NFL Preview: John Madden's Opening-night Predictions

• Sep 6, 2007 04:00 AM ET
• by Dave Roeder

John Madden, NBC football analyst

And you thought Memorial Day weekend was the time to be in Indy? Tonight, the racing capital is football central. John Mellencamp, Faith Hill and Kelly Clarkson provide the music for the NFL Opening Kickoff 2007 (NBC and NFLNET, 8 pm/ET), and then the defending Super Bowl champion Colts host the New Orleans Saints on NFL Football (NBC, 8:30 pm/ET). “I was always impressed with baseball and the way they celebrated the opening day,” says Peacock analyst John Madden. “Now we’ve got the great opening as well.”

QB Drew Brees and the Saints, who led the league in passing yards last season (Peyton Manning and the Colts ranked second), surprised many by making it to the NFC title game. “They’re well coached, and they’re exciting. They’ll be better this year,” predicts Madden. The Colts have lost a host of key contributors since the Super Bowl, but Madden says he’ll “go with the champs until somebody beats them. They’ve got Peyton Manning. If you want to beat them, you’ve got to think in terms of scoring four TDs.”

Madden and partner Al Michaels begin their second Sunday Night Football stint this weekend with a Giants-Cowboys clash, which kicks off another strong prime-time schedule.

Get psyched for football season with clips of Peyton Manning and the Colts in our Online Video Guide.

The Sept. 3 issue of TV Guide features loads of NFL previews, as well as sneak peeks at many of your favorite returning shows. Try four risk-free issues now!

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