USA TODAY US Edition

PREVIEWS PROVIDED BY USA TODAY SPORTS NFL TEAM WIRE SITES

-

not throwing an intercepti­on and RB Mark Ingram chewing up the clock with 26 carries and a run-stopping defense. Browns’ keys: They will look to continue with Baker Mayfield orchestrat­ing the passing attack with myriad weapons and Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt controllin­g the ground game. The team’s defense needs to avoid a letdown.

NEW ORLEANS (1-0) AT CAROLINA (1-0) TV: 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox

Tipico Sportsbook line: Saints by 3 1⁄2

Saints’ keys: With their strong defensive work in the trenches, the Saints must take advantage of Carolina’s injury-ridden, talent-deprived interior line. The Saints had two sacks and two intercepti­ons in their Week 1 win.

Panthers’ keys: RB Christian McCaffrey ate off a full plate in Week 1 with 30 touches for 187 yards from scrimmage. LB Shaq Thompson and this hot defense needs to force Saints QB Jameis Winston into uncomforta­ble spots.

MINNESOTA (0-1) AT ARIZONA (1-0) TV: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Tipico Sportsbook line: Cardinals by 3 1⁄2

Vikings’ keys: They outgained the Bengals and held them to 3 of 14 on third down but turned the ball over once, did not force turnovers and were penalized 12 times. They need another big day from QB Kirk Cousins (351 yards, 2 TDs).

Cardinals’ keys: OLB Chandler Jones opened the season with a career-high five sacks and forced two fumbles, after playing only five games in 2020. Arizona QB Kyler Murray threw for four TDs and 351 yards and rushed for a TD.

ATLANTA (0-1) AT TAMPA BAY (1-0) TV: 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, Fox Tipico Sportsbook line: Bucs by 12 1⁄2

Falcons’ keys: Their best hope for an upset is for the Bucs to beat themselves. Falcons QB Matt Ryan will need to get rid of the ball quickly to avoid the mismatch of a weak offensive line against a dominant pass rush.

Bucs’ keys: They’ll have to eliminate self-inflicted errors (turnovers and penalties) to maximize their loaded roster. Tom Brady wasn’t sacked, and his line will have to keep up protection.

TENNESSEE (0-1) AT SEATTLE (1-0)

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS

Tipico Sportsbook line: Seattle by 5 1⁄2 Titans’ keys: The offensive line has to do a much better job of protecting QB Ryan Tannehill, who was sacked six times and hit nine times by Arizona’s defense. The Titans could use a boost to their own pass rush as well. Seahawks’ keys: They should continue to build on the good things they did in Week 1, such as simplifyin­g looks for QB Russell Wilson, who was on an MVP pace in the first half of 2020 and played as well as ever at Indy with 4 TDs.

DALLAS (0-1) AT LA CHARGERS (1-0) TV: 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday, CBS Tipico Sportsbook line: Chargers by 3 1⁄2

Cowboys’ keys: If the offensive line can generate push, RB Ezekiel Elliott can exploit a defense that allowed 126 yards on the ground. When given time to distribute the wealth, QB Dak Prescott terrorized Tampa Bay’s secondary.

Chargers’ keys: Keep the ball in the hands of QB Justin Herbert. He must carry his momentum from the season opener against a Cowboys secondary that gave up 379 passing yards and four TDs against the Buccaneers.

K.C. (1-0) AT BALTIMORE (0-1)

TV: 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday, NBC Tipico Sportsbook line: Chiefs by 3 1⁄2

Chiefs’ keys: Take the short throws the Ravens give them and finish in the red zone; it will make things difficult on the Baltimore defense. With CB Marcus Peters out for the season, Baltimore lost some big-play ability.

Ravens’ keys: QB Lamar Jackson will have to take advantage of a sometimes suspect defense. Baltimore will have to get its ground game going despite injuries to RBs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards.

DETROIT (0-1) AT GREEN BAY (0-1)

TV: 8: 15 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN Tipico Sportsbook line: Packers by 11 1⁄2

Lions’ keys: Win the line of scrimmage, control the ball and get a takeaway or two. Detroit doesn’t have to search hard to find the blueprint; the Saints provided one in Week 1.

Packers’ keys: Get the offense back on track and create negative plays on defense. Getting the run game going and creating better protection for QB Aaron Rodgers should be priorities.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States