Trends, tips and timely stats — Week One

By Art Edelstein, Contributing writer
Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2001

• Heading into their opener vs. the Bears, the Ravens had won their final 11 games (including playoffs) last season, covering the spread 10 times.

• Heading into their Monday-night battle vs. the Giants, the Broncos are 7-1 straight up and 7-1 vs. the spread in their last eight home games vs. NFC teams. The average margin of victory in the seven wins was 25.2 points.

• The Falcons have lost nine straight games in San Francisco (2-7 against the number).

• Heading into their game at Cincinnati, the Patriots have covered the spread in their first road game each of the last four seasons.

• Rams RB Marshall Faulk will try to pick up where he left off last season (11 TDs in the final three regular-season games). The Eagles’ defense might have something to say about it.

Many players will try to duplicate big outings vs. opponents from last season:

• Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper hopes to repeat his 357-yard, three-TD effort vs. the Panthers in 2000.

• Jets RB Curtis Martin will try to match his 203 rushing yards and one TD vs. the Colts in Week 14.

• Jaguars RB Fred Taylor would like to come out of the blocks quickly and come close to the 234 rushing yards and three TDs he put up vs. the Steelers in Week 12.

• Buccaneers RB Warrick Dunn was one of three backs to gain more than 200 rushing yards vs. the Cowboys last season (210 yards and two TDs).

• Cowboys rookie QB Quincy Carter will try to ignite a passing attack that did not throw a TD pass in its final four games last season (one in the last six games). The Buccaneers’ defense intercepted nine passes in its final three regular-season games last year.

• Steelers RB Jerome Bettis may be reaching the end of the line. He scored only two TDs in his final nine games last season.

• Broncos QB Brian Griese faces a Giants defense that has intercepted a pass in 11 straight regular-season games, and Chiefs QB Trent Green will face a Raiders defense that has picked off passes in 10 straight games.

The Archives
2001 - 2002 Season