NFL PREVIEW Tonight's games

MINNESOTA (9-7) At WASHINGTON (10-6)
7 p.m., ESPNOPENING LINE -- Redskins by 6.RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Vikings 9-7; Redskins 9-6-1.SERIES RECORD -- Redskins lead 10-7.LAST MEETING -- Redskins 21, Vikings 18, Jan. 2, 2005 at Washington.LAST WEEK (PRESEASON) -- Vikings tied Cowboys 10-10; Redskins lost to Ravens 17-10.2005 VIKINGS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (25), RUSH (27), PASS (20)2005 VIKINGS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (21), RUSH (19), PASS (22)2005 REDSKINS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (11), RUSH (7), PASS (21)2005 REDSKINS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (9), RUSH (13), PASS (10)STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Minnesota's Brad Childress makes head coaching debut. ... QB Brad Johnson led club to 7-2 mark in nine starts in 2005. Owns 65-43 (.602) career record as starter, third among active QBs with 100-plus starts. ... New faces: RB Chester Taylor makes first appearance with club after spending first four seasons with Ravens. All-Pro G Steve Hutchinson joins team after five years in Seattle. ... WR Trot Williamson finished third among NFC rookies with 372 yards receiving in 2005 ... TE Jermaine Wiggins led club with 69 catches in 2005. ... S Darren Sharper leads NFL with 40 INTs since 2000. ... Washington has the longest winning streak (four) in season openers. ... Coach Joe Gibbs is 8-0 vs. Vikings. ... QB Mark Brunell ranks fourth among active players with 174 TD passes. ... RB Clinton Portis (listed doubtful) had franchise record 1,516 yards rushing in 2005. ... WR Santana Moss set franchise record with career-high 1,483 yards receiving last year. ... New faces: WR Antwaan Randle El joins club after helping Steelers to a Super Bowl win. S Adam Archuleta joins Skins after spending first five seasons with St. Louis.
SAN DIEGO (9-7) At OAKLAND (4-12)
10:15 p.m., ESPNOPENING LINE -- Chargers by 21/2.RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Chargers 8-7-1; Raiders 5-11.SERIES RECORD -- Raiders lead 55-36-2.LAST MEETING -- Chargers 34, Raiders 10, Dec. 4, 2005 at San Diego.LAST WEEK (PRESEASON) -- Chargers lost to 49ers 23-14; Raiders lost to Seahawks 30-3.2005 CHARGERS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (10), RUSH (9), PASS (12)2005 CHARGERS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (13), RUSH (1), PASS (28)2005 RAIDERS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (21), RUSH (29), PASS (10)2005 RAIDERS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (27), RUSH (25), PASS (18)STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- San Diego has won 21 games since 2004 for most wins in consecutive years by the Chargers since 1979-80. ... RB LaDainian Tomlinson is one of two players in NFL history to rush for 10 or more TDs five consecutive seasons. ... ... Coach Marty Schottenheimer is 25-7 (.781) vs. Raiders. ... QB Philip Rivers makes first NFL start. ... TE Antonio Gates (1,101) posted most yards receiving by a Chargers TE since Kellen Winslow (1,172) in 1983. ... LB Shawne Merriman led NFL rookies in 2005 with 10 sacks. ... Oakland has won seven of last eight home openers. ... Oakland has a familiar face on the sideline with Art Shell. Shell coached Raiders from 1989-94 and posted a 56-41 (.577) record.
Associated Press
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