The Plain Dealer gives you the skinny on the first week of the 2010 NFL season.
Terrell Owens along with Chad Ochocinco grabbed the spotlight as charismatic members of the Bengals receiving corps. Now they'll see how that partnership works on the field in the regular season. (AP Photo/ David Duprey, File)Cincinnati at New England
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Sunday at Gillette Stadium
Early line: Patriots by 4½
The skinny: Game matches two of the most dangerous receiver combinations in NFL: Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens of Cincinnati and Randy Moss and Wes Welker of New England. . . . Both teams won their divisions last season with 10-6 records but lost in first round of playoffs. . . . Patriots are 6-1 in their past seven games against Bengals. . . . RB Cedric Benson missed 3½ games last year but still rushed for 1,251 yards. . . . Welker, whose 346 receptions over past three seasons lead the NFL, is expected to start after making strong recovery from serious knee injury sustained in last season’s final regular-season game.
Atlanta at Pittsburgh
Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Heinz Field
Early line: Even
TV: WJW Channel 8
The skinny: Falcons coach Mike Smith is 2-0 in openers; Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is 3-0. . . . Falcons QB Matt Ryan has thrown for 6,356 yards in first two NFL seasons. . . . Falcons RB Michael Turner has 27 rushing TDs since ’08, tied for second most in league. . . . Falcons are 13-1 when Turner carries 22 or more times. . . . With Ben Roethlisberger beginning four-game suspension, third-year Steelers QB Dennis Dixon makes second career start. . . . Steelers have won seven consecutive openers, the NFL’s longest current streak. . . . Steelers own NFL’s best home record since the 1970 merger (222-85-1, .722) and are tied with Miami for the best overall record (372-242-2).
Green Bay at Philadelphia
Kickoff: 4:15 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field
Early line: Even
TV: WJW Channel 8
The skinny: Packers won most recent meeting but lost previous five to Eagles. . . . Packers QB Aaron Rodgers coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he threw for 4,434 yards, 30 TDs and only seven interceptions. . . . Packers feature two 1,000-yard WRs — Donald Driver and Greg Jennings — and a 1,200-yard rusher — Ryan Grant — in an offense that ranked sixth overall last year. . . . Eagles QB Kevin Kolb makes third career start, taking over for departed Donovan McNabb. . . . Rookies Brandon Graham (DE) and Nate Allen (FS) will start for Philadelphia. . . . Average age of the skill position starters for the Eagles is 24.1.
Dallas at Washington
Kickoff: 8:20 p.m. at FedEx Field
Early line: Cowboys by 3
TV: WKYC Channel 3
The skinny: Cowboys celebrate 50th anniversary with 101st meeting against Redskins, 99th in regular season. . . . Game features familiar NFC East QB foes Tony Romo and Donovan McNabb, with McNabb making his Redskins debut. . . . Romo has won his past three starts vs. Redskins. . . . Mike Shanahan makes debut as Redskins coach, looking for first win since Dec. 7, 2008, when his Broncos beat Kansas City. . . . Redskins went 0-6 vs. NFC East last year. . . . Washington LB and Cleveland native London Fletcher expected to play in 193rd consecutive game, tied for second longest active streak among nonspecialists. . . . Redskins unveil new 3-4 defense under coordinator Jim Haslett.
Carolina at New York Giants
Kickoff: 1 p.m. at New Meadowlands Stadium
Early line: Giants by 7
The skinny: Panthers embarrassed New York in its final game at Giants Stadium last season and get a chance to spoil the opening of the Giants’ new $1.6 billion facility. . . . Off-season purge of veterans has left Panthers with NFL’s youngest roster. . . . Panthers were first team in at least 14 years to not score an offensive touchdown in the preseason. . . . WR Steve Smith and RB Jonathan Stewart didn’t play in preseason because of injuries, but are ready for Week 1. . . . Giants lost eight of final 11 in missing playoffs for first time since 2005. . . . Game will be the first under new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. . . . QB Eli Manning coming off career season, throwing for 4,021 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Denver at Jacksonville
Kickoff: 1 p.m. at EverBank Field
Early line: Jaguars by 11⁄2
The skinny: All eyes are on Broncos QB Tim Tebow, the former Florida icon expected to make his NFL debut in his hometown. Coach Josh McDaniels insists Tebow and former Brown Brady Quinn are still vying to be Kyle Orton’s backup. . . . Broncos have won 16 of past 21 openers and own the best mark in AFC on opening weekend (32-17-1). . . . Jaguars have lost three straight home openers. . . . After blacking out nine of 10 home games in 2009, Jaguars have sold enough tickets for opener to be on local TV. But franchise might not be able to sustain fan interest with a slow start, prompting several players to call the opener one of the most important games in team history.
Detroit at Chicago
Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Soldier Field
Early line: Bears by 7
The skinny: Bears have won four straight against Lions. . . . Closed out ’09 with 37-23 win over Lions behind Jay Cutler’s four touchdown passes. . . . Detroit has lost 20 straight road games, the fourth longest streak in the NFL, since they won, 16-7, at Chicago on Oct. 28, 2007. . . . Lions’ 33-111 mark since 2001 is the worst nine-year stretch in the NFL since World War II. . . . Lions drafted Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh and Cal RB Jahvid Best in the first round. . . . Bears made big splash in free agency by luring five-time Pro Bowl DE Julius Peppers away from Carolina. . . . They also signed RB Chester Taylor and blocking TE Brandon Manumaleuna.
Indianapolis at Houston
Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Reliant Stadium
Early line: Colts by 3
The skinny: Colts have won six straight and 15 of 16 overall against Houston. . . . Indianapolis has led NFL in third-down conversion rate every year since 2005. . . . Indianapolis has best road winning percentage over past eight seasons (48-16, .750). . . . Since 2004, WR Reggie Wayne leads NFL in receptions (532) and yards receiving (7,494). . . . The Texans have lost two straight season openers since a 20-3 win over Kansas City in 2007. . . . Texans QB Matt Schaub led NFL with 4,770 yards passing in 2009. . . . Houston WR Andre Johnson has led league in yards receiving past two seasons. Johnson has caught a pass in 66 consecutive games.
Miami at Buffalo
Kickoff: 1 p.m. at Ralph Wilson Stadium
Early line: Dolphins by 2
The skinny: Eighth time AFC East rivals have faced each other to open the season. . . . Dolphins have 4-3 edge, including 4-2 at Buffalo. . . . Dolphins have lost four straight season-openers, and are 1-6 in past seven. . . . Chad Henne becomes sixth quarterback to start a Dolphins season in seven years after going 7-6 in place of Chad Pennington. . . . Chan Gailey makes debut as Bills coach after replacing Dick Jauron, who was fired in November. Gailey is Buffalo’s fifth coach in 10 years. . . . Bills have won five straight against Dolphins at Ralph Wilson Stadium, excluding 16-3 “home” loss at Toronto in 2008. . . . First-round pick C.J. Spiller starts after leading team with three touchdowns rushing in preseason.
Arizona at St. Louis
Kickoff: 4:15 p.m. at Edward Jones Dome
Early line: Cardinals by4
The skinny: Cardinals are two-time defending NFC West champions. . . . Cardinals have won seven in a row in series and five in a row in St. Louis, their former home. . . . QB Derek Anderson starred in lone prior start in St. Louis, throwing three TD passes with no interceptions for Browns on Oct. 28, 2007. . . . Rams rookie QB Sam Bradford completed 60 percent of his passes in preseason with three TDs and no interceptions heading into opening day start. . . . Rams were 0-8 at home last year, their first winless record since going 0-6 in 1959, and have lost 13 in row at home dating to 2007. . . . RB Steven Jackson led NFC last year with 1,416 yards rushing. . . . Rams have four Ohio State LBs, including the three starters (Na’il Diggs, James Laurinaitis and Larry Grant).
San Francisco at Seattle
Kickoff: 4:15 p.m. at Qwest Field
Early line: Seahawks by 1
The skinny: San Francisco begins 2010 as favorite in NFC West. . . . Three new starters on offensive line, including draft picks Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati. . . . TE Vernon Davis tied NFL record among tight ends with 13 TD catches in 2009. . . . First NFL game for new Seattle coach Pete Carroll since end of 1999 season with New England. . . . Of the current 53-man roster, only 26 were with Seattle a year ago. . . . WR Mike Williams to start for Seattle after being out of the NFL the past two seasons. . . . RB Justin Forsett to get the start, but Carroll says trio of Forsett, Leon Washington and Julius Jones will see action.
Baltimore at New York Jets
Kickoff: Monday, 7 p.m. at New Meadowlands Stadium
Early line: Jets by 3
TV: ESPN
The skinny: Ravens have won past five meetings vs. Jets, and are 2-0 in season openers under coach John Harbaugh. . . . Matchup features two of league’s toughest defenses: Jets allowed season-low 26 TDs, while Ravens gave up 27. . . . Last season marked first time for Ravens that they had a 3,500-yard passer (Joe Flacco), 1,000-yard receiver (Derrick Mason) and 1,000-yard rusher (Ray Rice). . . . Jets went to AFC championship in first year under the brash Rex Ryan, who predicts a Super Bowl appearance this season. . . . CB Darrelle Revis signed four-year deal, ending 36-day holdout a week before opener, and will play vs. Ravens.
San Diego at Kansas City
Kickoff: Monday, 10:15 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium
Early line: Chargers by 51⁄2
TV: ESPN
The skinny: Close and well-balanced characterize series between two charter members of AFL. Chiefs leading, 50-49-1, and 12 games decided by one point. . . . Chiefs will not miss former Chargers’ RB LaDainian Tomlinson, who had some of his best games and plays against them. . . . Chargers’ rookie RB Ryan Matthews makes his NFL debut. . . . Intriguing matchup will be San Diego LT Brandyn Dombrowski vs. KC LB Tamba Hali. Hali had 8½ sacks last year and Dombrowski will be making first NFL start replacing two-time Pro Bowl player Marcus McNeill. In two meetings last year, McNeill and other Charger blockers prevented KC from sacking Philip Rivers even once.
• More: NFL scoreboard