Skip to main content

Dallas Cowboys open 2012 NFL season with a bang

Football was back on Wednesday night, and so were the Dallas Cowboys. Check out "NFL AM" from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET today for the first round of highlights and analysis from a big opening night at the Meadowlands. Guests Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star Telegram and Howard Cross of the New York Giants Radio Network report on their respective teams, and we'll also hear from Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Griese and Super Bowl-winning coach Brian Billick.

Here's what else is on tap Thursday:

» The Philadelphia Eagles and first-time defensive coordinator Juan Castillo had a nightmare of a season in 2011. NFL.com's Bucky Brooks examines whether things should be any different this year.

Rapoport: Ranking Week 1 games

Ian Rapoport provides a pecking order of Week 1 contests, as well as storylines to follow in each matchup. **More ...**

» Adam Schein has the Schein Nine, leading with one of Sunday's more exciting matchups: RG3 and the Washington Redskins vs. Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.

» Albert Breer offers his picks and breakdowns for Week 1's weekend action.

» With most NFL teams naming their captains this week, NFL.com's Jeff Darlington takes a look at the role they play.

» The NFL announced the largest donation in its history on Wednesday -- $30 million to the National Institutes to Health for research into athletic injuries and long-term care.

» Your fantasy team is all set: Now you need to decide who's playing. Michael Fabiano comes to the rescue with the season's initial "Start 'em, Sit 'em" column of 2012.

» Match your wits against NFL Network stars like Deion Sanders, Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk and see if you can correctly predict the winners of every game in Week 1.

» There's not much time left to get a fantasy team up and running before the start of the season.

» Happy birthday to Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who turns 36 on Thursday.

Want to get NFL.com's top 10 headlines sent to your inbox daily? Click here for details.