The NFL schedulers can't get too much of a good thing.
So 1991 begins looking like 1990 - the Dolphins at the Bills Sunday, followed by the 49ers at the Giants Monday night.The difference?
Buffalo and Miami are banged up. The 49ers play the Giants without Roger Craig and Ronnie Lott and with Joe Montana on injured reserve. The Giants counter with Phil Simms on the bench and Mark Bavaro in premature retirement with a knee injury.
The Dolphins played in Buffalo last Dec. 23 and lost the game that gave the Bills the AFC East title. They went back three weeks later and lost again, putting Buffalo into the AFC title game.
It's a little less crucial this week although it does match the AFC East's two best teams. Neither is in the best of shape.
In the seven quarters Dan Marino played in exhibitions after signing his new $25 million contract, he was 14 of 45 for 129 yards and the Dolphins didn't score a touchdown under his direction.
"We weren't able to accomplish our goal in training camp," says coach Don Shula. "A lot of people had the feeling at the end of last year that we had a pretty fine team. Our whole thought was to improve on that product."
Even with that improvement, the Dolphins wouldn't be rated with Buffalo, which enters the 1991 season the class of the AFC if not the NFL.
The Bills aren't in great shape themselves after a 2-3 exhibition season.
Jim Kelly sprained his ankle two weeks ago and began working this week. Bruce Smith, last year's defensive player of the year, missed all of the preseason after arthroscopic knee surgery and Leon Seals is banged up, leaving the Bills thin at defensive end.
49ers (15-3) at Giants (16-3)
Call this the Scramble Bowl.
Instead of Simms and Montana, the quarterbacks are Jeff Hostetler for the Giants and Steve Young for the 49ers, who will take off at the slightest hint of pressure.
Other members of the cast have changed, too.
It's Ray Handley's debut as Giants coach in place of the retired Bill Parcells, Montana is on injured reserve and Craig and Lott are Plan B'd off to the Raiders.
Vikings (6-10) at Bears (12-6)
Another important division opener.
This year's Vikings could be last year's Bears, rebounding after a 6-10 season to contend. But defensive tackle Keith Millard, who was supposed to be the key, is on injured reserve, still nursing the knee injury that kept him out most of last season.
Raiders (13-5) at Oilers (9-8)
A contrast in styles - the run-and-shoot against a defense capable of harrying Warren Moon.
The Raiders' problem may be psychological - after a great season, they were annihilated 51-3 by Buffalo in the AFC title game.
Falcons (5-11) at Chiefs (11-6)
Atlanta's run-and-shoot against Kansas City's prevent offense, otherwise known as Christian Okoye and Barry Word into the pile.
This could be a major trial for Atlanta's oft-injured quarterback, Chris Miller. His offensive line is in flux and he has to face Derrick Thomas, who led the NFL in sacks last year with 20.
Seahawks (9-7) at Saints (8-9)
If Seattle loses, no one can blame it on kicker Norm Johnson, who was cut in favor of rookie John Kasay after losing a few last year.
Lions (6-10) at Redskins (11-7)
The Redskins have been moving bodies around and may move more - like quarterback Stan Humphries, perhaps to San Diego.
But they have more bodies than the Lions, who may not even have Rodney Peete ready to play quarterback.
Cowboys (7-9) at Browns (3-13)
This could be a trap for Dallas, which opens with playoff hopes after a six-game improvement last year. Bill Belichick has the Browns fired up after a preseason that included wins over the Giants and Redskins and that should also fire up the crowd.
Eagles (10-7) at Packers (6-10)
The Rich Kotite era in Philadelphia begins with Clyde Simmons and Seth Joyner finally arrived at the last minute to fill in their spots in the defense.
But just as the key for Green Bay is the return of a healthy Don Majkowski, the most important Eagle remains Randall Cunningham, who last season accounted for 77 percent of the team's offense.
Patriots (1-15) at Colts (7-9)
The last regular-season game New England won was in Indianapolis the second week last year. It's also where the Lisa Olson controversy that followed the Patriots the rest of the season surfaced.
The Pats, under new coach Dick MacPherson, treated last week's exhibition win over the Giants like a Super Bowl victory and hope it propels them to a few wins this season.
Chargers (6-10) at Steelers (9-7)
Pittsburgh seems to have the same problem as last season, when it failed to score an offensive touchdown it its first four games. Bubby Brister didn't throw a TD pass in the preseason, but the defense was dominating at times and should be better now that cornerback Rod Woodson and linebacker David Little have ended their holdouts.
Cardinals (5-11) at Rams (5-11)
These were supposed to be two of the NFL's most improved teams and the Cardinals were one of two teams to go unbeaten in exhibitions. But a week ago they lost Timm Rosenbach for the season with a knee injury and will play Tom Tupa, drafted as a punter, at quarterback until they find someone else.
Buccaneers (6-10) at Jets (6-10)
Dexter Manley is now a Buc, which may or may not send shudders through the less-than-mobile Ken O'Brien, the Jets' quarterback. It probably won't - Manley just arrived after being cut by the Cards.