NFL MATCHUPS | Today's games

ARIZONA at DETROIT
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Lions lead 28-21-5. Last meeting: Cardinals beat Lions 23-20 in OT on Dec. 8, 2002.Key matchup: Lions WR Charles Rogers vs. Arizona secondary. Rogers was No. 2 pick overall in draft. He could feast on Cardinals' porous pass defense in regular-season debut. SS Adrian Wilson led Arizona with four INTs last year.
HOUSTON at MIAMI
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: First meeting.Key matchup: Dolphins RB Ricky Williams vs. Houston's front seven. Williams set team record and led NFL in 2002 with 1,853 yards rushing and was second with 16 TDs on ground. Texans allowed 130.6 yards rushing per game, among worst totals in NFL. Williams could run free in opener if Texans don't stop him near line.
ST. LOUIS at NEW YORK GIANTS
Time: 1 p.m.Radio: WBBW-AM (1240). Series history: Rams lead 26-11. Last meeting: Giants beat Rams 26-21 on Sept. 15, 2002.Key matchup: Rams RB Marshall Faulk vs. Giants MLB Mike Barrow. Rams are 19-0 when Faulk rushes for more than 100 yards in a game. Faulk is one of NFL's most elusive backs and Giants' front seven, especially Barrow, must look to contain him. Barrow led Giants in tackles in 2002 with 72.
DENVER at CINCINNATI
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Broncos lead 14-7. Last meeting: Bengals beat Broncos 31-21 on Oct. 22, 2000.Key matchup: Bengals RB Corey Dillon vs. Broncos MLB Al Wilson. In last meeting, Dillon set NFL record with 278 yards rushing, breaking Walter Payton's mark. Dillon has rushed for 5,261 yards over past four years, second best in NFL. Denver allowed only 93.1 yards rushing per game in 2002. Wilson led team in tackles and will have to be active to contain Dillon.
MINNESOTA at GREEN BAY
Time: 1 p.m.TV: WYFX (17/62), WJW (8), WPGH (53).Series history: Tied 41-41-1. Last meeting: Packers beat Vikings 26-22 on Dec. 8, 2002.Key matchup: Vikings WR Randy Moss vs. Packers CBs Mike McKenzie and Al Harris. Moss is only player in NFL history with 1,000 yards receiving in each of first five seasons and led NFC in 2002 with 106 receptions and 1,347 yards. In 10 games against Packers, Moss had more than 100 yards receiving six times. McKenzie had two INTs in 2002, while Harris had only one with Eagles.
NEW ENGLAND at BUFFALO
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Patriots lead 46-39-1. Last meeting: Patriots beat Bills 27-17 on Dec. 8, 2002.Key matchup: Bills QB Drew Bledsoe vs. Patriots' depleted secondary. Bledsoe was No. 1 overall selection by Pats in 1993 draft. Last year with Bills, he passed for 630 yards in two games vs. former team, both losses. Patriots released team captain SS Lawyer Milloy this week and he signed with Bills. Pats allowed less than 200 yards passing per game in 2002, but will have to start less-experienced DBs in opener.
SAN DIEGO at KANSAS CITY
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Chiefs lead 45-40-1. Last meeting: Chiefs beat Chargers 24-22 on Dec. 22, 2002.Key matchup: Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Chiefs RB Priest Holmes. Two of NFL's top offensive machines square off. Holmes was Offensive Player of Year in 2002, leading NFL with 24 TDs and finishing third with 1,615 yards rushing. Tomlinson was second with 1,683 yards rushing. Both led their teams in receptions, Holmes with 70 for 672 yards receiving, Tomlinson with 79 for 489 yards.
JACKSONVILLE at CAROLINA
Time: 1 p.m.Series history: Jaguars lead 2-0. Last meeting: Jaguars beat Panthers 22-20 on Sept. 19, 1999.Key matchup: Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio vs. his former Carolina defense. Del Rio makes head coaching debut. He was Panthers defensive coordinator last year and his unit improved from 31st in 2001 to second in 2002. Panthers allowed only 33 TDs in 2002, fifth best in NFL. Jaguars' offense was eighth worst in yards per game in 2002 and scored only 38 TDs.
ATLANTA at DALLAS
Time: 4:15 p.m.Radio: WBBW-AM (1240)Series history: Cowboys lead 14-7. Last meeting: Falcons beat Cowboys 20-13 on Nov. 11, 2001.Key matchup: Falcons RB Warrick Dunn vs. Cowboys FS Roy Williams. With elusive QB Michael Vick out with broken leg, Dunn will have to pick up offensive slack. QB Doug Johnson makes only his fourth career start for Falcons. Dunn's best game as a pro came against Cowboys in 2000, when he rushed for 210 yards. Williams led Cowboys in tackles in 2002. If Williams plays too close to line, newly acquired Falcons WR Peerless Price could run free on deep patterns.
NEW ORLEANS at SEATTLE
Time: 4:15 p.m.Series history: Saints lead 4-3. Last meeting: Seahawks beat Saints 20-10 on Sept. 17, 2000.Key matchup: Saints RB Deuce McAllister vs. Seahawks' front seven. McAllister rushed for 1,388 yards in 2002, tops in NFC and his 13 TDs rushing were second in conference. Seahawks were NFL's worst team against run in 2002, allowing 152.6 yards per game. Next-worst team allowed 137.4. Seahawks already have had injury problems on defense and could spend most of Week 1 chasing McAllister.
OAKLAND at TENNESSEE
Time: 8:30 p.m.TV: ESPN; WBBW-AM (1240)Series history: Raiders lead 25-16. Last meeting: Raiders beat Titans 41-24 in AFC championship same on Jan. 19.Key matchup: Raiders QB Rich Gannon vs. Titans DE Kevin Carter. Gannon was NFL MVP in 2002, leading league with 4,689 yards passing. Against Titans he completed 58 of 80 passes for 667 yards with seven TDs and no INTs. Carter led Titans with 10 sacks, fourth best in AFC. Bucs were able to shut down Gannon by pressuring him in Super Bowl. If Carter, Jevon Kearse and rest of Titans' front four can get to Gannon, Titans could win this time.
-- Associated Press