While Smith talks about learning the nuances of the game from his teammate Sean Lee, he will also get an up-close look at one of the most dynamic linebackers in the N.F.L. this week in Denver’s Von Miller. The Broncos (1-0) are not nearly as scary as they were a few years ago — egos, age and free agency have a tendency to break up Super Bowl-winning teams — but Miller is still one of the game’s best players, though he will have to be creative to find any openings against Dallas’s formidable offensive line.

There is still some ambiguity as to Elliott’s status going forward, as he and the N.F.L. continue to battle in court over a suspension he received at the end of a lengthy domestic violence investigation. Should his availability change, Dallas’s prospects become far less strong. But with the offense at full strength, and Smith adding explosiveness to the defense, the Cowboys are nearly unbeatable. Pick: Cowboys

Packers at Falcons, 8:30 p.m., NBC

Line: Falcons by 2.5

Any mention of last year’s N.F.C. championship game is likely to induce cringing from the Packers and their fans. With a depleted secondary that was not that good when it was healthy, the Packers were crushed by the Falcons, losing, 44-21, while allowing Matt Ryan to throw for 392 yards and four touchdowns.

The Packers, who have typically buttered their bread with offense rather than defense, understood they had a flaw in need of serious correction, and if last week was any indication, they are moving in the right direction. Shutting down Russell Wilson of the Seahawks is a far easier task than dealing with Ryan, but with LaDarius Gunter, the goat of last year’s playoffs, having been demoted from No. 1 cornerback to the waiver wire (he was picked up by Carolina), Green Bay will at least be able to offer a different look, potentially slowing Julio Jones & Co.

On the other side of the ball, Aaron Rodgers sits just two touchdowns short of 300 for his career, a feat he will almost assuredly accomplish faster than any other player in terms of passing attempts. Rodgers has 4,699 career attempts, and the low is by Peyton Manning, who threw his 300th touchdown on his 5,306th attempt. When he hits that mark, which could come this week, Rodgers will be the 11th N.F.L. player to do so, but he will still be 142 short of Green Bay’s franchise record, which is held by his immediate predecessor, Brett Favre. Pick: Packers