Though most Patriots fans (and a certain 24-hour cable sports network) seem to be treating Tom Brady's Week 1 season-ending knee injury like some sort of national tragedy, New England is by no means done for the year.
In fact, I think the defending AFC champions will be just fine in 2008.
Sure, Brady's replacement, quarterback Matt Cassel, took just 33 more snaps in college than Sarah Palin. And yes, Vegas' odds on the Patriots winning Super Bowl XLIII went from league favorite to relative long-shot in just a few hours Sunday evening.
But who cares about all that? This is the NFL, and in the NFL life goes on. Just as life went on for the St. Louis Rams when Rodney Harrison destroyed Trent Green's leg in a 1999 preseason game. Just as life went on for the Giants when Phil Simms went down with an injury in 1990. Just as life went on for the Redskins when Jay Schroeder went down with an injury in 1987. And, oh yeah, just as life went on for the New England Patriots when Drew Bledsoe was seriously injured in the second week of the 2001 season.
In truth, Patriots fans shouldn't be the ones worrying this week. No, it's the fan bases of just about every other AFC preseason favorite that should be shaking in their boots. Outside of Pittsburgh, just about every expected AFC big dog looked like a puppy in Week 1:
And then there's San Diego. Ah, the Bolts. Everyone's Super Bowl pick, everyone's Week 1 Survivor League pick, everyone's sure thing out of the AFC West. Well, L.T., Philip and the boys fell to a Carolina Panthers team listed as 10.5-point underdogs last Sunday morning. So, Patriots fans, breathe deep. Things will be OK. Your squad's undefeated, they've still got the easiest schedule in the NFL this season, and there's still a team full of Pro Bowl players on both sides of the ball taking the field this Sunday against the Jets.
Most importantly, you've got an excuse.
The rest of the AFC's supposed "powerhouses?" Not so much.
And hey, even if the Patriots struggle, stumble and completely miss the playoffs, they'll still be better than at least one team in the conference.
Sorry, Raiders fans. I've got no pep talk for you guys.
The Week 2 Cheat Sheet
Chicago at Carolina, 1 p.m. EST
A few weeks back, former Chicago wideout Muhsin Muhammad labeled the Bears as a team "where receivers go to die." Safe to say there will be a bulletin board somewhere in the Chicago locker room featuring Moose's quote, name, or face. Pick: Chicago 17, Carolina 13
Tennessee at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. EST
After a late-night police-led manhunt for "missing" quarterback Vince Young in Nashville on Monday evening, the third-year pro was found hanging out in his buddy's apartment watching "Monday Night Football." No such luck on the manhunt for the Bengals' missing offense. Pick: Cincinnati 17, Tennessee 10
Green Bay at Detroit, 1 p.m. EST
Since hiring Matt Millen in 2001, the Lions have yet to finish above .500, finish higher than third in the NFC North or make the playoffs. Forget Favre and Rodgers, the Packers can trot out one of the Milwaukee Brewers' middle relievers at quarterback and still beat Detroit. Pick: Green Bay 38, Detroit 10
Buffalo at Jacksonville, 1 p.m. EST
Buffalo fans seemed awfully upset with me over calling their team the Toronto Bills last week. They're right; the club's ownership will at least have the decency to change the nickname when they move out of town in a couple years. Pick: Jacksonville 21, Buffalo 17
Oakland at Kansas City, 1 p.m. EST
Do you think Oakland's $70 million cornerback DeAngelo Hall wakes up in the middle of the evening from nightmares of Denver rookie Eddie Royal exposing him as the most overrated defensive back in the league for the remainder of the season — or just this week? What Royal did to Hall on Monday night — nine catches, 146 yards, two touchdowns — just wasn't fair. Pick: Kansas City 21, Oakland 3
Indianapolis at Minnesota, 1 p.m. EST
The Colts' porous rush defense made Bears running back Matt Forte look like Adrian Peterson last Sunday. Who are they up against this week? Oh no. Pick: Minnesota 28, Indianapolis 24
New York Giants at St. Louis, 1 p.m. EST
The Giants have won 10 consecutive road games (including the playoffs) and set the single-season record for wins away from home in '07. Combine that with the fact that Chase Daniel and the Missouri Tigers would give the Rams a competitive game this season, and you can safely pick New York in all your survivor pools. Pick: New York 27, St. Louis 17
New Orleans at Washington, 1 p.m. EST
Though he's undoubtedly one of the best signal callers in the NFL, the Saints' Drew Brees historically has struggled against the Redskins, tossing no touchdowns and four interceptions in his career vs. Washington. If there ever was a Week 2 "must win," this is it for the Jim Zorn-led Redskins. Pick: Washington 24, New Orleans 21
New England at New York Jets, 4:15 p.m. EST
Get ready for the usual "Belichick/Mangini frosty embrace" camera shot at midfield immediately following this game. A game in which Matt Cassel should show us all what he's made of. Pick: New England 24, New York Jets 10
San Francisco at Seattle, 4:15 p.m. EST
Seattle's won 15 of its last 19 games against NFC West opponents, including their last five. That was, of course, when the Seahawks still had NFL wide receivers playing for them. Pick: San Francisco 28, Seattle 21
Atlanta at Tampa Bay, 4:15 p.m. EST
Matt Ryan became the first quarterback to throw a 50-plus-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter of his NFL debut since Roger Staubach did it in 1969. He'll look to repeat last week's stellar performance in this clash with 2007's NFC South champs. Pick: Tampa Bay 27, Atlanta 12
Miami at Arizona, 4:15 p.m. EST
This game, though perhaps not exactly riveting on paper, features the league's top two career completion percentage leaders in Chad Pennington (65.5) and Kurt Warner (65.1). So if you like lots of six-yard completions and smart decision-making, tune in! Pick: Arizona 31, Miami 21
San Diego at Denver, 4 p.m. EST
If you thought Cutler to Royal was an explosive QB/WR combo on Monday night, just wait until you see Cutler to Marshall on Sunday. Perhaps the AFC West isn't a one-horse race after all. Pick: San Diego 31, Denver 30
Baltimore at Houston, 4 p.m. EST
The Joe Flacco era started beautifully with a win in the rookie quarterback's NFL debut. You know who else won his first NFL start? Ryan Leaf. Pick: Houston 20, Baltimore 7
Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 8:15 EST
I got more than 200 emails from Steelers fans killing me for taking Houston over Pittsburgh in Week 1. I was just impressed that more than 200 Steelers fans knew how to use the Internet. Pick: Pittsburgh 28, Cleveland 21
Philadelphia at Dallas, Monday night
Though it's probably a bit too early to hype this as an NFC Championship Game preview, no other NFC squad looked as good as Philly or Dallas last weekend. And yes, that includes the Super Bowl champion Giants. Pick: Dallas 35, Philadelphia 20
Reader email of the week
Peter,
I get the feeling you drink yourself silly, take a dart board, and pick your games by stumbling around your backyard and throwing darts at random. There's no other way you'd pick the Texans to beat the Steelers or the 49ers to beat the Cardinals. Either that, or you have absolutely no clue about football, life, or the ways of the universe.
— C-Rock, Phoenix, AZ
C-Rock,
You're kinda right. Though I'd like to think I know a little something about football and this silly little thing called life, I don't have much knowledge on the ways of the universe. I'm not exactly sure I'd consider a guy who refers to himself as "C-Rock" an expert either, though.
Three burning questions heading into the weekend
