Randall Cunningham and Phil Simms are back. Joe Montana and Jeff Hostetler aren`t. Some fantasy football fanatics already have been blown out of the water before the 73rd NFL season gets wet.
Are the Dallas Cowboys ready for prime time?
Are the Minnesota Vikings for real? Again?
With nine new coaches, this is like the first day of school when nobody knows any names.
Bobby Ross and Bob Gagliano. Which is the coach and which is the quarterback of the San Diego Chargers?
Hurricane Andrew is the boss in Miami, where the Dolphins and New England Patriots get the first bye of the season on a weekend when no byes were scheduled.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
Lions (0-0) at Bears (0-0)
The Cigar Bowl features Detroit coach Wayne Fontes making his first appearance in Chicago since lighting up his NFC Central Division victory cigar during halftime of the Bears` 52-14 loss to San Francisco last December. It also marks Rodney Peete`s first appearance against the Bears since he threw four touchdown passes in a Lions victory in Pontiac in 1990. Noon. Channel 2. Redskins (0-0) at Cowboys (0-0)
The champions against the wannabes in the first NFC East showdown of the season. The Cowboys upset the Redskins in Washington last season, but lost 33-31 on the second Monday night in Dallas. The Redskins got their unsigned players into camp earlier than the Cowboys, whose leading receiver a year ago, Michael Irvin, just signed Thursday. 8 p.m., Monday. Channel 7.
Vikings (0-0) at Packers (0-0)
No club created as much preseason talk as the Vikings, who outscored four opponents 140-6 under new coach Dennis Green, finally reaching the
”potential” Minnesotans expect in the real season. The Packers have more woes than they care to count. Noon.
49ers (0-0) at Giants (0-0)
Montana is on injured reserve and mad at the club. Steve Young is the starting quarterback and Simms is expected to sub for the injured Hostetler, although coach Ray Handley has been slow to decide. Young must do more than win, of course; he must win over the loyalty of players who would prefer Steve Bono. Those players include Montana, who never has liked Young. Meanwhile, Simms almost feels sorry for Hostetler, who heard as many boos in the preseason as Simms used to hear. Got all that? 3 p.m.
Saints (0-0) at Eagles (0-0)
The top two defenses in football meet head on. Last year, the Saints eked out a 13-6 victory in Philadelphia, but the Eagles had Brad Goebel at quarterback. The game marks the return of Cunningham, who was knocked out of last season in the first game. The Eagles have dedicated their season to the memory of defensive tackle Jerome Brown, the glue of the unit that finished first in rushing, passing and overall defense. Noon.
GAMES WORTH A PEEK
Jets (0-0) at Falcons (0-0)
Two upstart playoff teams from last year trying to take the next step, the Jets bring young quarterback Browning Nagle into Atlanta`s new Dome of Doom, where Jerry Glanville`s Circus opens minus the center-ring attraction, Deion Sanders, who is playing baseball for the Braves. Noon.
Bengals (0-0) at Seahawks (0-0)
New coaches David Shula and Tom Flores square off. Cincinnati`s Shula is the youngest coach in the league; Seattle`s Flores is the last AFC coach to win a Super Bowl. He did it with the Raiders in 1983. 3 p.m.
Raiders (0-0) at Broncos (0-0)
The first Sunday night matchup features two AFC West favorites. Denver edged L.A. twice last year, 16-13 and 17-16. Jay Schroeder is supposed to get the quarterback call for the Raiders, but Al Davis won`t wait until the playoffs this time to bring in Todd Marinovich. Close games are a tradition. Five of the last 16 have gone into overtime. 7 p.m. TNT.
Steelers (0-0) at Oilers (0-0)
If this isn`t a slam dunk for Jack Pardee`s Oilers, the Astrodome could turn ugly for the hometown heroes who are blessed/cursed with a so-called easy schedule. New Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher debuts with Neil O`Donnell at quarterback. The Steelers must face Warren Moon and his star receivers without injured cornerback Rod Woodson. Noon.
GAMES OF THE WEAK
Browns (0-0) at Colts (0-0)
It`s thumbs down for Indy already, unless Jeff George makes a miraculous recovery from a thumb injury. New coach Ted Marchibroda may need a new trick- the no-quarterback huddle. Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar will look more comfortable than ever taking snaps from Jay Hilgenberg. In 1974, a young coach Bill Belichick worked for Marchibroda in Baltimore for $25 a week. Noon.
Rams (0-0) at Bills (0-0)
Chuck Knox returns to Buffalo on the same day he returns to the Rams. Knox has coached everywhere. Will Marv Levy open the season playing his second-string to save them for the playoffs? Noon.
Cardinals (0-0) at Buccaneers (0-0)
These cousins open the season against each other and close the season against each other. While they`re at it, why don`t they just play each other every week? 3 p.m.
Chiefs (0-0) at Chargers (0-0)
David Krieg`s debut as quarterback of the Chiefs will be interesting to anyone who remembers he was the quarterback of the Seahawks for 11 years. The Chargers have a chance to be dreadful under new coach Bobby Ross, who is going with Bob Gagliano at quarterback. 3 p.m. Ch. 5.
