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Around the NFC

EAGLES: Pro Bowl cornerback Troy Vincent is doubtful for Sunday's opener because of a bone bruise in his left knee. "It's going to be a battle for him to get back for the game," coach Andy Reid said. "He is working on it. He says it's feeling a little better."

49ERS: More than 8-million viewers tuned in to ESPN to watch San Francisco beat the Giants 16-13 on Jose Cortez's 36-yard field goal with six seconds left in the regular-season opener Thursday. The broadcast drew a 9.4 rating, ESPN's biggest audience since another NFL game in December 1999 and the eighth-largest audience for a cable telecast.

GIANTS: Falling just short of upsetting the 49ers is little consolation to coach Jim Fassel. Take away the key mistakes, and the Giants probably should have beaten San Francisco, a team many predict can make a run at the Super Bowl. "That's not what I am all about and that's not what this team is all about," Fassel said. "There is encouragement to say we can be good. A side of it is right now we are just taking that bitter pill."

REDSKINS: When it comes to new team debuts, Steve Spurrier is 3-0. "We won 'em all," Spurrier said. "But we were probably more than seven-point favorites." Spurrier goes for 4-0 Sunday when touchdown-favorite Washington plays host to Arizona. Spurrier won his first game as a head coach in 1983, when he was with the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits. He also won in his openers at Duke and Florida. ... Right tackle Jon Jansen hasn't missed a game since he graduated high school, making a school-record 50 consecutive starts at Michigan and 50 more, including two playoffs games, in three seasons in the NFL.

VIKINGS: Tragedy has seemingly affixed itself to Minnesota's offensive tackles. There was Korey Stringer's death during 2001 training camp. Lewis Kelly, the projected starter on the left side because No. 1 draft pick Bryant McKinnie is unsigned, is dealing with the death of his wife, Rakiva, and unborn child from a rare blood disorder. Kelly returned to practice Monday. But by early Wednesday, he had informed coach Mike Tice he needed more time. Minnesota has gotten a rare exemption from the league, allowing Kelly to remain active but not count against the 53-man roster.

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