NFL pays tribute to heroes, victims of 9/11

From the Meadowlands to Arrowhead Stadium to Candlestick Park, the NFL on Sunday will remember the victims and heroes of the terrorist attacks of 10 years ago. Then it will fully open a season that was in doubt for 4 1/2 months during the lockout.

Coaches and players are both eager and nervous about getting started. Perhaps no one expressed those feelings better than Jets coach Rex Ryan, whose team hosts the Cowboys tonight just a few miles from ground zero.

"The significance of it, I think it's stronger than any game I've ever felt," Ryan said. "I feel more pressure on this game for whatever reason than any game I've ever coached, it seems like."

Players, coaches and sideline personnel will wear an NFL 9/11 ribbon as a patch or pin on their uniforms and sideline apparel. All stadiums hosting games today will feature the ribbon logo on the field.

Dallas at New York Jets

The Cowboys turned around their losing ways at the same stadium last season, beating the Giants in Jason Garrett's first game as interim coach. This is his first outing as full-time coach, after going 5-3 as the replacement for Wade Phillips.

Garrett hired Rex Ryan's twin brother, Rob, to run his defense. Their father, famed coach Buddy Ryan, will be at the game despite battling cancer.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore

Not a bad way to start the season: the NFL's most intense, physical rivals facing off.

Baltimore blew a 21-7 lead at Pittsburgh in last January's playoffs, a 31-24 loss. Don't expect to see that many points this time around, even though both sides have bolstered their offenses - receiver Lee Evans joining the Ravens in a trade with Buffalo; Pittsburgh's young wideouts Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders developing quickly.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco says this is not him versus Ben Roethlisberger to determine who gets a big jump in the AFC North.

Atlanta at Chicago

Many of the pieces for a championship run are in place for the Falcons, who gambled in the draft that receiver Julio Jones was the game-breaking missing element on offense. Defensively, they brought in end Ray Edwards to complement sackmaster John Abraham.

For their opener, they get a Bears team many felt won the NFC North with mirrors. If Chicago can protect Jay Cutler after yielding 56 sacks a year ago.

Detroit at Tampa Bay

Two teams on the move, although the Bucs made their big surge last season, going from 3-13 to 10-6. They have a strong chance of winning 10 again if quarterback Josh Freeman, running back LeGarrette Blount and wide receiver Mike Williams keep improving. The draft yielded key help on the defensive line and the Bucs already had a standout there in Gerald McCoy.

McCoy is not Ndamukong Suh, however. Suh, taken second overall in the 2010 draft, one spot ahead of McCoy, was the league's top defensive rookie. He just might be the NFL's top defensive player overall.

Philadelphia at St. Louis

Already anointed as the winners of free agency with the additions of Nnamdi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins, Ronnie Brown, and Vince Young to back up QB Michael Vick, and with a trade that netted solid cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, the Eagles will face tremendous pressure every week.

This week, Philly will try to put pressure on 2010 Offensive Rookie of the Year Sam Bradford. St. Louis' receiving corps is mediocre, which means Bradford must raise the wideouts' level of play .

Indianapolis at Houston

Peyton Manning has done dozens of things no one else has managed in the NFL, including winning four MVP awards. Now he does something else unprecedented for his career - sitting out a game.

His slow recovery from neck surgery means Manning's 227-game starting string, including playoffs, is over. Kerry Collins, signed out of retirement a few weeks ago, steps in.

"Obviously, we're not used to not having him (Manning) out there," defensive end Dwight Freeney said. "He's a great player. There are 52 other guys on the team, and one guy does not win the game."

New England at Miami (Monday night)

The NFL's best team in the 2010 regular season must prove it can stop the run and, despite a solid offensive line, protect Tom Brady. The Jets exposed some flaws in New England's protection last January, and other teams will try to emulate New York's strategies.

Miami might not have the players to do it, although its cornerbacks, Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, are comers. Where the Dolphins could be weakest is on their offensive line, aside from all-star tackle Jake Long.

Minnesota at San Diego

Two teams that specialized in drama last year. The Vikings no longer have the Favre Factor, with Donovan McNabb now the veteran behind center for a new head coach, Leslie Frazier. As always, the Vikings will want to get Adrian Peterson going quickly; the last time these teams met in 2007, Peterson set the NFL rushing record with 296 yards.

San Diego hopes it has cleaned up one of the worst special teams units in football and can avoid the slow starts that have plagued it in recent years.

Giants at Washington

One theme runs through every NFL training camp and in preseason games: don't get hurt.

Doesn't look like the Giants adhered to that philosophy very well, losing defensive starters Terrell Thomas and Jonathan Goff for the season. Also gone are backup linebacker Clint Sintim and second-round pick Marvin Austin. Top choice cornerback Prince Amukamara broke his foot early in camp, but should return, and two-time Pro Bowl DE Osi Umemyiora is still rehabilitating his knee after arthroscopic surgery.

Carolina at Arizona

Top overall draft pick Cam Newton makes his first real start, and Kevin Kolb takes over as quarterback in Arizona.

Both teams come off distressing 2010 seasons, with Ron Rivera replacing John Fox as Panthers coach and relying on veterans such as DeAngelo Williams, Steve Smith, Jon Beason and Jordan Gross to carry the team to respectability.

Buffalo at Kansas City

The Chiefs took advantage of a middling schedule and the most prolific running game in the league to win the division. Look for Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones to get plenty of carries against the Bills, who hope they shored up their interior with first-round DT Marcell Dareus.

Tennessee at Jacksonville

Two teams that understand the rebuilding mode. The only problem for Jacksonville is this is the third year of that program - and coach Jack Del Rio cut incumbent QB David Garrard this week, giving the job to journeyman Luke McCown.

Chris Johnson finally reported and signed a lucrative new contract with the Titans. Now the NFL's highest-paid running back, he will need to justify his salary while avoiding the nagging injuries that can come after missing the preseason. And after missing offseason workouts, for that matter, during the lockout.

Cincinnati at Cleveland

Forget the Battle of Ohio. This is a mild skirmish between two teams that should finish miles behind the Steelers and Ravens in the AFC North.

Cleveland does seem to be on the rise, though, while some believe the Bengals will win the Andrew Luck derby this year.