Who knew? Apparently, Randy Moss didn’t retire three years ago after all.
Moss, after sitting out the preseason with hamstring issues, made his Patriots debut last week against the Jets. The early reviews? We’ll answer the question with a question: Can you say comeback player of the year? Moss is just what the Patriots needed: a big-play, quick-strike receiver. If he vaguely resembles the Moss of old, New England should easily win the AFC East.
But then, when you’ve won three Super Bowls in six seasons, winning the division isn’t what it’s all about. It’s about winning another one, which is easier said than done in the big, bad AFC. We’ll know more about the Patriots on Sunday after they play the Chargers at Foxborough, Mass. The game is a rematch of last season’s division playoff game at San Diego, a loss for the Chargers that cost Marty Schottenheimer his job. Enter Norv Turner, who’s trying to refute the notion that, as head coaches go, he makes one heck of an offensive coordinator.
COUCH POTATO HEAVEN
San Diego at New England
6:15 p.m., Patriots by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Patriots won 24-21 division playoff game at San Diego on Jan. 14, 2007.
Chargers had 15 turnovers last season, then coughed it up four times in playoff loss to Pats. LaDainian Tomlinson in four games vs. Patriots: 137 yards
per, seven TDs. Not that, you know, the Chargers noticed, but New England players were dancing on Bolts’ logo after
playoff dubya at San Diego. Chargers’ D in opener vs. Bears: four forced turnovers, no TDs allowed. Pats LB Mike Vrabel just keeps on tickin’. Dude leads league with 2.5 sacks. Bolts beat Pats in October of 2005 at Foxborough,
snapping Pats’ 21-game home win streak.
Prediction: Chargers 31, Patriots 30
Indianapolis at Tennessee
11 a.m., Colts by 7
Last meeting: Titans won 20-17 at Tennessee
on Dec. 3, 2006.
Remember last time these two hooked up in
Nashville? Rob Bironas’ 60-yard FG gave Tin
Men the W. Indy DE Dwight Freeney,
Not For Long’s highest-paid defensive
player, has 10 sacks in past 10 vs. Titans.
Not that Titans are one-dimensional,
but their leading receiver
had two catches for 26 yards
in opener. Indy TB Joseph
“Have A Nice” Addai ran for
118 in Colts’ opener. Jeff
Fisher, NFL’s longest-tenured
coach, is 4-7 career vs. Colts.
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em: Titans
have five former Colts on their roster.
Prediction: Colts 31, Titans 23
WORTH THE ELECTRICITY
Houston at Carolina
11 a.m., Panthers by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Texans won 14-10
at Houston on Nov. 2, 2003.
Houston and Carolina worth the
electricity? Yep. They’re both better
than you think. Texanswon last two in
2006 before pounding Chiefs in opener.
Hugheston QB Matt Schaub
familiar with Panthers, having
played vs. them for Falcons in
2005 season. Panthers’ offense
will be better than last season.
We know because Steve
Smith (7-118 with a TD in opener) is
healthy.
Prediction: Panthers 23, Texans 19
Green Bay at N.Y. Giants
11 a.m., pick ’em
Last meeting: Giants won 14-7
at Green Bay on Oct. 3, 2004.
Brett Favre sitting on 148 wins,
one away from breaking tie with
John Elway for most W’s ever for
QB. Now if he’d just shave that scraggly
beard. With EliManning nursingbum
shoulder, Jared Lorenzen could start for
G-Men. Who knows? If he wins, maybe
he can snag a NutriSystem endorsement.
Pack has won five straight dating
to 2006. Packers’ D, with Nick Barnettand
A.J.Hawkat LB, among the Not
For Long’s most improved.
Prediction: Packers 16, Giants 13
N.Y. Jets at Baltimore
2:15 p.m., Ravens by 11
Last meeting: Ravens won 13-3 at
Baltimore on Oct. 2, 2005.
Jets’ young Oh line could be in for
long day vs. Ravens, second in the
league with 60 sacks in 2006. Check
injuries in this one as Jets QB Chad
Pennington, Ravens OT Jonathan
Ogden and LB Ray Lewis are hurting.
Jets 4-1 under Eric Mangini in
games following a loss. And this just
in, Jets lost opener vs. Pats. Never
fails. Ravens, who led the league with
plus-17 turnover figure last season,
were minus-4 in the opener.
Prediction: Ravens 20, Jets 16
Kansas City at Chicago
2:15 p.m., Bears by 12
Last meeting: Chiefs won 31-3 at
Kansas City on Dec. 28, 2003.
Chiefs Oh line in disarray and it
showed in opener, when Larry Johnson
ran for 129 – feet. True, but sad:
Bears’ Mike Brown, one of best safeties
in the bid’ness, gone for the season
with an Achilles tear. Herm Edwards
and Lovie Smith, opposing coaches in
this one, worked together on Tony
Dungy’s Tampa staff from 1996-2000.
Damon Huard listed as starting QB
du jour on Chiefs’ depth chart. OK, we
made that up. But you get the picture.
Prediction: Bears 27, Chiefs 0
BEATS CLEANING THE GARAGE
Buffalo at Pittsburgh
11 a.m., Steelers by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Steelers won 29-24 at Buffalo on
Jan. 2, 2005.
Pitt TB Willie Parker, coming off 109-yarder at
Cleveland, figures to run wild in this one. Steelers,
minus-8 in turnovers in ’06, were plus-4 in opener.
Bills QB J.P. Losman talked the talk before
opener, then threw for measly 97 yards vs. Broncos.
Buff rookie LB Paul Posluszny, a native of Aliquippa,
Pa., had nine tackles in debut vs. Bronx.
Prediction: Steelers 30, Bills 16
Cincinnati at Cleveland
11 a.m., Bengals by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Bengals won 30-0 at Cleveland on
Nov. 26, 2006.
Browns not expected to show a pulse in Battle of
Ohio. With Appalachian State not on their sked,
Brownies could go winless for a while. Talk about
the week that was. Bengals not only won opener,
not a single player was arrested. Chad Johnson
asked us to mention that he needs 82 receiving
yards to become Cincy’s all-time leader.
Prediction: Bengals 27, Browns 16
New Orleans at Tampa Bay
11 a.m., Saints by 3
Last meeting: Saints won 31-14 at Tampa on
Nov. 5, 2006.
Only one way to go for teams’ offense, which combined
for 16 points on opening weekend. Saints in
cruise control after jumping to 17-point lead in last
year’s game at Tampa. N’Awlins minus-2 in turnovers
in opener. No surprise there. Saints made playoffs
last season despite minus-4 ranking. Bucs
don’t usually win, but usually compete, witness 14-4-1
record vs. point spread in last 19 as home underdog.
Prediction: Saints 17, Bucs 10
Dallas at Miami
2:05 p.m., Cowboys by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Dolphins won 40-21 at Dallas on
Nov. 27, 2003.
Redskins were wearing “Beat Us” signs last
week, but Dolphins couldn’t do it. Stuff happens
when you only run for 66 yards. Cowboys’ offense
(45 points) impressive in opener, but ‘Boys
have issues on D, especially in secondary, where
CB Terence Newman is hurting and nickel and
dime DBs are new.
Prediction: Cowboys 16, Dolphins 13
Seattle at Arizona
2:05 p.m., Seahawks by 3
Last meeting: Cardinals won 27-21 at Arizona on
Dec. 10, 2006.
Seattle TB Shaun Alexander back to his accustomed
top spot among NFC rushers after 105-yard
performance vs. Bucs. Big challenge in this one
for rebuilt (four new starters) Arizona Oh line. Seahawks
pass rushers had five sacks in opener.
What happened to House of Cards’ passing game?
Anquan Boldin topped club with four catches, 22
yards in opener.
Prediction: Seahawks 34, Cardinals 27
Washington at Philadelphia
6:30 p.m. Monday, Eagles by 7
Last meeting: Eagles won 21-19 at Washington
on Dec. 10, 2006.
Eagles’ special teams were a joke – two muffed
punts – in opening loss at Green Bay. Washington
coach Joe Gibbs seeking 20th career W vs. Iggles.
Philly’s Andy Reid 11-5 career vs. ‘Skins.
‘Skins won 16-13 in opener, Eagles lost 16-13. Viewer
discretion advised for this one as Tony Kornheiser
returns to MNF booth.
Prediction: Eagles 24, Redskins 13
GET A LIFE, BUBBA
San Francisco at St. Louis
11 a.m., Rams by 3
Last meeting: Rams won 20-17 at St. Louis on
Nov. 26, 2006.
Rams TB Steven Jackson fumbled twice last season.
Sure enough, he coughed it up in last week’s
opener. St. Looie offensive line a mess with LT Orlando
Pace out for the year. With Pace gone, Rams
have – count ’em – four new starters doing the
blocking. Betting edge: Rams have lost eight
straight vs. point spread as home favorite within
NFC West.
Prediction: Rams 23, 49ers 19
Atlanta at Jacksonville
11 a.m., Jaguars by 10
Last meeting: Falcons won 21-14 at Atlanta on
Dec. 28, 2003.
What’s wrong with this picture? Bill Belichick
looks like a hobo and beats Jets by 112. Jags coach
Jack Del Rio, he of the suit and tie, gets embarrassed
vs. Tennessee. Joey Harrington, the man, the
myth, the myth. What’s this guy got to do to get run
out of the league? We can hear it now: With the
first pick in the 2008 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons
select Brian Brohm, quarterback, Louisville.
Prediction: Jaguars 31, Falcons 13
Minnesota at Detroit
2:05 p.m., Lions by 3
Last meeting: Vikings won 30-20 at Detroit on
Dec. 10, 2006.
You got your death, you got your taxes, and you
got the Vikings beating the Lions. Minnesota has
won 14 of past 15 vs. Men of Millen. QB Jon Kitna
has predicted 10 wins for Lions. Right. And while
he’s at it, he also predicts an end to global warming
by Tuesday. Ex-Bronco Tatum Bell in opener: 15
carries, 87 yards and a touch. He could find going
tougher in this one vs. Vikings’ stout run D.
Prediction: Lions 26, Vikings 17
