In a not-so-surprising move, the Patriots have re-signed Deion Branch.  With Hernandez out, it's looking like the Pats will try their hand at some three-receiver sets this week.   And for the two tight-end packages, the newly acquired Kellen Winslow may be just what the Patriots need to keep things going in Aaron's absence.  Overall, I would chalk this up as two solid personel moves for the Patriots.

Now if only they could talk Matt Light and Brian Waters out of retirement...

The Patriots opened as 2.5-point underdogs as they travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in Week 3.

You know what I miss about this game? Terrell Suggs. Now that Bart Scott is gone, there is really only one guy on the Ravens who will say completely outlandish things that make sense nowhere outside of the Baltimore locker room. Seriously, if you read a story on ESPN something to the effect of "Suggs Says Tom Brady Should be Flayed Alive and Fed to Famished Lions," do you even bat an eyelash anymore? Or try to make sense of it? Get well soon, Terrell.

Aside from cutting the entertainment factor by approximately 100%, the absence of Suggs means that the Ravens' pass rush is a lot less imposing. It's not a bunch of kittens and puppies out there, but when an opponent's front four can't generate a big rush without blitzing, Brady can usually find success. And you just get the feeling that after a pair of substandard games to open the season, Tom is due for one of those Eff-You games with 11 TDs and a thousand yards.

Much like professional sportswriters, we've made it to third paragraph of a story about the Ravens without feeling the need to mention Joe Flacco. If the game is on the line, is there a playoff-caliber QB you trust less? It's not that he's a bad quarterback. To wit, his stats suggest a guy who is decidedly average. But he and the Ravens always seem to find a way to lose perfectly winnable games. Last week in Philly was one more example. +2 turnover margin, -1 on the scoreboard, all against a team that has been particularly adept at blowing games in their own right.

Add it all up, and this seems like one of those games the Ravens are supposed to win, but somehow blow in the end. If you're giving me points in that scenario, I'll gladly accept them. I'll take the Pats and the points.

Plain and simple: The Patriots didn’t deserve to win this game.

Despite being handed a free shot at vindicating themselves for a day marked by turnovers, poor special teams play and a potentially catastrophic injury, the normally flawless Patriots failed to execute in the most important of times.

Sunday’s 20-18 loss to the Arizona Cardinals proved the Patriots are more than mortal—they’re in disarray.

The offensive line has taken a substantial step back without Matt Light and Brian Waters, Tom Brady and Brandon Lloyd still aren’t operating at full potential and Wes Welker has apparently fallen behind Julian Edelman—the kid who ended up playing corner last season.

Combined with the loss of Aaron Hernandez to what looks to be a serious high ankle sprain, the Patriots vaunted offense looked downright pathetic for most of the day. Luckily, the defense put on a clinic, shutting down All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

However, with Hernandez reportedly sidelined for the next six weeks, and the Welker situation looming, there isn’t a lot of confidence surrounding next week’s matchup with the dangerous Baltimore Ravens.

There wasn’t a whole lot to cheer about on Sunday, but let’s take a look at this week’s risers and fallers.

Risers

1. Devin McCourty: In perhaps his toughest matchup of the year, Devin McCourty came out on top. New England’s 2010 first-round pick has rebounded nicely from a poor 2011 season, and Sunday’s performance may have been one of the best of his young career. The 5’10” McCourty, along with the rest of the Patriots secondary, held perennial All-Pro Larry Fitzgerald to a single reception for four yards. After struggling with bigger receivers last year, McCourty showed impressive technique to prevent Fitzgerald from reeling in a goal-line touchdown on a fade route. If he continues to play this way, the secondary may not be such a hindrance anymore.

2. Brandon Spikes: Another member of the 2010 draft class, Spikes made the play of the game when he dislodged the ball from Ryan Williams with the crown of his helmet on what should have been the clinching play for Arizona. The 6’2”, 255-pound man-beast logged seven tackles, including one for loss, and two quarterback hits. Spikes’ strong play in the middle has been one of the reasons why New England is limiting opponents to just 2.6 yards per carry.

3. Chandler Jones: New England’s top pick didn’t register a sack, but he became D’Anthony Baptiste’s worst nightmare. The long-armed, cat-quick right end consistently beat Baptiste around the edge, forcing Kevin Kolb to get rid of the ball early. Jones also set the edge well in the run game, recording a big tackle for loss. Once dubbed a project, Jones is clearly NFL-ready.

Fallers

1. Coaching staff: It pains me to say this, but Bill Belichick and his staff were thoroughly out-coached on Sunday. No one seems to know what’s going on with Wes Welker’s playing time, but I don’t see how this team is better with him on the bench. Belichick also blew a timeout on an unsuccessful challenge and didn’t seem to make any significant second-half adjustments. Josh McDaniels’ play calling was baffling at times, especially on the Patriots’ final possession. To make matters worse, the special teams might have cost the team the game by allowing a blocked punt and missing the game-winning field goal.

2. Offensive line: Losing Aaron Hernandez certainly factored in the offense’s poor showing, but the offensive line continues to be a weak spot. The right side of the line, especially right guard Donald Thomas, has struggled to give Tom Brady time in the pocket. When Calais Campbell (a 3-4 defensive end) records 10 tackles, two sacks and three quarterback hits, your line just isn’t getting the job done. Maybe it’s time to give Brian Waters a call, Bill.

3. Brandon Lloyd: Despite leading the team with eight receptions, Lloyd failed to make a big impact in this game. For a guy dubbed as a premier outside threat, registering a 7.5 yards per catch average is abysmal. Lloyd didn’t make any plays after the catch and failed to reel in a deep bomb. With Hernandez out for the foreseeable future, Lloyd needs to become the big-play receiver we brought him in to be.

You can't truly appreciate the color white, until you've seen black.  With that in mind, if it was the Patriots plan to make us fully comprehend Troy Brown's legacy by giving us a shining example of everything he was not, then today's game can be considered a rousing success.  Dropped passes, garish special teams errors, failing to capitalize on an opponent's mistake...  Today's game was the complete antithesis of what made Troy Brown such a special, special player. 

Welcome to the Patriots Hall of Fame, Mr. Brown.  We apologize for the punch situation.

I only have so much energy at the moment, so we're going to go bullet-point style and avoid the grades like last week.  Just know that everyone that wasn't playing defense today deserves at best a D-.

What is your take on the lack of production from Wes Welker in Week 1?

Jason:  I don't think Welker's paltry statline is any real cause for concern. It was his first significant game action since February, and I'm sure he demonstrated just as much rust in practice through the week as he showed on the field Sunday with his awful drop on a pass that spiked him in the facemask. In the long run, he'll be fine. I projected that he'll end up with around 7 catches and 90 yards in this week's Fantasy Forecast, and I'd be surprised if he fell far below either of those benchmarks. If anything, I took his invisibility to be a positive since it showed that the offense can be more diverse in his absence.

Derek: I think Welker's quiet afternoon last Sunday was a combination of two things.  First and foremost, I think he's working his way back from some sort of undisclosed injury that hampered him in the preseason.  I don't think that Julian Edelman would have seen the level of action he did if Welker was 100%. Secondly, I think all the pass catchers on this team had less productive week than we're accustomed to, simply because Ridley was churning up yards on the ground, which rarely happened in 2011.  Overall, I think it's a very positive sign that the Patriots managed to put on a clinic without Welker being heavily involved.  For the past 4-5 seasons, the offense has run through Brady and Welker.  Last week clearly showed that the Patriots are a well-balanced attack that should be even hard to stop than in years past.

Stephen: Welker's lackluster stats were more a reflection of the Patriots' game plan. This offense runs through its tight ends, and Tennessee didn't exactly stop the Boston TE Party. Coupled with Stevan Ridley's dominance on the ground, the Pats didn't have much need for a short passing game through Welker. If this persists over the next couple weeks, then I'd be worried. But until then, I wouldn't read too much into it.

#1 - With Troy Brown being inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame this weekend, where would you rank him among receivers in Patriots' history?

Stephen:  Based on his longevity and contributions on special teams, I'd firmly place Troy Brown in the No. 4 slot among the all-time Patriot wide receivers, behind Randy Moss, Stanley Morgan and Wes Welker. Brown never dominated statistically like those three, but he contributed in other ways and was an integral part of three Super Bowl teams. No one should forget his performance as a cornerback, either. He was a true team player and a reliable target in Brady's early years.

Jason: It would be very difficult to rank Brown outside the top 5 in terms of overall production for the team. I'd rank him at #4, just below Stanley Morgan and Irving Fryer (both of whom I only have brief, fuzzy memories of during my childhood), as well as Welker. I'd give him the edge over Moss, Branch and Terry Glenn based not necessarily on talent, but rather on longevity and value to the team.

The New England Patriots begin their 2012 home campaign on Sunday against the Arziona Cardinals. Last weekend was a success for the Patriots in their opener, particularly on the defensive side of the football. The three rookies, Chandler Jones, Don’t’a Hightower and Tavon Wilson all put up excellent performances in the Pats’ 34-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans. The big headline that could be seen as negative from the past week was the lack of targets that were given to Wes Welker, especially when he is in a contract year. However, bloddy nose and all, Tom Brady still put up a great performance to start the season on a great note.

This week’s test is perceived to be easier by the national media. The Cardinals come in with a question at quarterback, even though one of their QB’s (John Skelton) is out for the game with a low ankle sprain. The start has been given to Kevin Kolb. Kolb came in to the game last Sunday vs. the Seahawks in the second half to lead the team to the victory. But, Kolb has underachieved since being traded from the Eagles last offseason. The pluses on Arizona are that they are in a weak NFC West, they have Larry Fitzgerald at wide receiver, and their defense is coming off a solid performance against Russell Wilson last week. Yet again, Wilson is not Tom Brady.

Here are my three keys to this week’s home opener:

QB Tom Brady

Brady had a quiet week by his standards, but he should pile up yardage and scores against the Cardinals this week. The Arizona defense does better against top-heavy passing offenses, but the Patriots should be able to find success with their range of options in the passing attack. Expect somewhere in the range of 340 yards and 3 TDs.

WRs Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd

I still believe Welker’s role in the offense is safe. After barely seeing the field during the preseason, it makes sense for the team to ease him back into the fray. I’m not bullish on Lloyd this week since he will almost certainly draw the attention of CB Patrick Peterson, so I wouldn’t expect more than 3-4 catches for 50 yards. Welker, on the other hand, should be back to his normal self, reeling in 7 catches for 90 yards and a score.

RB Stevan Ridley

The Cardinals are pedestrian against the run, and only six teams gave up more rushing TDs than Arizona last year. Ridley had over 150 total yards and a score in Week 1, and I think he’ll rack up 100 yards and a TD this week as well. Another strong effort or two will vault him from pre-season flex option to every-week starter status in most standard leagues. Start him with confidence.

TEs Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez

I’m pretty sure the only way I would advise sitting one of these guys is if they are declared legally dead. Even then, Zombie Rob Gronkowski might do better than a few TEs around the league (I’m looking at you, Dustin Keller). Look for them to each get in the neighborhood of 80-100 yards and a score.

New England Defense/Special Teams

I envision the Pats giving up a lot of yards through the air in this game, but there are a lot of opportunities for fantasy points for the New England D as well. Only six teams allowed more sacks than Arizona’s 42 last season, and 30 of those takedowns were in Kolb’s nine games as a starter. Kolb has not done well when faced with pressure, so don’t be surprised to see the defense take advantage of a few mistakes.

As usual, I'm off to a terrific start in this game...

Interestingly enough, though, all five participants ended up with a different record this past week. There's a clear hierarchy in place with with Stephen's uncharacteristic 1-6 at the bottom and Rick taking charge at 5-2.  Let's see how things shape up in Week 2, now that we've had the opportunity to see each team in regular season action.

Game	Derek	Jason	Raj	Rick	Stephen
CHI @ GB
OAK @ MIA
KC @ BUF
BAL @ PHI
NYJ @ PIT
TEN @ SD
DEN @ ATL
Last Week	2-5	4-3	3-4	5-2	1-6
Record	2-5	4-3	3-4	5-2	1-6

And now, prepare for some tremendous overreaction....

I've done my best not to knee-jerk on these rankings too badly, but it's difficult to find the middle ground between what I thought going into this week and what really happened.  Are the Eagles true Super Bowl contenders or are they a team that barely squeaked by the Browns?  How high up should teams like Denver and Dallas, who weren't on the board last week, rise after toppling teams who were ranked like Pittsburgh and New York? 

No folks, the Top 12 ain't easy, but somebody's got to do it.

#1 - New England Patriots

The Patriots did nothing to shake my confidence in them during Week 1.  In fact, I'm actually feeling even better about them heading into the opener.  The defense has been rejuvenated.  After years of waiting for a pass rush to develop, the Pats finally have one, and NOBODY is going to be able to run against that defensive front four.  (Take note, Baltimore and Houston.) Yes, the Niners win over the Packers was impressive and they've become America's sweethearts, but I have no reason to think that the Patriots wouldn't have won in Lambeau also, given how good they looked on Sunday.

Last Week: 1      Change: 0       Record: 1-0       Next Game: vs. Cardinals

#2 - San Francisco 49ers

I said San Francisco would have to prove they weren't one-year wonders to rise in the rankings, and that's just what they did.  There's only one team in the league right now that makes me sweat as a Pats fan, and they're it.  Still, I have to think the improvements in the New England defense would give the Patriots and advantage the Packers didn't have.  I guess we'll have to wait and see in Week 15.

Last Week: 5      Change: +3       Record: 1-0       Next Game: vs. Lions

#3 - Baltimore Ravens

I thought the Ravens were likely to take a step back this season due to a declining defense.  What I didn't take into account was the improvements they have appeared to make on offense.  Needless to say, their Week 3 clash with the Pats is shaping up to be epic.

Last Week: 4      Change: +1       Record: 1-0       Next Game: @ Eagles

#4 - Green Bay Packers

I refuse to murder the Packers like most others out there.  A lot of rankings had them dropping from #1, all the way down to #5 or #6.   Give me a break.   It's going to take a lot more than a loss to a powerhouse like San Fran to make me disregard a team that was 15-1 last year.  If it weren't for me wanting to show the Ravens some respect, the Pack probably would only have dropped to #3.

Last Week: 2      Change: -2       Record: 0-1       Next Game: vs. Bears