Week 1: NFL capsules by Associated Press
Sunday’s games
Atlanta (13-3) at BEARS (11-5)
Time: Sunday, noon, Fox
Line: Pick
Series: Tied 12-12
Last meeting: Falcons beat Bears 21-14, Oct. 18, 2009
Notes: Game matches reigning NFC South (Atlanta) and North (Chicago) champions. ... Atlanta came away with two close wins at home over Bears in recent years. In 2009, Michael Turner scored on 5-yard run with just over three minutes left and Bears drive stalled at Falcons 5, preserving 21-14 win. Bears blew opportunities, with Jay Cutler throwing an interception at Atlanta 9 and Matt Forte losing fumble at 1. ... In ‘08, Chicago’s Kyle Orton hit Rashied Davis with TD pass with 11 seconds left only to lose 22-20 on 48-yard FG by Jason Elam. ... Falcons’ 13 wins last season second-most in franchise history and gave them top seed in NFC; playoff run ended immediately in 48-21 loss to Green Bay. ... Atlanta led NFL in kickoff return average last season (26.5 yards). ... WR Roddy White set franchise records for catches (115) and yards receiving (1,389) while earning third consecutive Pro Bowl selection. ... Atlanta added No. 6 pick Julio Jones to mix at WR, giving Matt Ryan another big-play target. ... DE John Abraham fifth in NFL with 13 sacks last season. ... Turner led NFC with 1,371 yards rushing. Went to suburban North Chicago HS. ... Chicago 51-35-5 in season-openers and tied with Green Bay for most opening day wins. ... Bears attempted 258 rushing plays and 276 pass plays over final nine weeks last season. ... With 4,731 yards from scrimmage, Forte needs 33 to pass Curtis Conway for seventh on Bears’ list. ... LS Patrick Mannelly enters 14th season, tying club record with Doug Buffone (1966-79) and Hall of Famer Bill George (1952-65).
Detroit (6-10) at Tampa Bay (10-6)
Time: Sunday, noon
Line: Buccaneers by 1
Series: Lions lead 28-25
Last meeting: Lions beat Buccaneers 23-20 in OT, Dec. 19, 2010
Notes: Former NFC Central division rivals meet for second straight year at Raymond James Stadium, where Bucs have not played to full house since final home game of 2009 season. This will be ninth consecutive regular season game blacked out on local TV. ... Detroit’s Matthew Stafford and Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman were two of first three quarterbacks selected in 2009 draft. Stafford was No. 1 overall pick and Freeman selected 17th. ... Stafford was injured and did not play when Lions rallied to beat Bucs 23-20 in OT last season. WR Calvin Johnson had 10 catches for 152 yards in win, which ended Detroit’s NFL-record 26-game road losing streak. ... Stafford had league’s highest QB rating (154.7) in preseason, and Lions scored NFL-high 114 points in four exhibitions. ... Freeman begins second season as full-time starter and has thrown a TD pass in club-record 13 consecutive games. He threw for 3,451 yards, 25 TDs and six interceptions in 2010, helping Bucs go from 3-13 finish two years ago to 10-6 last season. ... Tampa Bay RB LeGarrette Blount rushed for NFL rookie-best 1,007 yards, while Detroit’s Jahvid Best led all first-year players with 1,042 yards from scrimmage, including 555 rushing and 487 receiving. ... Bucs second-year receiver Mike Williams had 65 catches for 964 yards and 11 TDs as rookie. ... Bucs, who last year became first team since 1970 to start at least 10 rookies during non-strike season and finish with winning record, open with two more newcomers in starting roles - first-round draft pick DE Adrian Clayborn and third-round selection MLB Mason Foster.
Philadelphia (10-6) at St. Louis (7-9)
Time: Sunday, noon
Line: Eagles by 4½
Series: Tied 17-17-1
Last meeting: Eagles beat Rams 38-3, Sept. 7, 2008
Notes: Philadelphia has won last two, and nine of last 11 dating to 1986. Coach Andy Reid enters 13th season with most wins (118), best win percentage (.618) and most playoff wins (10) in franchise history. Reid 4-3 against Rams. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo hired by Reid for first NFL coaching job and was assistant in Philadelphia from 1999-2006, part of four teams that played in four NFC title games and one Super Bowl. ... Rams made six-win improvement last season, were unbeaten in preseason for first time since 1979 and should again contend in weak NFC West. ... It’s Super Bowl or bust for Eagles after high-profile free agency foray that landed CBs Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, DE Jason Babin, DT Cullen Jenkins, WR Steve Smith and RB Ronnie Brown. ... Eagles set franchise records with 439 points and 6.230 net yards. ... QB Michael Vick is first player in NFL history with 3,000 passing yards, 20 passing TDs, 500 rushing yards and seven rushing TDs. ... RB LeSean McCoy led NFC with 1,672 yards from scrimmage. ... For Rams, OG Harvey Dahl, WR Mike Sims-Walker and RBs Cadillac Williams and Jerious Norwood make debut on offense, while DT Justin Bannan, OLBs Brady Poppinga and Ben Leber and S Quintin Mikell are new to defense. ... Mikell played previous eight seasons with Eagles and topped 100 tackles each of last three years. ... RB Steven Jackson has six straight 1,000-yard seasons, a franchise record. ... QB Sam Bradford set NFL rookie records for attempts (590) and completions (354) and with 3,512 yards passing is second only to Peyton Manning. ... MLB James Laurinaitis led team in tackles first two seasons.
Indianapolis (10-6) at Houston (6-10)
Time: Sunday, noon, CBS
Line: Texans by 8½
Series: Colts lead 16-2
Last meeting: Colts beat Texans 30-17, Nov. 1, 2010
Notes: Colts 9-3 in last 12 season openers. ... Indianapolis can become first team in NFL history to make playoffs 10 consecutive seasons. ... QB Kerry Collins makes 178th career start, replacing injured Peyton Manning (neck). Collins needs 111 yards passing to overtake Joe Montana (40,551) and move into 10th place all-time. ... Colts play without Manning for first time since 39-28 loss to Minnesota on Dec. 21, 1997. Colts’ starter for that game was Jim Harbaugh. ... WR Reggie Wayne has reached 1,000 yards receiving seven consecutive seasons, one shy of Marvin Harrison’s club record (1999-2006). ... RB Joseph Addai needs 26 yards rushing to pass Alan Ameche (4,045, 1955-60) and move into seventh place in Colts’ history. ... Colts’ DE Dwight Freeney leads NFL in sacks (94) and forced fumbles (41) since start of 2002 season. ... Texans RB Arian Foster’s status was uncertain because of hamstring injury. ... Foster rushed for club-record 231 yards and three TDs in opener against Indianapolis last year. His yardage total was second-best opening weekend rushing performance since 1933, topped only by Buffalo’s O.J. Simpson’s 250 in 1973 against New England. ... WR Andre Johnson only Texan who predates coach Gary Kubiak. Johnson was Texans’ first-round draft pick in 2003, and Kubiak was hired before the 2006 season. ... In 2010, Johnson became first NFL player to record at least 60 catches in each of his first eight seasons. ... Houston unveils 3-4 defense under new coordinator Wade Phillips. ... In Phillips’ last 13 years serving as defensive coordinator, his teams have made playoffs eight times. ... OLB Mario Williams, ILB DeMeco Ryans and ILB Brian Cushing will play together for first time since sixth game of 2010 season. ... Williams is team’s career sacks leader (48). ... Ryans is club’s leader in solo tackles (435).
Tennessee (6-10) at Jacksonville (8-8)
Time: Sunday, noon
Line: Jaguars by 2½
Series: Titans lead 19-14
Last meeting: Jaguars beat Titans 17-6, Dec. 5, 2010
Notes: Titans begin Mike Munchak era in Jacksonville, and they have All-Pro RB Chris Johnson on board for opener. Johnson signed four-year extension worth $53 million and will be in starting lineup against Jaguars. How close is he to being ready after missing training camp and preseason? “To be honest, nobody is in football shape if they’re not playing football,” he said. ... Titans will go with Matt Hasselbeck at QB. Former Seattle starter torched Jaguars last time he played them, completing 18 of 30 passes for 241 yards and four TDs in 41-0 win in October 2009. ... Jacksonville’s defense has been revamped, especially this offseason. Jaguars signed LB Paul Posluszny, LB Clint Session, S Dawan Landry, CB Drew Coleman and DE Matt Roth in frenzied free-agent period. And with DE Aaron Kampman back from knee injury, Jacksonville expects big things from unit. ... Jacksonville’s offense got recent makeover, too. Jaguars cut longtime QB David Garrard, turning things over to unproven Luke McCown. McCown is 1-6 in seven career starts and hasn’t started in four years. With McCown under center, Jaguars will count on RB Maurice Jones-Drew to be offensive workhorse.
Cincinnati (4-12) at Cleveland (5-11)
Time: Sunday, noon
Line: Browns by 6½
Series: Bengals lead 39-36
Last meeting: Bengals beat Browns 19-17, Dec. 19, 2010
Notes: Subplots and story lines galore in latest installment of “Battle of Ohio.” ... Browns 1-11 in openers since 1999. ... Bengals 6-13 in road openers. ... With Bengals QB Carson Palmer somewhere in California as standoff with team ownership drags on, rookie QB Andy Dalton will start. Dalton, a second-round draft pick, will have luxury of throwing to fellow rookie WR A.J. Green, a first-round pick and potential superstar Bengals counting on to replace Chad Ochocinco. ... Bengals RB Cedric Benson returned after being released from Texas jail, where he served time after being convicted of misdemeanor assault. Benson averaged 113 yards in four games against Browns. ... Bengals rookie G Clint Boling starts on right side in place of Bobbie Williams, suspended four games for violating the NFL’s ban on performance-enhancing substances. ... Bengals coach Marvin Lewis begins ninth season, surpassing franchise founder Paul Brown and Sam Wyche as longest tenured coach in team history. ... Pat Shurmur makes debut as Cleveland’s coach, Browns’ fifth since 1999. Shurmur will unveil West Coast offense he used effectively last season as offensive coordinator in St. Louis, where QB Sam Bradford turned team around. ... QB Colt McCoy begins year as Cleveland’s starter, one season after he opened as third-string rookie. ... Browns have issues on offensive line after losing LG Eric Steinbach for season with back injury and RT Tony Pashos slowed by injured foot. ... Browns have nine players 30 or over. Last season, they had 18 thirtysomethings in Week 1. Cleveland’s average age has dropped from AFC-high 27.49 to 26.01. ... Browns will wear white jerseys and white pants at home for first time since 1988.
Pittsburgh (14-5) at Baltimore (13-5)
Time: Sunday, noon
Line: Ravens by 2
Series: Steelers lead 18-12
Last meeting: Steelers beat Ravens 31-24, Jan. 15, 2011
Notes: Five of last eight games between bitter AFC North rivals decided by three points. ... Teams split series in 2010, each winning on road, before Steelers won at home 31-24 in second-round playoff game. ... Pittsburgh has won eight straight openers, longest active run in the NFL. Baltimore has won three in row and four of five. ... Steelers SS Troy Polamalu has interception in three straight openers and five of last six. ... Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger has won seven straight against Baltimore, including postseason. He’s 29-7 lifetime as a starter against AFC North, including 5-0 last year. He has thrown a career-best 158 consecutive passes in regular season without an interception, longest streak by a Pittsburgh QB since Kordell Stewart (159 in 2001). ... Steelers LB LaMarr Woodley has 812 sacks against Baltimore, most against any opponent. ... Baltimore is only NFL team to win at least one playoff game in each of past three seasons. ... Ravens QB Joe Flacco 19-5 at home as starter. ... Game marks Baltimore debut of RB Ricky Williams, who had 10 carries in preseason, and WR Lee Evans, who needs 66 yards receiving to reach 6,000 for his career. ... Ravens LB Terrell Suggs needs two sacks to top Peter Boulware (70) for most in Ravens history. ... Ravens FS Ed Reed needs 46 more yards on interception returns to break Rod Woodson’s NFL record of 1,483.
Buffalo (4-12) at Kansas City (10-7)
Time: Sunday, noon
Line: Chiefs by 6
Series: Bills lead 18-23-1
Last meeting: Chiefs beat Bills 13-10 in OT, Oct. 31, 2010
Notes: Chiefs had league’s best rushing offense last season. Bills had league’s worst rush defense. ... Ryan Succop’s winning FG in OT last season snapped Chiefs’ three-game losing streak to Bills. ... Last four meetings and six of seven between teams have been at Arrowhead Stadium. ... Bills coach Chan Gailey was Chiefs’ offensive coordinator in 2008 under Herm Edwards. He was initially retained by Todd Haley, but fired three games into ‘09 preseason. ... Bills have missed playoffs 11 straight seasons, tied with Detroit for NFL’s longest active drought. Chiefs won AFC West last season. ... Bills WR Stevie Johnson coming off breakout season in which he caught 82 passes for 1,073 yards and 10 TDs. Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe also had his best season in 2010, catching 72 passes for 1,162 yards and league-leading 15 TDs. ... Chiefs 113-55 at Arrowhead since 1990, including 7-1 last season. It’s third-best winning percentage in NFL behind Pittsburgh and Denver. ... Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt and Bills chairman Ralph Wilson Jr. were part of eight-member “Foolish Club” that founded the AFL. Chiefs won AFL titles in 1962, ‘66 and ‘69, while Bills won in ‘64 and ‘65.
Seattle (8-10) at San Francisco (6-10)
Time: Sunday, 3:15 p.m.
Line: Niners by 5½
Series: Seahawks lead 13-11
Last meeting: 49ers beat Seahawks 40-21, Dec. 12, 2010
Notes: Seattle has won 11 of last 16, and five of last eight meetings. Seahawks 5-3 at Candlestick Park since 2003, but have dropped last two meetings by combined score of 63-31 - committing five turnovers that led to San Francisco points in a 40-21 defeat last December. ... Seahawks put 31-6 whipping on 49ers in Week 1 last year to win coach Pete Carroll’s NFL debut after San Francisco had been picked as favorite to win NFC West. ... 49ers failed to reach the end zone and wound up losing their first five games. Seattle wound up winning West at 7-9, then upset defending Super Bowl champion Saints 41-36 for first playoff victory by team with losing record. ... Both teams went 2-2 this preseason. ... Seahawks debuts for QB Tarvaris Jackson and TE Zach Miller. Same for 49ers S Donte Whitner, who will be challenged with slowing down Pro Bowl TE Miller. ... Can 49ers WR Braylon Edwards make good on fresh start with 49ers after two-year stay with Jets was tarnished by a DWI? ... Carroll and first-year 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh take former Pac-10 rivalry to NFL. When Harbaugh’s Stanford team ran up score and tried late 2-point conversion in rout of Carroll’s USC club in 2009, it prompted a “What’s your deal?” from Carroll to Harbaugh when they met at midfield afterward. Both seem over it now. ... 49ers RB Frank Gore looks to come back strong after missing final five games of 2010 with fractured right hip. Fresh off new three-year deal that pays him $13.5 million guaranteed, Gore begins seventh season needing 931 yards to move from third to first on club’s all-time rushing list. Late Hall of Famer Joe Perry is career leader (7,344). San Francisco’s players will wear Perry’s No. 34 on their helmets this season. ... Seattle features a couple of Harbaugh’s former Stanford stars in WR Doug Baldwin and CB Richard Sherman. ... Hawaiian Airlines is new official charter for Seahawks, whose 26,918 miles will be second most in league, according to NFL. San Francisco set to travel the most miles at 29,196.
N.Y. Giants (10-6) at Washington (6-10)
Time: Sunday, 3:15 p.m.
Line: Giants by 3
Series: Giants lead 92-62-4
Last meeting: Giants beat Redskins 17-14, Jan. 2, 2011
Notes: Giants have dominated series in recent years, winning six straight and nine of 10. ... New York’s Eli Manning makes 111th consecutive start, taking over top spot among active QBs from brother Peyton Manning, whose run of 227 for Indianapolis comes to end because of neck injury. ... Giants defense hit hard by injuries. Latest is LB Jonathan Goff, lost for season with torn knee ligament. Two-time Pro Bowl DE Osi Umemyiora (knee) and rookie CB Prince Amukamara (foot) also won’t play. ... New York’s projected starting lineup has 11 of 22 different starters from opening weekend last year. The 53-man roster has 18 new players added since end of last season, including 10 rookies. ... Rex Grossman is Washington’s QB, having won job over John Beck during preseason. Grossman is starting on opening weekend for first time since 2007 with Chicago. ... RB Tim Hightower makes Redskins debut, one of 20 new players on roster in 2011. ... Washington could have as many as 14 new starters from Week 1 of last season. ... DT Barry Cofield faces old team in Redskins debut; played five seasons in New York. ... Redskins have downsized FedEx Field, with about 10,000 seats removed from upper deck. ... Former Secretary of State Colin Powell serves as Redskins’ honorary captain for coin toss, part of pregame ceremonies on 10th anniversary of terrorist attacks on Washington and New York.
Carolina (2-14) at Arizona (5-11)
Time: Sunday, 3:15 p.m.
Line: Cardinals by 7
Series: Panthers lead 8-2
Last meeting: Panthers beat Cardinals 19-12, Dec. 9, 2010
Notes: New Panthers coach Ron Rivera interviewed for Cardinals job that went to Ken Whisenhunt in 2007. ... Panthers WR Steve Smith needs 77 catches and 372 yards receiving to pass Muhsin Muhammad as franchise leader in both categories. ... Carolina CB Chris Gamble one interception shy of Eric Davis’ franchise record of 25. ... Cardinals and Panthers have played each other each season since 2007. ... Arizona won at Carolina 33-13 in second round of playoffs en route to Super Bowl in 2008 season. ... TE Jeff King, now with Arizona, caught 16-yard pass from Jimmy Clausen for Carolina’s only TD in Panthers’ 19-12 win over Cardinals last season. ... QB Cam Newton completed 42 percent of passes in preseason for 300 yards and TD with no interceptions. He rushed for 86 yards and TD in nine carries. ... Cardinals and Panthers were two worst offenses in NFL last season, averaging 269.3 and 258.4 yards, respectively. ... Cardinals open at home for only third time since franchise moved to Arizona in 1986. That doesn’t count 2001 season, when opener at Washington was postponed due to 9-11 attacks and team played at home following week. ... Arizona WR Larry Fitzgerald and Carolina’s Smith are second and fourth, respectively, in yards receiving in NFL since 2005. ... Cardinals’ starting lineup has 10 players who didn’t start last year’s opener, seven on offense. ... Arizona’s 403.3 ypg were most of any team in preseason. ... Cardinals play only four teams that had winning records last season - Giants, Steelers, Eagles and Ravens.
Minnesota (6-10) at San Diego (9-7)
Time: Sunday, 3:15 p.m.
Line: Chargers by 8½
Series: Tied 5-5
Notes: Vikings start first full season under Leslie Frazier, who took over Nov. 22 for fired Brad Childress. They went 3-3 under Frazier, and team removed interim tag from title in early January. ... Last time teams met, Adrian Peterson set NFL single-game rushing record with 296 yards on 30 carries in a 35-17 Vikings win in 2007. ... Chargers looking to tighten up rushing defense after allowing more than 100 yards rushing seven times last year, including three times in final five games. Most glaring was 251 yards Raiders gained Dec. 5 in San Diego, when they manhandled Chargers on both sides of ball. ... New Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb threw for season-high 450 yards against Chargers on Nov. 15, 2009, while with Eagles. ... McNabb needs two TDs passing to tie Steve Young for 21st on NFL’s all-time list with 232. ... Will be Chargers debut of ILB Takeo Spikes and SS Bob Sanders. ... Next Chargers win will be Norv Turner’s 100th as head coach in regular season. Overall, he’s 99-105-1 in 14 seasons with Washington, Oakland and San Diego. ... San Diego QB Philip Rivers needs 339 yards to reach 20,000 career yards.
Dallas (6-10) at N.Y. Jets (11-5)
Time: Sunday, 7:20 p.m., NBC
Line: Jets by 5
Series: Cowboys lead 7-2
Last meeting: Cowboys 34, New York 3, Nov. 22, 2007, at Cowboys Stadium.
Notes: Season opener features several story lines, perhaps none bigger than setting being 10th anniversary of terrorist attacks; MetLife Stadium a few miles across Hudson River from World Trade Center site. Several events planned to commemorate event before game and at halftime, including children of first responders serving as honorary team captains. ... Game pits Jets coach Rex Ryan against twin brother Rob, Cowboys’ defensive coordinator. Rex leads 5-3 in sibling rivalry, which dates to their college coaching days. ... Cowboys coach Jason Garrett makes debut as team’s full-time coach after going 5-3 as interim last season. ... Dallas looking for 35th opening day win, 20th on road. ... QB Tony Romo returns after missing final 10 games of last season with broken collarbone. ... Jason Witten needs 33 yards receiving to become seventh tight end to reach 7,000 career yards. He’s fifth on Cowboys’ career receiving list in yards receiving, 329 from passing Hall of Famer Bob Hayes for fourth. ... WR Dez Bryant had injury-shortened first season, finishing with 45 receptions - 1 shy of tying Hayes for team’s rookie mark. ... LB DeMarcus Ware has five straight seasons of 10 or more sacks, longest current active streak and four off Reggie White’s NFL record. ... Cowboys CB Terence Newman has lingering groin problem and likely won’t play; fellow starting CB Mike Jenkins suffered knee injury at practice Wednesday; and RT Tyron Smith also had knee injury at practice. ... Game marks return of Jets WR Plaxico Burress, who hasn’t played since 2008, while with Giants. He served 20 months in prison on a gun charge after accidentally shooting himself in leg in November 2008. ... QB Mark Sanchez has 23 wins, including four in postseason, to tie him with Baltimore’s Joe Flacco (2008-09) and Miami’s Dan Marino (1983-84) for second-most among QBs in first two seasons since 1970. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger (2004-05) had 27 in his first two seasons. ... Shonn Greene takes over as team’s starting RB in third season after serving as backup to LaDainian Tomlinson last season. ... Tomlinson, in second season with Jets, needs 259 yards rushing to pass Jerome Bettis (13,662) for fifth place on NFL career rushing list. ... WR Derrick Mason makes Jets debut while entering 14th NFL season, last six with Baltimore. He’s NFL active leader with 11,891 yards, and can become first player in league history with 60-plus catches and 750-plus yards receiving in 12 straight seasons. ... Wayne Hunter replaces the retired Damien Woody as Jets’ RT on line that otherwise returns intact. ... Jets return 10 of 11 defensive starters, losing only DE Shaun Ellis (Patriots) from team that went to second straight AFC championship game last season.
Monday’s games
New England (14-3) at Miami (7-9)
Time: Monday, 6 p.m., ESPN
Line: Patriots by 7
Series: Dolphins lead 50-41
Last meeting: Patriots beat Dolphins 38-7, Jan. 2, 2011
Notes: Patriots and Dolphins 3-3 when facing each other in season openers. ... Patriots scored almost twice as many points as Miami last year, 518 to 273. ... En route to AFC East title last season, New England beat Dolphins twice while outscoring them 79-21. ... Patriots have started past seven seasons 1-0. ... Tom Brady has thrown NFL record 335 consecutive passes without interception. ... Brady has won five of past six games against Dolphins while throwing 15 TD passes with five interceptions. ... Wes Welker has 55 catches in seven games against Miami, his former team. ... Patriots are 48-14 against AFC East over past 10 years. That’s best intradivisional record in NFL. ... Hall of Famers Dan Marino, Bob Griese, Dwight Stephenson and Larry Little will be Dolphins’ honorary captains. ... Dolphins LB Kevin Burnett will open season on Monday Night Football for third consecutive year. ... Miami has played in 76 Monday night games, most in NFL. ... With top draft pick Mike Pouncey, Dolphins will have different starter at center for fourth season opener in row. ... Dolphins RB Reggie Bush has never faced Patriots.
Oakland (8-8) at Denver (4-12)
Time: Monday, 7:15 p.m., ESPN
Line: Raiders by 3
Series: Raiders lead 58-41-2
Last meeting: Raiders beat Broncos 39-23, Dec. 19, 2010
Notes: Raiders scored most points in their history with 59-14 thumping of Broncos in last trip to Denver, sparked by Darren McFadden’s 165 yards and three TDs. ... Hue Jackson making Raiders head coaching debut, John Fox making Broncos head coaching debut after coming over from Carolina. ... Raiders going for eighth straight win against AFC West opponent. ... QB Jason Campbell is 3-0 vs. Denver. ... Raiders averaged 155.9 ypg last season, second-most in NFL, and Broncos allowed 154.6 ypg, second-worst in league. ... McFadden averaged 6.2 yards per carry against Denver (79 rushes for 487 yards). ... DE Richard Seymour needs 112 sacks to reach 50 for career. ... Broncos 16-6 in last 22 openers and 32-18-1 overall, best in AFC. ... QB Kyle Orton 21-9 as starter at home. He needs 226 yards passing to reach 13,000 for career. ... RB Willis McGahee makes Broncos debut, joining Knowshon Moreno in backfield. ... In McGahee’s last game against Oakland (on Jan. 3, 2010 with Baltimore), he ran for 167 yards and 3 TDs. ... WR Brandon Lloyd led league with career-best 1,448 yards receiving on career-high 77 catches last season. ... DE Elvis Dumervil has six sacks in eight career games vs. Raiders.