Prediction roundup
I know we were supposed to have learned our lesson that night in Arizona, but this is a sure thing.
Herm Edwards's Kansas City Chiefs will not be the team to halt the Patriots’ 19-game regular-season winning streak (not quite as glorious as the 21-game overall, is it?) You wanted intrigue in Week One? Forget it.
In last year's opener, at least there was the whole Mangini-Belichick angle to delve into, pre-Spygate.
Not that any showdown wouldn’t get you worked up about the return of the NFL, but it’s hard to imagine a less fascinating matchup to kick off a season, one where the Patriots were rewarded for their 18-1 season with a schedule that even the Atlanta Falcons might consider easy.
In 2007, the Jets proved great fodder for the debut of New England’s new air attack, and in the ensuing days became an historic afternoon after Eric Mangini ratted out his former mentor . In 2006, they opened with AFC East rival Buffalo and we enjoyed the sparkling debut of Laurence Maroney. In 2005 . . . well, Oakland. But at least they raised a banner that night.
This year, there are lingering effects of an 18-1 hangover in the stands and concern regarding Tom Brady’s health. But the worries are nothing a good ol’ fashioned rout can’t take care of in Week One, which, I guess is why the Chiefs are here. But it’s still the kind of game you want in mid-October, when things are rolling along nicely and you can divert a little of your attention to the ALCS.
If you're Edwards, what do you tell your team in preparation of facing a squad that has been waiting seven long months to get the bad taste of an historic choke out of its mouth? It's going to be as bad for them as for the poor, dimwitted Giants fan who decides it'd be funny to try and sell those 18-1 shirts somewhere along Route 1 Sunday.
Who they're picking
Our roundup of national writers' picks in this week's Patriots-Chiefs season opener:
Jim McCabe, Boston Globe: Patriots. “Proving the foot's OK, Tom Brady booms the opening kickoff.”
Boston Globe staff: Four out of five go with the Patriots. Mike Reiss takes the Chiefs against a 15 1/2 –point spread.
ESPN.com staff: Patriots across the board.
Peter King, Sports Illustrated: Patriots 33, Chiefs 13. “Tom Brady will wake up on gameday, phone good buddy Peyton Manning, and say: ‘I bet I'm a lot happier to be playing the Chiefs than you are to be playing the Bears today.’ Not really. But he'll be thinking it.”
FoxSports.com staff: Patriots across the board.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Patriots 41, Chiefs 17. “This is the mismatch of the week. The line is 17, and it's probably low. You have one of best teams against a club that is in complete rebuilding mode. Tom Brady against Brodie Croyle is not fair. Discount the preseason, the Patriots roll.”
CBS Sports staff: Three out of six pick the Patriots.
Cold, Hard Football Facts: Patriots 31, Chiefs 17. “The bad taste of losing the Super Bowl (and a perfect season) has lingered in the mouth of the Patriots like gridiron garlic. Tom Brady didn’t play a down of the preseason, so he and his teammates will be anxious to reestablish the dominance that saw them lead the league in Scoreability and Yards Per Passing Attempt. Facing a Chiefs team that finished dead last in Offensive Hog Index, Scoreability and Big Play Index will definitely help New England cleanse its palate.”
Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News: Patriots 38, Chiefs 20. “So, while they've won 19 straight regular-season games, the Chiefs have the NFL's longest losing streak, 9 games to end last season. You still have to like Brady over Brodie Croyle, as KC, even with Dwayne Bowe and Tony Gonzalez, doesn't have enough playmakers to keep up with Randy Moss, Wes Welker and friends. If you're in a survival pool, why not make sure you start off with a sure thing?”
USA Today staff: Patriots across the board.
Greg Cote, Miami Herald: Patriots 41, Chiefs 6. “Game stayed off betting boards through Thursday because Tom Brady remained iffy-though-likely with a sore shoulder. Otherwise point spread might have neared 20. NFL's best team vs. perhaps its worst, and Brady vs. Brodie (Croyle). Ouch! Expect Tom Terrific to play, although Pats could win this one with me at QB.”
Sam Farmer, LA Times: Patriots. “All the pressure is on New England in this one. The Patriots have been in that spot many times. The rebuilding Chiefs might hang close for a half, but it won't be the second half.”
Yahoo! sports staff: Patriots across the board.
Nancy Gay, San Francisco Chronicle: Patriots. “This looks like one of those early-season matchups between a No. 1-ranked college program and a visiting doormat. We think New England QB Tom Brady will be just fine.”
Our pick: Patriots 38, Chiefs 13. Ho-hum. Bring on the Jets.
The Chiefs are going nowhere if they don't get that Offensive Hog Index up.
What are the people at CBS smoking?
Sounds like the Superbowl predictions....
Comment !! What is there to comment about?. This one should be over before the popcorn gets out the microwave.
Heaven help the Pats if they lose this one. Remember "on any given Sunday."
this is why the rest of the country was for the G-Men in the SB. Nobody like arrogant fans!
The Charlestown Chiefs of "Slap Shot" fame could put up a better fight! Imagine the Hanson brothers playing for Herm Edwards...("Old time football, eh, coach?!")
I hope the 3 guys at CBS that are picking KC are doing so against the spread and not to win outright. Otherwise, they should be reassigned to cover a different sport.
The people at CBS must have been picking with a spread. either that or Jim Nantz had 3 votes. dude hates the Pats. anyway, i like this game to start the season. it gives the Pats a chance to flex their muscles a bit, answer some questions and (hopefully) reassert their dominance. a good tune up for the rest of the season. hopefully this will spark another running up the score debate.
Ummm... Neal, the picks were by the media, not the fans. Apparently 'nobody like arrogant media' either.
This game isn't about the taste of last year's superbowl for the Patriots. Its about the Patriots stopping the run and establishing a running game of their own. Its about KC's rookie corners (and Surtain) trying to handle Moss/Welker/Brady. Wake up and follow football, not sorry old story lines generated by people with too much time on their hands.
Pats 30, KC 10
The scrutiny will be unbearable (particularly for Brady) if the Pats lose this one. Let's hope we don't have to see that.
The CBS guys are picking against a 16.5 point spread.
CBS does do it against the spread...check out the link. No dope, I mean dopes, over there.
these predictions sound eerily similar to the picks you had for the Super Bowl vs. the Giants. Be careful, and think about how the Patriots themselves would respond after hearing all week long how they have no chance to win... my prediction is Chiefs 27 - 20. They grind out the clock with the running game and short screens in the 4th quarter. Patriots defense couldn't stop Holliston High School's JV with the heart (or lack thereof) they have shown me so far - dating back to the Super Bowl.
Joe,
You can't compare the Super Bowl and this game. You just can't. One team rolled through the playoffs with a dominating D, the other (Chiefs) has done...what exactly? If this was in K.C., MAYBE i'd give the Chiefs a shot. This one, no chance.
Selective memory at its finest. Plenty of people were picking the giants for the "I told you so". SI did a panel of 50 "celebrities" and almost half picked the giants.
I'm amazed that the picks are so heavily pro pats, the spread is very high and you have to wonder if it's a blowout the coach will sit Brady, and we all saw how that worked.
This is not going to be as high a scoring game as some are thinking. I think the Chiefs will beat the spread despite not scoring many points themselves.
CHEATERS SUCK! This team sucks and will only be remembered of the extent of their cheating. GO CHIEFS! Time for an upset in week one for the 0-4 patrishats!!
It will certainly reassure Pats loyalists if these predictions are borne out. The preseason was discouraging. The only real spark came from Gutierrez, who is history.
The Patriots will win this one....but it will be an "ugly win"
Win or lose (they'll win), the Patriots will finish somewhere around 12-4, 13-3 and be playoff bound again. I delight in the fact that they're so good it galls the fans of the pretenders no end. Please find a life. Please.
As a Pats fan living in Missouri. the Pats will win this game because the Chiefs are SO BAD. Unfortunately the Pats defense has not shown up during the pre season. The Pats will win 27 to 10 but the Chiefs may expose a weakness in the run defense.
I can just hear Herm Edwards' summary after the game:
"Well, we sang the anthem poorly, and it got worse from there"
Go Pats
Rocco said "The Patriots will win this one....but it will be an 'ugly win' "
Do you mean similiar to the Giants ugly win over the Redskins on Thursday night?? I'm sure the pats won't be held scoreless for a whole half of football.
There will be cries of NE "running up the score!"
@ macboss: You need to look up the difference between CHEATING and a RULES VIOLATION. And while you're at it, look up the difference between the PRESEASON and ACTUAL SEASON.
"CHEATERS SUCK! This team sucks and will only be remembered of the extent of their cheating. GO CHIEFS! Time for an upset in week one for the 0-4 patrishats!!"
Posted by macboss
macboss - you are incredibly lame.
Pick this.
macboss - get a life.... and get a new tag line - that cheaters thing is as tattered as the JETS (gee ya think he's an AFC East rival fan?). It's a new season so move on! Go Pats, Go Sox!
Yankees Suck!!!! Go Pats! Pats 31 Chiefs 13
I'm from KC and we are the worst team in football. No one will come close to being as bad as the chiefs. Thanks for not making us watch this at home. Please win 52-0 so we can get rid of Herms songs.
Take the spread. Pats 21-7
Brady got hurt. Bummer.
Brady down, Papi and Lowell back. Rays in town. Man do I miss beantown in September.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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