Peek at the Week: Last season's best go head to head

Game of the Week

Chicago at San Diego, 4:15 p.m. ET | Preview

The line: San Diego by 5½

The injuries: Chicago rookie tight end Greg Olsen hasn't practiced this week because of a bad knee and is not expected to play. San Diego wide receiver Eric Parker is out because of a toe injury sustained this summer. Linebacker Anthony Waters missed practice this week after the death of his grandmother.

Rex Grossman will not have rookie TE Greg Olsen in Week 1. (AP)

The story: This is the Super Bowl that wasn't in 2006. The best record in the NFC vs. the best record in the AFC.

I love this game, and let me count the ways: First, you have Chicago's Rex Grossman. I'm not going there unless, of course, Grossman keeps handling snaps like Bill Buckner. Then we can start talking about Brian Griese.

You have Norv Turner taking over for Marty Schottenheimer, too, and that's where it starts to get interesting. The Chargers are loaded, the most talented team in football, and Turner's job is to do what Schottenheimer could not -- namely, win a playoff game. Forget that San Diego was 14-2 a year ago; it's that 0-2 playoff record that matters, with Turner hired to drive this club to the top.

Don't forget San Diego defensive assistant Ron Rivera and his role. A year ago, he was the defensive coordinator of the Bears and the most likely guy to be hired as a head coach. Well, it never happened. He not only didn't get a head-coaching job, he lost the job he had. The Bears didn't renew his contract after the Super Bowl, with Rivera moving on to the Chargers as a linebackers coach.

"It wasn't my time," he said.

Well, now it is, with Rivera's insight helpful in formulating this week's game plan. With San Diego opening against Chicago and New England, the Chargers should have a pretty good idea where they stand against the league's best.

The pick: San Diego.

Three games I'd like to see

Carolina at St. Louis, 1 p.m. ET | Preview

Jake Delhomme's record vs. the Rams won't mean much. (AP)

There's a wild card waiting to happen here. The Panthers and Rams look like playoff-worthy teams, with "look like" the key words. Carolina could use more offense; the Rams could use more defense.

Carolina's Jake Delhomme is 3-0 in his career against the Rams, including the 2003 NFC divisional playoffs, but it's not Delhomme who determines what happens to the Panthers; it's that running game that didn't get untracked a year ago. All I know is this club is 19-2 when DeShaun Foster has 15 or more carries.

Of course, Foster isn't the premier back here; the Rams' Steven Jackson is. The guy can do everything, and this is a measuring stick for that Panthers defense that should be improved but still needs help at safety.

Something to consider: The Rams have won 10 of their past 12 home openers.

Tennessee at Jacksonville, 1 p.m. ET | Preview

LenDale White might get the bulk of the carries for the Titans. (AP)

One team has Vince Young; the other doesn't have Byron Leftwich. Normally, I'd say this was a lock for the Jaguars, especially because they're home, but that messy Leftwich situation has me wondering. He wasn't a great fit for the team's offensive line, but he was popular with teammates, who had plenty of confidence in him.

Now he's gone, and the Jags' concern is not Leftwich but Young. I saw him in his third preseason game, and he wasn't just good; he was lights-out. I don't know how you stop him.

The Titans aren't sure who carries the football -- LenDale White or Chris Brown -- but it doesn't really matter as long as Young is around. The guy is part quarterback, part running back and all leader. If Tennessee's defense is improved, and I think it will be, this team bears watching. Young makes them dangerous.

Something to consider: Tennessee's Jeff Fisher is 8-5 at Jacksonville.

N.Y. Giants at Dallas, 8:15 p.m. ET | Preview | NFL ENDZONE

Michael Strahan might not be able to help the Giants' pass defense. (AP)

So the clock starts ticking on Tom Coughlin's career. This time there is no Tiki Barber to save his job, though you wouldn't know it by the raft of Tiki stories this summer.

With Barber gone someone ... anyone ... must become the playmaker, and the logical choice is Eli Manning. It's his fourth season, and it's about time he makes the leap forward. Manning has the ability; he just lacks the consistency, particularly in the second half of the season. Missing Amani Toomer down the stretch was partly responsible for last season's decline, but it seems as if the Giants always are hurt in the second half of the year.

The concern is on defense, particularly the back seven, and look for Dallas' Tony Romo to exploit it with Terrell Owens. The Cowboys should make it tough for Manning to excel with an aggressive defense unleashed by new coach Wade Phillips, who had the Chargers producing a league-high 61 sacks a year ago. Dallas has the personnel to do the same thing. Memo to Giants left tackle Dave Diehl: Look out. They're coming after you.

Something to consider: The Giants' Plaxico Burress has scored in each of his past two games against Dallas. His teams are 22-10-1 when he has a touchdown catch.

Crummy game of the week

Detroit at Oakland, 4:15 p.m. ET | Preview

Josh McCown takes on the Lions, the team that sent him to Oakland. (AP)

One team allowed 63 sacks; the other allowed 72. If I'm Jon Kitna I get a restraining order against Derrick Burgess. If I'm JaMarcus Russell, I thank my lucky stars I have the day off. If I'm Josh McCown, I thank my lucky stars, too. Detroit is the club that sentenced him to Oakland, which means it's payback time, baby.

If I'm a season-ticket holder I spend the afternoon at Jack London Square, and here's why: Over the past four years the combined records of these two is 34-94, with neither winning more than six in one season. If I'm a punter, I'm busy.

Something to consider: The Raiders overhauled their roster and coaching staff. Twenty-four players are gone from last year's opening-day roster, including eight of 11 starters on offense.

Upset of the week

Buffalo (+3½) over Denver, 1 p.m. ET | Preview

Marshawn Lynch holds the key to Buffalo beating the Broncos. (AP)

Don't ask me why. Sometimes I like acting on intuition, and I just get the feeling that Buffalo shows up here and Denver does not. The Bills are shaky with their cornerbacks, and, yes, the loss of linebacker Keith Ellison is a concern. But Coy Wire played well this summer, and Jay Cutler is making only his sixth pro start.

Do I think the Broncos are the better club? Yes, I do. But not here. Not now. I watched them stumble in their 2005 opener at Miami, and I could see it happening again -- particularly if Buffalo can get anything going with rookie Marshawn Lynch. All I know is that under Mike Shanahan the Broncos opened the season on the road only four times -- and lost three of them. I'll take my chances.

Something to consider: When Javon Walker scored last season the Broncos were 5-1. They were 3-0 when he had 100 or more receiving yards.

Five guys I'd like to be

The Pats open at the Jets, where Tom Brady has never lost. (AP)

Tom Brady, QB, Patriots: Because he's 6-0 against the Jets at Giants Stadium.

Jason Elam, K, Broncos: Because he's 10-for-10 in opening week field goals.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers: Because he's 5-0 against the Browns.

Donovan McNabb, QB, Eagles: Because in his past two starts against Green Bay he completed 43-of-78 (65.8 percent) for 752 yards, with 7 touchdowns and no interceptions. He also had a career-best 464 yards passing and 5 touchdowns in a Nov. 5, 2004, game with the Pack.

Joey Harrington, QB, Falcons: Because he's unbeaten in Week 1 starts. Honest. Harrington is 3-0.

Stat of the week

Jon Gruden has started 10 different quarterbacks with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and all won at least one game -- the most among active coaches.

Stupid quote of the week

Poll What will be the best game of Week 1? 6% Panthers at Rams   13% Patriots at Jets   60% Bears at Chargers   16% Giants at Cowboys   5% Titans at Jaguars   Total Votes: 29198

"When I mentioned cultural thing, (it's) just like when people go out and they hunt deer. They hunt deer and they cut their heads off and they go to mount them on the wall. And they are animals as well. I don't see a big difference in the situation." -- Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens on dog fighting.

Where we will be

Pete will be in Jacksonville, providing company for Byron Leftwich.

I'll be in San Diego on Sunday and San Francisco on Monday. Hey, it's the West Coast. I need to explain?

Mike Freeman will be at Giants Stadium to broker the Bill Belichick-Eric Mangini détente.

Gregg Doyel will be in Cincinnati on Monday to serve as Chad Johnson's biographer. Or was that choreographer?