Preseason meaningless? Not if you’re an NFL coach, and particularly not if you’re BILL PARCELLS, head coach of the New York Jets.

As the NFL swings into a full schedule of games this week starting on Thursday, so does Parcells. The man who has won two Super Bowls and who last season took the Jets to the AFC Championship Game doesn’t acknowledge the "pre" in preseason. If it’s football and in the NFL, it’s serious.

"Only people who don’t understand the game say preseason is meaningless," Parcells says.

He has a 42-15 lifetime preseason record, for a .737 winning percentage.

NFL fans across the country get a chance to see Parcells extend that record – he is 7-1 in preseason as Jets coach – on Saturday night as the Jets visit the Green Bay Packers on CBS-TV at 8:00 PM ET.

"I try to win all the games we play," says Parcells. "I happen to believe the more good habits you create on a team, the better you’ll be."

In fact, of the 27 teams to go undefeated in preseason since 1980 -- "creating good habits" – 17 advanced to the playoffs. In that time, Parcells took three teams to the Super Bowl (1986 and 1990 Super Bowl champion New York Giants, and 1996 New England Patriots) while compiling a combined 10-2 preseason record in those years.

One of last year’s undefeated preseason teams – the Minnesota Vikings – will also be on national television this week, hosting the Giants on Friday night on ESPN at 8:00 PM ET.

The Vikings will be fine-tuning an offense that scored 556 points last year, most ever in a season.

Other interesting games this week:

• Baltimore at Philadelphia (Thursday): First meeting of new ’99 head coaches -- Ravens’ BRIAN BILLICK and Eagles’ ANDY REID.

• Carolina at Jacksonville (Friday): ’95 expansion clubs meet, with Jaguars new defensive coordinator DOM CAPERS facing the team he coached since its inception.

• New Orleans at Miami (Friday): NFL debut of Saints Heisman Trophy-winning running back RICKY WILLIAMS.

• Arizona at Denver (Saturday): For the second time, an NFL official will officiate in a game in which his son plays. NFL line judge BYRON BOSTON will be on the same field as his son, Cardinals wide receiver DAVID BOSTON, the team’s first-round draft choice this year out of Ohio State. "I don’t usually put much emphasis on this kind of thing," says Byron, "but I’d like to have a couple of pictures of the game."

On December 17, 1967, line judge BRUCE ALFORD, SR. officiated in a game in which his son, kicker BRUCE, JR. of the Washington Redskins, played (New Orleans 30 at Washington 14).

PERFECT PRESEASON CAN MEAN PLAYOFFS

CHICAGO 9, Indianapolis 6
Oakland 18, ST. LOUIS 17
Denver 20, San Diego 17*
Cleveland 20, Dallas 17 (OT) **
*American Bowl in Sydney, Australia
** Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio