Skip to main content

September 6, 2010 Table Of Contents

1006830 - TOC Cover Image

Buy the Cover

Browse the Magazine

GOLF PLUS

Ryder Redux

The FedEx Cup Playoffs Kicked Off With a Wild Finish at the Barclays, but The Subplot Was the Story

By Alan Shipnuck

14 Hours, 21.7 Miles, 2 Barking Dogs

By Alan Shipnuck

Teeing Off

Edited by Jim Gorant

Superstar Effect

The numbers show that when Tiger Woods is in a funk, his competitors flourish

By David Epstein

Off Course

By Dottie Pepper

LEADING OFF

LEADING OFF

Inside: THE WEEK IN SPORTS

Life After Tim

The Spurs prepare for the post--Tim Duncan era in familiar fashion: with an overlooked import, Tiago Splitter

By Chris Mannix

Rise to Power

By reinventing his swing, late-blooming Jose Bautista turned himself into this year's breakout slugger

By Albert Chen

Off Base

By Joe Sheehan

Last Stand?

Under fire for reasons on and off the field, Rich Rodriguez enters Week 1 with much already at stake

By Austin Murphy

Early Risers

As rosters and roles come into focus, these players are looking even better than they did when practice started

By David Sabino

NFL PREVIEW

NFL PREVIEW 2010

By Peter King

CHICAGO'S LEAP OF FAITH

By Damon Hack

THE SACKMEN COMETH

By Peter King

MAKING THE SNAP DECISIONS

HE HAS THE STRONG ARM AND DRAMATIC FLAIR. BUT FOR MARK SANCHEZ TO BE A TRUE STAR, HE MUST DEVELOP THE NFL QB'S SIXTH SENSE

By Phil Taylor

SCOUTING REPORTS

By Peter King

STEELERS 33, PACKERS 27

My philosophy? Past performance is no guarantee of future results, August is packed with false positives, and there's no morals clause for the postseason. Expect the unexpected—and look for a Black and Gold party, Big Ben included, in Dallas in February. It just feels right

By Peter King

1 New York JETS

A big, bad and ever-improving tackle should clear a path to the postseason

By Ben Reiter

2 New England PATRIOTS

New England has been remade, but can it reclaim its supremacy over the NFL?

By Ben Reiter

3 Miami DOLPHINS

An offense looking for an adrenaline shot has found itself a game-breaker

By Ben Reiter

4 Buffalo BILLS

A mostly anonymous team is looking to sneak up on people. Not likely

By Ben Reiter

1 Pittsburgh STEELERS

The timing of Big Ben's return will make a dramatic difference in Steeltown

By Peter King

2 Baltimore RAVENS

The defense has question marks in the secondary and no apparent answers

By Peter King

3 Cincinnati BENGALS

Forget the arrival of T.O.—is Carson Palmer the quarterback he used to be?

By Peter King

4 Cleveland BROWNS

The Holmgren era begins with some housecleaning and a healthy dose of hope

By Damon Hack

1 Indianapolis COLTS

The quiet professionals are back for another run at the AFC crown

By Andrew Lawrence

2 Houston TEXANS

This team has talent, but does it have toughness? If so, the playoffs are in reach

By Andrew Lawrence

3 Tennessee TITANS

The talent is there—leadership and maturity are the pressing issues

By Andrew Lawrence

4 Jacksonville JAGUARS

A local product will try to revive Florida's fan-starved franchise

By Andrew Lawrence

1 San Diego CHARGERS

Holdouts at critical positions could scuttle Year 1 of the post-Tomlinson era

By Jim Trotter

2 Oakland RAIDERS

The ground game could be solid if Darren McFadden can stay on the field

By Jim Trotter

3 Denver BRONCOS

It's Kyle Orton's team—for now—and he looks ready to rise to the challenge

By Jim Trotter

4 Kansas City CHIEFS

The draft class of 2010 should set the tone for a long-term turnaround

By Don Banks

1 New York GIANTS

Resuscitating a once dominant defense? Looks like a job for Superman

By Pablo S. Torre

2 Dallas COWBOYS

An explosive, every-down back is needed, and Felix Jones says he's ready

By Peter King

3 Philadelphia EAGLES

New quarterback, new feature back and a new commitment to toughness

By Pablo S. Torre

4 Washington REDSKINS

Mike Shanahan arrives to, ahem, adjust some attitudes in D.C.

By Pablo S. Torre

1 Green Bay PACKERS

Their prospects are Super—if they can see their former icon as just another QB

By Damon Hack

2 Minnesota VIKINGS

The Man returns, but will he have the weapons to repeat last year's magic?

By Damon Hack

3 Chicago BEARS

An offensive whiz arrives on the Midway to inject some life into the attack

By Damon Hack

4 Detroit LIONS

Is that the sun peeking through the clouds over the Motor City 11?

By Damon Hack

1 New Orleans SAINTS

A Lombardi Trophy doesn't mean there's no room to improve, especially on D

By Andrew Lawrence

2 Carolina PANTHERS

A smart, low-risk offense will be the key to Carolina's hopes this season

By Peter King

3 Atlanta FALCONS

The defense must coalesce for this maturing team to contend consistently

By Peter King

4 Tampa Bay BUCCANEERS

It's the Dungy blueprint: Lay the foundation, and a title will come. Eventually

By Peter King

1 San Francisco 49ERS

Mike Singletary's crew will go as far as quarterback Alex Smith can take them

By Jim Trotter

2 Seattle SEAHAWKS

New coach Pete Carroll hopes a jolt of intensity will result in wins

By Jim Trotter

3 Arizona CARDINALS

An All-Pro receiver waits to see if someone—anyone—can get him the ball

By Jim Trotter

4 St. Louis RAMS

A berth in the playoffs is a long shot, but Steven Jackson runs on and on

By Jim Trotter

Point After

The NFL's Growing Pains

By Selena Roberts

Departments

The Best Week Of the Year

By Terry McDonell

Letters

Enter Power Sweep, Stage Right

In a pivotal scene from the upcoming drama, Vince Lombardi shows his Packers the play that will make them the first Super Bowl dynasty

Who's Hot Who's Not

Mann Down

An ex--LPGA star's antimosque rant has divided the golf community

By Michael Bamberger

For the Record

A Mere Speed Bump

Book it: Stephen Strasburg will be back and firing full force

By Albert Chen

Faces in the Crowd

Edited by Elizabeth McGarr

Just My Type

By Dan Patrick

The Vault