EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Ty Law knows the opening game won't make or break a season. Or does he?

	Bill Parcells has won three of four meetings with the Patriots since he left New England.

Law sounded as if Sunday's NFL opener between his New England Patriots and the New York Jets could have a deep impact on where the teams wind up. Sure, it's just the first of 16 games in a season that will end in the year 2000. But it's more than just Game 1.

"They're going to hype the game up to be like the Super Bowl, and that's all you can ask for," the All-Pro cornerback said of his team's meeting with its former coach, Bill Parcells, who took the Patriots to the Super Bowl three seasons ago. "And being a player you want to go out there and play in prime time in front of everybody and put on a good show. I think it's going to set the stage, if we go out and put on a good performance, for the rest of the year."

Actually, Law isn't alone in such thinking. Keyshawn Johnson, New York's Pro Bowl receiver, has the same approach.

"I'll see a lot of Ty Law, like I been seeing him the last three years," Johnson said with a laugh. "Because of the fact it's an AFC East game and we want to come out on top, we want to say, 'OK, we put one team behind us and won this game.' "

The Jets swept New England last year on the way to their first division title since joining the NFL in the 1970 merger. The Patriots still made the playoffs, falling to Jacksonville in the opening round.

But that was a significantly different team in New England than the one that comes to Giants Stadium. The Pats were ravaged by injuries in 1998, losing the services of quarterback Drew Bledsoe, receiver Terry Glenn, defensive end Willie McGinest and tight end Ben Coates at various times. All are healthy now.

	INJURY REPORT
	Patriots: QUESTIONABLE: S Tony George (knee); LB Andy Katzenmoyer (ankle). Jets: OUT: WR Wayne Chrebet (foot); CB Otis Smith (shoulder). DOUBTFUL: DT Ernie Logan (calf).

But middle linebacker Ted Johnson, anchor of the defense, is gone for this season with a torn biceps, with rookie Andy Katzenmoyer expected to start if an ankle injury doesn't sideline him. And running back Robert Edwards might never play again after wrecking his knee in an offseason beach football game.

"I expect us to be very effective offensively," said Bledsoe, who likely must do plenty of throwing until the running game comes around. Replacing Edwards are rookie Kevin Faulk and veteran Terry Allen, who has bad knees and was acquired only two weeks ago. "We have a ton of weapons, and I expect us to score a ton of points."

The Jets also expect to be potent, even though they'll go the first six weeks or so without receiver Wayne Chrebet (broken foot). Dedric Ward, who scored two of his three touchdowns last season vs. New England, will start, and veteran Quinn Early -- signed for just such a purpose -- will see lots of time in the slot Chrebet usually mans.

Unlike the Patriots, New York has a healthy, proven runner in Curtis Martin, signed away from New England before the '98 season.

Just like the Patriots, the Jets are eager to establish a foothold in what might be the most competitive division in the NFL.

"This is as tough a division as there is in football," Jets coach Bill Parcells said. "From any angle -- defense, offense, big-play players, rivalries, quarterbacks -- it is an incredibly strong division. The winner of this division has to be highly considered as a favorite going into the playoffs. If you survive this division, you have to be very ready for the playoffs."

NEW ENGLAND Season schedule and results

NY JETS Season schedule and results

September 12 @NY Jets 1:00pm ET September 19 Indianapolis 1:00pm ET September 26 NY Giants 8:20pm ET October 3 @Cleveland 1:00pm ET October 10 @Kansas City 1:00pm ET October 17 Miami 1:00pm ET October 24 Denver 1:00pm ET October 31 @Arizona 4:05pm ET November 15 NY Jets 9:00pm ET November 21 @Miami 1:00pm ET November 28 @Buffalo 1:00pm ET December 5 Dallas 8:20pm ET December 12 @Indianapolis 1:00pm ET December 19 @Philadelphia 1:00pm ET December 26 Buffalo 1:00pm ET January 2 Baltimore 1:00pm ET

September 12 New England 1:00pm ET September 19 @Buffalo 8:20pm ET September 26 Washington 1:00pm ET October 3 @Denver 4:15pm ET October 11 Jacksonville 9:00pm ET October 17 Indianapolis 1:00pm ET October 24 @Oakland 4:15pm ET November 7 Arizona 1:00pm ET November 15 @New England 9:00pm ET November 21 Buffalo 1:00pm ET November 28 @Indianapolis 4:15pm ET December 5 @NY Giants 1:00pm ET December 12 Miami 4:05pm ET December 19 @Dallas 4:15pm ET December 27 @Miami 9:00pm ET January 2 Seattle 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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