ranked offense (367.0) & AFC’s top-ranked defense (291.9) in ’97. Team has set club record for points scored in each of past 3 seasons & led NFL with 472 in ‘97……Broncos have won last 16 regular-season home games ……QB JOHN ELWAY, entering last NFL season, is 9-0 vs. Pats……Super Bowl MVP RB TERRELL DAVIS has rushed for 422 yards & 5 TDs in 3 games vs. Pats. Also has 11 catches for 117 yards & 1 TD vs. NE. Davis has 6 TDs in 5 career Monday-night games……DT MAA TANUVASA had career-high 3 sacks vs. NE last year……On 8/30, Broncos traded with Green Bay for 13-year LB SETH JOYNER, who started vs. them in Super Bowl XXXII.

(All times local unless otherwise noted)