NFL This Week: Saints begin a sad odyssey in Carolina
The New Orleans Saints’ world may finally get back to a semblance of normality this afternoon, when they take the field in Charlotte to play the Carolina Panthers. But only for a few hours. In the past 10 days, the Saints and their families left New Orleans for California before Hurricane Katrina raged through the Gulf Coast. They then settled into a hotel in San Antonio, where they’ll probably live for the rest of the season.
So facing the Panthers will be a welcome relief from flying around the country, living in strange quarters and practicing in strange places.
Still …
“I don’t expect for the Carolina Panthers to feel sorry for us,” says wide receiver Joe Horn, who spent last weekend trying to comfort storm evacuees in the Houston Astrodome.
“In their heart, I’m sure they will. But once that clock starts, I’m not going to run around and catch a ball and not expect Julius Peppers to knock my head off.”
That’s just what the Panthers hope to do in what should be a comeback season.
The NFC champion two seasons ago, Carolina started 1-7 last year after losing a raft of key players to injury, then rallied to finish 7-9, a game out of a wild-card spot in the weak NFC. This season, the Panthers are among the conference favorites, based on what they did in 2003 and some offseason upgrades.
It’s hard to tell how the Saints will react to adversity, including the prospect of playing next week’s “home” opener at the home of their opponent, the New York Giants. They’ve always been a hard team to figure (a streaky 8-8 last season) and maybe they’ll find a positive way to deal with the worst of circumstances.
“If they think they’re playing on the road every game, we’ll probably win a lot more games,” Jim Haslett said of his players, 5-3 on the road last season and 3-5 at home.
That’s one positive spin for an understandably negative situation.
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Philadelphia (15-4) at Atlanta (12-6) (Monday)
This is the second straight game against the Eagles for the Falcons, who lost 27-10 last January in the NFC championship game in Philadelphia. The Eagles went on to lose 24-21 to New England in the Super Bowl, a loss that led to Terrell Owens’ critiques of Donovan McNabb, one of several T.O. episodes that have distracted the Eagles since then.
The Falcons still depend on Michael Vick’s legs. They dumped Peerless Price, who underachieved at wide receiver, but have high hopes for remaining wideouts, notably second-year man Michael Jenkins and rookie Roddy White.
Indianapolis (13-5) at Baltimore (9-7)
Kyle Boller is hardly Peyton Manning. The Indianapolis defense is hardly the Baltimore defense, although the Colts’ late addition of Corey Simon to the defensive line gives them another stud to go with Dwight Freeney.
Even in Week 1, this game has long-term implications.
While the Colts should win the AFC South, they need as many victories as they can get for home-field advantage – dome teams traditionally fare badly outdoors in January and Indy’s last two seasons were short-circuited in Foxborough.
The Ravens have added Derrick Mason, the most reliable receiver they’ve had in a while, but Boller still looks like he’s going through growing pains.
New York Jets (11-7) at Kansas City (7-9)
Once again, the Chiefs tried to upgrade their defense in the offseason, with the emphasis on “tried.” But the offense also is behind schedule: Trent Green missed most of the exhibition season and is trying to come back after vascular surgery two weeks ago.
Jets quarterback Chad Pennington is coming back from offseason rotator cuff surgery. His bigger problem may be learning a new offense installed by Mike Heimerdinger, who replaced Paul Hackett as offensive coordinator.
Seattle (9-8) at Jacksonville (9-7)
The first of two cross-country trips in four weeks for the Seahawks, who will travel a league-high 35,930 miles this season. The Jaguars also will be wearing white, forcing Seattle to wear blue in late-summer Florida heat.
“I just thought that with a team coming out of the Northwest, why not put them in their dark colors.” Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said.
Cincinnati (8-8) at Cleveland (4-12)
The Bengals consider this game critical because they’ve started 1-4 in Marvin Lewis’ first two seasons and want to get beyond .500. “Our whole key to our success is the first five games,” receiver Chad Johnson says. “The first five games will tell us whether we’re going to the postseason or not.”
The Browns are in total rebuilding mode in Romeo Crennel’s first season as head coach. Trent Dilfer is a decent caretaker quarterback, but third-round choice Charlie Frye, who already has moved up to second string, could become the starter later.
Dallas (6-10) at San Diego (12-5)
The Bill Parcells alumni society has Drew Bledsoe at QB now, giving Tuna a bunch of “my guys” who have their best years behind them. Even newly signed Peerless Price went to Dallas because he liked playing with Bledsoe in Buffalo.
San Diego and Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates messed up his contract negotiations, so he has to sit out this game, although Drew Brees still has a lot of options, most of all RB LaDainain Tomlinson.
Arizona (6-10) at New York Giants (6-10)
If Dennis Green hadn’t juggled QBs last season, the Cardinals might have made the playoffs. Now he has Kurt Warner, making his third straight opening day start in a game involving New York – he was sacked six times against the Giants with the Rams two years ago and lost with the Giants in Philly last season.
Houston (7-9) at Buffalo (9-7)
The Bills, who should have made the playoffs last year, gambled by dumping Bledsoe and going with untested second-year man J.P. Losman at QB. They certainly have enough defense to challenge this year, but the offense will depend on running back Willis McGahee.
The Texans have progressed in increments in their first three seasons and have some weapons, notably the passing combination of David Carr to Andre Johnson. But this is a year they must move beyond .500.
Green Bay (10-7) at Detroit (6-10)
Brett Favre, a month from his 36th birthday, makes his NFL record 226th straight start (counting playoffs). It might be hard because the Packers haven’t really replaced departed guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera and center Mike Flanagan is banged up.
The Lions, from whom a lot has been expected, had a miserable preseason although thing can turn around quickly in real games. Joey Harrington MUST produce this year and if anything happens to him, the only backup is rookie Dan Orlovsky because Jeff Garcia broke his leg.
Denver (10-7) at Miami (4-12)
The Broncos brought in a bunch of defensive linemen, notably ex-Browns Gerard Warren and Courtney Brown. But their season will depend on whatever maturity Jake Plummer can find – at 30, he can’t do things like force left-handed passes from his end zone.
Nick Saban has brought some discipline to Miami. But Gus Frerotte is an interim QB at best and Ronnie Brown, the second overall pick in the draft, starts right away with Ricky Williams suspended for four games.
Tampa Bay (5-11) at Minnesota (9-9)
The Vikings expect a lot this year, with Randy Moss’ absence seen as addition by subtraction. But they just added a potential Moss (both on the field and off) in troubled receiver Koren Robinson.
Using Tony Dungy’s players, Jon Gruden won a Super Bowl in his first year with the Bucs. Then he and Bruce Allen turned Tampa into Oakland East and the Bucs are 12-20. That probably won’t improve much.
Chicago (5-11) at Washington (6-10)
The Redskins messed up the offseason, yet might have enough high-priced talent to have a respectable year – IF Patrick Ramsey can deliver at quarterback.
The Bears have only Kyle Orton, a fourth-round rookie, at QB after the annual injury to Rex Grossman. Orton is the fifth quarterback to start for Chicago in just the 17th regular-season game of Lovie Smith’s coaching tenure.
St. Louis (9-9) at San Francisco (2-14)
Rams fans think this team may be as good as the 1999-2001 team, the “greatest show on turf.” It isn’t, but it won’t matter here. Mike Nolan is the new 49ers coach, Tim Rattay is the QB while Alex Smith learns, but nothing will change until the owner does.