Opening Night
Tonight!
Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:30 p.m., NBC
Just last week, this seemed like the perfect way to open the season. The trendy AFC "sleeper" pick against the defending champs. I guess that's still the case, but Ben Roethlisberger's (PIT-QB) emergency surgery has left this feeling a little less important. It's also made Miami's schedule ridiculously easy. Somehow, Culpepper vs. Batch doesn't quite match Culpepper vs. Big Ben on the excitement scale.
Still, the regular season is finally here. Take tonight as a nice appetizer for Sunday/Monday.
Here are a few things to look out for:
1) Does Ronnie Brown (MIA-RB) take the first step toward superstardom. He's never been THE guy. Not last year as a rookie and not at Auburn. He's certainly got the talent, but can he take that level of punishment? Can he get stronger as the game goes on and keep the chains moving in the fourth quarter?
2) Daunte Culpepper (MIA-RB) sure looked all the way back during the preseason. But this is different. This is four quarters of everyone trying to crush him. Is he all the way healthy? If he is, is he the superstar from two years ago or the Joe Average from last year (pre-injury)?
3) How do the Steelers use their backs in short-yardage situations? Will Willie Parker (PIT-RB) get some looks near the goal-line or will he be replaced by someone else all the time?
4) How far from 100% healthy is Hines Ward (PIT-WR)? This could decide his fantasy status for Week 2.
See you Friday for the Week 1 extras and then check back Monday morning for the first of the Sunday game reactions/Monday game previews.
Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:30 p.m., NBC
Just last week, this seemed like the perfect way to open the season. The trendy AFC "sleeper" pick against the defending champs. I guess that's still the case, but Ben Roethlisberger's (PIT-QB) emergency surgery has left this feeling a little less important. It's also made Miami's schedule ridiculously easy. Somehow, Culpepper vs. Batch doesn't quite match Culpepper vs. Big Ben on the excitement scale.
Still, the regular season is finally here. Take tonight as a nice appetizer for Sunday/Monday.
Here are a few things to look out for:
1) Does Ronnie Brown (MIA-RB) take the first step toward superstardom. He's never been THE guy. Not last year as a rookie and not at Auburn. He's certainly got the talent, but can he take that level of punishment? Can he get stronger as the game goes on and keep the chains moving in the fourth quarter?
2) Daunte Culpepper (MIA-RB) sure looked all the way back during the preseason. But this is different. This is four quarters of everyone trying to crush him. Is he all the way healthy? If he is, is he the superstar from two years ago or the Joe Average from last year (pre-injury)?
3) How do the Steelers use their backs in short-yardage situations? Will Willie Parker (PIT-RB) get some looks near the goal-line or will he be replaced by someone else all the time?
4) How far from 100% healthy is Hines Ward (PIT-WR)? This could decide his fantasy status for Week 2.
See you Friday for the Week 1 extras and then check back Monday morning for the first of the Sunday game reactions/Monday game previews.
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