Houston (1-1) at Denver (1-0-1) Non-strikers from regular team -- Houston: NT Doug Smith. Denver: C Bill Bryan, T Dave Studdard.
Houston Coach Jerry Glanville -- 'We're trying to put in an offense and defense in minute form. The key to making anything work on offense is to protect the quarterback. That's our priority.'
Denver Coach Dan Reeves -- 'It's going to be different, playing with a new group of players, but the one constant factor is that nobody has an advantage because the other teams don't know what we have, either. Sometimes you just have to play with the cards you're dealt, and I just hope we play them better than the Oilers do.'
Houston defense: The most experienced players on Oilers' defense are DE Kenny Neil, who played for the Jets from 1981-83 in addition to playing for the Portland Breakers of the USFL in 1985, and S Kenny Johnson, who played seven seasons in Atlanta.
Houston offense -- Brent Pease, a 1987 11th round draft choice of Minnesota, will start at QB. RBs Herman Hunter and Ricky Moore both have NFL experience. WR Leonard Harris led the USFL in receiving in 1985 with the Denver Gold.
Denver offense -- Ranked first in NFL in total offense before strike, but Ken Karcher will never be confused with John Elway. Karcher, a former free agent from Tulane who was cut by the Broncos last year, will start at QB. Scott Caldwell, an 8th round draft choice of Detroit in 1985 is top RB.
Denver defense -- Among the more recognizable namesare DE Ray Woodard, who was released by the Broncos in the final cuts this year after spending 1986 on injured reserve; former Oilers LB Tim Joiner; and S Roger Jackson, whose four years of NFL experience give him seniority on the Broncos.
Head-to-head -- Oilers lead series 18-10-1. Broncos won last meeting 31-20 on Oct. 6, 1985.
Streaks -- Broncos' 18-year consecutive home sellout streak, now at 130 games, is in jeopardy.
Indianapolis (0-2) at Buffalo (1-1) Turf -- Artificial.
Non-strikers from regular team -- Indianapolis: QB Gary Hogeboom, WR Walter Murray, S Jim Perryman. Buffalo: None.
Indianapolis Coach Ron Meyer -- 'I think it (the game) will be competitive and I think we'll be an enthusiastic bunch, too.'
Buffalo Coach Marv Levy -- 'I don't know much about any of these players to know how they will stack up.'
Indianapolis defense -- LB Ricky Chatman was free agent with Colts in 1986 training camp. DL Jim Merritts and LB Gary Padjen were waived by Colts during 1985 training camp.
Buffalo offense -- QB Miller likely to start but receiving talent unknown. FB King played 5 games with Bills last year and spent part of 1985 and last season with Kansas City.
Buffalo defense -- Unknown quality, only recognizable name is LB Schankweiler out of Maryland, who was late Bills cut in training camp this year. LB Wenglikowski was active for seven games in 1984 before being waived.
Indianapolis offense -- Will start Hogeboom, who has thrown just one TD pass in first two losses, at QB. Murray should be prime target at WR, but has yet to catch a pass this year. TE Greg Hawthorne has 9 years experience and was Pittsburgh's first round pick in 1979, while WR Duncan was St. Louis' top pick in 1984.
Head-to-head -- Series tied at 16-16-1; Colts won last meeting, 24-14, Dec. 14, 1986.
Streaks -- Bills have won six straight over Colts at Rich Stadium. Colts Coach Meyer has 5-0 record against Bills.
Kansas City (1-1) at LA Raiders (2-0) Non-strikers from regular team -- Kansas City: None. LA Raiders: QB Marc Wilson.
Kansas City Coach Frank Gansz -- 'You're dealing with an awful lot of unknowns. I'd like to make them knowns but there's a high degree of uncertainty out there.'
LA Raiders Coach Tom Flores -- 'Obviously, we have a ways to go, but the enthusiasm is tremendous. All these guys are chasing a dream, because they realize we're not going to keep all of them.'
LA Raiders defense -- Few known players include lineman Rick Ackerman, LB Daryl Byrd and CB Rod Hill. Byrd played in Super Bowl XVIII and Hill is a former No. 1 pick for Dallas. Coverages expected to be basic.
Kansas City offense -- Woeful before the strike and probably about the same now. Biggest name is RB Ken Lacy, a second-year pro from Tulsa, who was last with the team in 1985. QB will probably be Matt Stevens, who was signed by the team to teach the 'real' players the offense when Gansz hired Homer Smith as his offensive coordinator. Rookie free agents at wide receiver.
Kansas City defense -- The strength of the team will still be the secondary led by CB Trent Bryant and SS Cornelius Dozier. LBs are small and include Bruce Holmes, a 12th-round draft choice last spring. On the line, the most experienced player of second-year DE Chris Linstrom.
Raiders offense -- QB Marc Wilson crossed line, but Vince Evans supposed to play because of poor offensive line. Receivers include David Williams, who had six catches in 15 games for Tampa Bay last year, and Carl Aikens, released by the Raiders and Cowboys during last two training camps.
Head-to-head -- Raiders leadseries, 30-21-2; Chiefs won last meeting, 20-17, last Dec. 14.
Streaks -- Kansas City is 1-11 since 1975 in the third week of the season; Raiders have won two straight since loss to Indianapolis last year. LA Rams (0-2) at New Orleans (1-1) Turf -- Artificial.
Non-strikers from regular team -- LA Rams: NT Alvin Wright, QB Steve Dils, RB Charles White. New Orleans: DE Bruce Clark, NT Tony Elliot, WR Eric Martin, SS Antonio Gibson and DB Reggie Sutton.
New Orleans Coach Jim Mora -- 'We'll use only a very small percentage of our playbook. I think any time you bring in a better football player (the union players who crossed the picket line) ... it upgrades your whole team.'
New Orleans defense -- Will be anchored by the return of two of the three starting down linemen (Clark and Elliot). Backfield bolstered by return of Gibson, Atkins, Adams and Sutton. Linebacking corps may be suspect with little pro experience between the four projected starters.
LA Rams offense $(TEXT OMITTED FROM SOURCE$) QB Bernard Quarles is a CFL refugee, RBs Thomas Jefferson and Alonzo Williams are rookies. Line has little experience. Wide receivers are led by four-year vet Bernard Henry.
Wright, a backup at nose tackle, is only Ram to cross picket line. Rest of line has some experience in Rams camp. Linebackers feature Whittingham brothers -- Kyle and Cary, who have little NFL experience. Backfield has no regular-season NFL experience.
New Orleans offense -- Mora hasn't decided who will start at quarterback, but both John Fourcade and Kevin Ingram are scrambling, option-type signal-callers. Running backs both have USFL experience, and some of offensive line has some USFL or NFL experience. Wide receivers corps bolstered by return of Martin, a good possession-type receiver.
Head-to-head -- Rams lead series, 24-10; Rams won last meeting, 26-13 last season. Streaks -- Rams have lost five straight, dating back to 15th game last season.
Cleveland (1-1) at New England (1-1) Favorite -- New England by 2.
Turf -- Artificial.
Non-strikers from regular team -- Cleveland: none. New England: RB Tony Collins and DL Benton Reed, a free agent at training camp, was on injured reserve since fourth exhibition game and is now healthy.
Cleveland Coach Marty Schottenheimer -- 'We'll start on the premise no one's going to try and out-smart anybody. We'll have a limited number of things (plays and formations) and everyone will try and do these to the best of their ability.' On whether to run or pass more: 'Personnel dictates whether you can do one or the other better; the run is easier because the timing on passing is more difficult.'
New England Coach Raymond Berry -- 'I have no idea which will work best (run or pass). We're trying to be realistic in the installation of what we're doing, but the younger players are still thinking through what to do. Protecting the quarterback is the big question, but we won't know how well we're prepared until the game. Offensive linemen are the most difficult to prepare.'
Browns defense -- Strong at linebacker and defensive line, says Schottenheimer. Steelers former first-round pick Darryl Sims will start at one defensive-end position.
Patriots offense -- Bob Bleier will start at quarterback. A first-year player from Richmond, he was in the Patriots training camp this summer and is familiar with their system. Berry is happy with WRs Larry Linne, Wayne Coffey, Dennis Gadbois and Brian Carey. Backup QB Todd Whitten has only been in camp since Sunday. RBs will be former Cowboy Chuck McSwain and Carl Woods.
Browns offense -- Quarterback Jeff Christensen, age 27, was a Browns' 5th-round draft choice in 1983, has had stays with Cleveland and Philadelphia. Ray Williams, from Clemson, will likely be at one wide-receiver spot; WR Mike McDade is a USFL, Canadian and Arena Football veteran.
Patriots defense -- Four linebackers were in the Patriots summer training camp and know the defensive system; late last week New England was still signing defensive backs to fill out the roster.
Head-to-head -- Browns lead series, 6-2; Cleveland won last meeting, 24-20, on Oct. 6, 1985.
Streaks -- Browns have won three of last four meetings with New England. Patriots have won 23 of last 34 regular-season games under Berry.
Miami (2-0) at Seattle (1-1)
Non-strikers from regular team -- Miami: None. Seattle: C Stan Eisenhooth.
Miami Coach Don Shula -- 'It's pretty hard to predict what will happen. Our secondary should be OK since we've got four guys there with NFL game experience. We really haven't evaluated our players yet since we've been working hard at just preparing them. I have no idea who will start at most positions. We've been preparing for Seattle's coaches more than for their players since we don't know much about them.'
Seattle Coach Chuck Knox -- 'I really don't know what we've got other than that will play as hard as they can. We have a good bunch in that sense. But as far as being any good, well, we'll find out Sunday. We'll decide on starters Friday. It's been difficult because we have a lot of players who were out of condition and were unfamilar with our system. As far as preparing for Miami, we're just preparing for their system.'
Seattle defense -- So lacking in experience that Knox has converted offensive players to defense. QB Charles Glaze probably will start at CB, where he tried out as a free agent for Seahawks.
Miami offense -- None of the QB -- Geoff Torretta, Scott Stancavage nor Kyle Mackey -- were familar with Miami offense. Torretta was Vinny Testaverde's backup at Miami. TE Lawrence Smapleton and WR George Farmer have played in the NFL.
Miami defense -- Secondary could be tough against inexperienced passer. Ss Demetrious Johnson and Tate Randle have started in NFL, and CBs Robert Sowell and John Swain have played with Dolphins. LB Dennis Fowlkes played parts of four years with Minnesota Vikings.
Seattle Offense -- Have passers in NAIA All-American David Lindley and San Diego State's Jim Plum. Glaze ran option at South Carolina State. Knox probably will emphasize run as usual and has reserve C Eisenhooth to anchor the line. Picked up former NFL RBs Rick Parros and Michael Morton Wednesday and both should play Sunday. WRs Ricky Teal, Kevin Juma and Mike Grant are talented.
Head-to-head -- Dolphins lead lead series, 3-1; Dolphins won last meeting, 31-10 in 1984 playoff game.
Streaks -- Dolphins have won five straight games on the road.
Pittsburgh (1-1) at Atlanta (1-1 Turf -- Natural.
Non-strikers from regular team -- Pittsburgh C Mike Webster, RB Earnest Jackson. Atlanta: none.
Atlanta Coach Marion Campbell -- 'I think the game will boil down to errors. Obviously some teams will have better personnel. We don't know much about Pittsburgh's personnel. We won't know comparative quality until they get out there. To win, we've got to be mistake free. We mainly are preparing for what the Steelers system wouldregularly be.'
Pittsburgh Coach Chuck Noll -- 'This reminds me of 1960, when we started the AFL with guys who are just like this. They ended up coming along pretty good after a bit. It proved to me there are lots of people, and all they need is an opportunity. Not all of them are going to benefit by it, but all you need is a few people. Our whole philosophy of winning is you have to be fundamentally sound, so we have to get the techniques across.'
Atlanta defense -- Line looks strong after signing DT Buddy Moor, a 3-year starter in the USFL; DE Booker Reese, Tampa Bay's 2nd-round draft pick with 35 NFL games under his belt; DE Mark Studaway, Houston's 4th-round pick in 1984 who hs played 12 NFL games; NT Emanuel Weaver, Cincinnati's 2nd-round pick in 1982; and DT Leonard Wingate, Los Angles Raiders 8th-round pick in 1985.
Pittsburgh offense -- QB Steve Bono spent two seasons as Minnesota reserve and played in first two preseason games with Pittsburgh after being signed as free agent. QB Reggie Collier played three seasons in USFL, was MVP at Orlando in 1985 after becoming starter in fifth game and passing for 2,578 yards. RB Rodney Carter played in ann four preseason games for Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh defense -- LB Chris Bingham played three season for Pittsburgh (1982-84) and one for San Diego (1985). SS Dave Edwards played for Pittsburgh in 1985-86.
Atlanta offense -- QB Erik Kramer was Atlantic Coast Conference player of year in 1986 and QB Jeff Van Raaphorst set career passing yardage record at Arizona State. RB Norm Granger drafted by Dallas in 5th round in 1984 and played 15 games as NFL rookie but sat out 1985 season and on injured reserve in 1986. RB Mike Williams was Philadelphia 4th-round pick in 1983.
Head-to-head -- Steelers lead series, 6-1; Pittsburgh won last meeting, 35-10, in 1984.
Streaks -- Steelers have won four straight over Falcons since loss in 1970.
San Diego (1-1) at Cincinnati (1-1)
Non-strikers from regular team -- San Diego: none. Cincinnati: LB Reggie Williams.
San Diego Coach Al Saunders -- 'We do have some experienced players, and we have some we don't know a whole lot about. We're still trying to sort them out before we decide what type of attack we'll employ.'
Cincinnati Coach Sam Wyche -- 'We know what their veterans would have done; we assume that their rookies will do some of those things. They won't be able to do as many, but they will do, philosophically, the same things.'
San Diego defense -- LB unit looks to be strength, as all four - John Taylor, Mike Humiston, Jeffrey Jackson and Brian Ingram -- have NFL experience. Secondary anchored by CB Ed Berry, who played in every game last year for Green Bay. CB Elvis Patterson, starter for Giants in first game of season but released, listed as third team on depth chart.
Cincinnati offense -- Inexperienced at all positions. Strength should be backfield, with former Buccaneer Pat Franklin and '87 draft choices Marc Logan and David McCluskey. QBs Adrian Breen and Dave Walter, neither of whom has any pro experience, will probably split time.
San Diego offense -- Former USFL and CFL QB Mike Kelley has speedy WRs Al backfield has all-CFLer Keyvan Jenkins and former Steeler Todd Spencer.
Cincinnati defense -- Addition of regular LB Reggie Williams will help immeasurably. DE Jeff Reinke (Raiders DL in '86) only other player with NFL experience. P Scott Fulhage nearly made team in training camp.
Head-to-head -- Chargers lead series, 10-7-1; Chargers won last meeting, 44-41 in 1985.
Streaks -- Chargers have beaten Bengals twice in a row in wild games (50-34 and 44-41) since Bengals beat them 27-7 in 1981 AFC Championship game.
Tampa Bay (1-1) at Detroit (0-2) Turf - Artificial.
Non-strikers from regular team - Tampa Bay: None. Detroit: None.
Tampa Bay Coach Ray Perkins -- 'In this kind of situation you prepare for schemes rather than for players, because I'm not sure exactly whose going to line up at Detroit. I expect several big plays from the kicking game because guys haven't worked together long enough to set up their lane coverages. I would also expect teams to pressure for blocked kicks.'
Detroit Coach Darryl Rogers -- 'As far as household names I don't think we have any. Tampa Bay has a number of USFL Tampa Bay Bandits but we don't have any Michigan Panthers. Ray Perkins is in the same boat. He doesn't know who we have. No one has lined up or said who is starting anywhere or what they are doing. I honestly have no idea.'
Tampa Bay defense - Will be more coordinated than most substitute teams because of common experience in USFL. CB Ivory Curry has previous NFL experience with LA Rams and Buccaneers.
Detroit offense - Don't look for much throwing with rookie QB Tod Hons, although Lions will probably try to set something basic up since complex run-blocking takes longer for a new offensive line to learn. Kicking game could be sore point, too, since Mike Black was cut by Lions last year after poor pressure punting. FB Stanley Edwards has been around. WR Eric Truvillion has USFL experience and WR Mel Hoover has three years of experience with Eagles.
Detroit defense - DEs Charles Benson, one of Miami's last cuts, and late Lions' cut George McDuffie make pass rush appear to be Detroit strong point. LBs Robert Thompson and Carl Carr have been around. DB Alvin Hall has NFL experience with Lions while KR Dan Bradley, former Oklahoma QB, could sparkle.
Tampa Bay offense - QB John Reaves, with nine years of NFL experience and three in the USFL, will probably throw a lot. Played three years with RB Greg Boone. Look for wide open offense.
Head-to-head - Next meeting Nov. 23 atTampa Stadium. Detroit leads series, 10-8; Lions won last meeting, 38-17.
Streaks - Tampa Bay snapped 19-game road losing streak in Silverdome last season. Teams split last year.
