September 4, 2006 Table Of Contents
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Sure, they're a bit of a gamble, but these five players are primed for their big breakout. If your bet on one or more of them pays off, you could be sitting pretty come December
By Gene Menez
By Gene Menez
By David Sabino
THE LATEST NEWS YOU CAN USE
From the Editor
SI's coverage goes deeper
Air and Space
By Steve Rushin
Inside: The Week in Sports
Inside
By Albert Chen
By Tom Verducci
By Phil Taylor
2006 NFL Preview
A team jumping from worst to first isn't so rare anymore, which means everyone's preseason playoff hopes aren't crazy at all. It really is anybody's ball game
By Peter King
By Peter King
Yeah, his bark is bad--but his bite is worse, which is what makes voluble All-Pro Joey Porter not just the most quotable but also the most feared player in football
They are the next generation of NFL superstars, nine players coming off big years in which they revealed extraordinary talent that has placed them among the elite
Larry Johnson's transformation from enigmatic malcontent to maturing leader has been as quick and dramatic as one of his bursts up the middle
By Lineups compiled by David Sabino
The starting lineup makes this club the AFC team to beat! (It's a different story if stars like Daunte Culpepper go down)
Jangled nerves in Foxborough? Hardly obvious on first look--but closer inspection reveals some trouble in football paradise
While quarterbacking remains the talk of the town, it's the high-impact special teams that could spark a resurgence
The new coach made his name patching up the Patriots' defense, but the holes in this team won't be easily filled
The coach's future is uncertain, but the quarterback of the Super Bowl champs will leave no doubt who's boss on the field
Starting with the passer, the retooled roster is a Who's Who of onetime stars. The question is, How much do they have left?
By Bill Syken
Forget about the high-powered offense for a minute. Even if Carson Palmer comes back strong, is the defense up to snuff?
By Bill Syken
Roster turnover has produced hope for the 3-4 defense and-smile if you've heard this one before-stability at quarterback
By Bill Syken
The team that always produces regular-season pyrotechnics looks for ways to keep from petering out in the playoffs
By Peter King
The "reward" for last year's big success is a tougher schedule, but this team-eager to go deeper in the playoffs-can handle it
By Peter King
Bring Vince Young along slowly? Don't count on it. He'll get a sniff of the action early, and then ... let's see what happens
By Peter King
While Mario Williams is a quick fix on D, there's a lot of work involved (new system, new players) with repairing the offense
The AFC runners-up got a big-play threat in Javon Walker, the missing ingredient in their drive to the Super Bowl
There will be Law and order on defense with the arrivals of a Pro Bowl corner and a coach who made his name as a DB
The future is riding on the right arm of Philip Rivers-and for a guy who's thrown only 30 NFL passes, he isn't worried
Back in Silver and Black, Art Shell is cracking the whip, and the Hall of Fame tackle is starting with the offensive line
There's plenty of coaching brainpower and player talent on board, but now it's a matter of making it all fit together
For a big postseason drive, a consistently dominant defense and the development of Manning the Younger are paramount
They took a big chance on the game's most controversial player, but if all goes well, the potential payoff is huge
Happiness is life without T.O. But how long will the smiles last if Donovan McNabb doesn't get the help he needs?
Coach Lovie Smith continues to emphasize defense, but it's time for Rex Grossman and the offense to pull their weight
By Tim Layden
The Motor City makeover brings a new coach, a new offense, a new quarterback and-most important-a new attitude
By Tim Layden
It's a clean slate (well, almost) for a new coach who has big plans for the offense and for keeping the players in line
By Tim Layden
Brett Favre takes one more shot, but glory will be elusive unless the line, the back and the wideouts all come through
By Tim Layden
A team that was one healthy back short of the Super Bowl last year will go all the way if its ground game stays potent
By Peter King
The Chris Simms--led offense needs a fast start to work out the kinks and gear up for a brutal second-half schedule
By Peter King
They have a running problem, and it's not Michael Vick. The defense has to do a better job of stopping ballcarriers
By Peter King
Their return to the Big Easy and the debut of Reggie Bush have fans buzzing; if only there were more to be excited about
By Peter King
Losing the league's best guard is a serious blow to the ground game-not serious enough to deny a third straight division title
By Peter King
The Greatest Show on Turf is sticking closer to earth as a new coach puts a renewed emphasis on rushing and defense
There's a phoenix rising from a new nest in Glendale, though it must learn to run before it can fully take wing
A new coordinator and additional playmakers help the offense, but this club is still taking only baby steps back to respectability
Life of Reilly
By Rick Reilly
Departments
The U.S. women are so deep in talent that the competition to go to the worlds has never been fiercer
A third brother having earned his stripes, the Paganellis are the first trio of siblings to officiate in the NFL
By Franz Lidz
Absolutely, say Tiger Woods and others who worry that high-tech golf equipment--and the threat of steroids--are hurting the game
Baseball's internal steroid probe may be little more than hype
By Tom Verducci
The actress (Fever Pitch) costars in the upcoming poker drama Lucky You
By Adam Duerson
What to watch and watch for
By Chris Mannix