The Patriots opened as 13.5-point favorites as they host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.

This line is tremendous, enormous, mammoth and colossal all at the same time. Why? Part of the reason Arizona is getting no respect from the public is due to their quarterback situation. Watching Skelton and Kolb duke it out for the starting gig this summer was like staring at two Double Whoppers in front of Vince Wilfork – you know the likely result, and you also know that it won’t be pretty to watch. And now the “winner” of that competition is out several weeks with an ankle injury, thrusting the least desirable option into action. For Arizona fans, it’s gotta feel like banging the second-thinnest girl in Houston. And lest we forget the struggles of teams who are forced to travel from west to east to play an early game. Given these factors, and coupled with New England’s thrashing of the Titans, it’s easy to justify spotting the Cards two TDs before these teams ever take the field.

The public is likely to back New England in this one, and the bookmakers know it. It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that the Cardinals haven’t lost a game to a non-playoff team since October 9 of last year. Five of their eight losses last year were by 7 points or less, and they scored quality wins last fall against the Eagles and Cowboys. If Kolb can complete enough passes to his own players and limit turnovers, the Cardinals should be able to keep this one from becoming a laugher. And go ahead and raise your hand if you’re looking forward to seeing Devin McCourty try to cover Larry Fitzgerald, particularly in the late stages of the game if the Patriots happen to be nursing a two- or three-score lead.

Bettors who wade into the murky seas of impossibly large point spreads know all too well the sinking feeling as the underdog marches down the field in the final minutes for a score that is meaningless in the win column, but significant in terms of the spread. I have a feeling we’ll see that scenario play out this week. I like the Patriots to win comfortably, but the Cardinals to just barely cover the spread.

Will the real CJ2K please stand up? 

I don't know who was wearing No. 28 for the Titans on Sunday, but the Patriots managed to put a deathly end to Chris Johnson's proclamation that he'll lead the league in rushing this season. 

In New England's 34-13 trouncing of Tennessee, we saw early investments from the 2012 draft class, particularly with Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower. 

For anyone who feared we had another no-show wearing ocho cinco, Brandon Lloyd showed why he will be a lethal threat out wide. 

Bill Belichick will certainly find areas to improve, but yesterday's performance provided plenty of optimism for another Super Bowl trip.

Let's take a look at this week's risers and fallers. 

Risers 

1. Stevan Ridley: Anyone still shedding a tear over BenJarvus Green-Ellis? You shouldn't be. Ridley, the second-year back out of LSU, didn't just flash in his first start; he exploded. The surprisngly quick 220-pounder dominated the second half, totaling 125 yards and a score on just 21 carries. Tennessee isn't exactly a top-notch defense, but I expect Ridley to easily top the 1,000-yard mark at this rate. 

2. 2012 draft class: If Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower play like they did on Sunday, this defense will be scary good. Jones—who many experts pegged as a long-term project—made in instant impact playing across from former All-Pro left tackle Michael Roos, strip-sacking Jake Locker. As if that wasn't exciting enough, Hightower recovered the fumble and returned it 6 yards to the house. Second-round safety Tavon Wilson also made a name for himself as he recorded a diving interception in the end zone. It appears the Patriots have found much-needed playmakers for their young defense. 

3. Rob Gronkowski: It's tough to single out a third player, but I tip my hat to Gronk. Playing in his first meaningful game since the Super Bowl, the 6'6" beast showed he's back, reeling in six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. He showed some rust on his signature spike, but a healthy Gronk bodes well for the Pats. 

It's opening day in the NFL and, as usual, the Patriots rolled to victory.  It seems so long ago that Buffalo trounced New England 31-0 back in 2003, and the Pats have now won nine consecutive openers in a row.  There was a lot to like from a Patriot's perspective in this one, and to make sure that I don't miss anything, we'll review the game position by position.

The Running Game:

Surpisingly enough, the running game is really what set the tone offensively for the Patriots.  Steven Ridley was a beast, racking up 125 rushing yards and averaging 6 per carry.   Because Ridley was so successful, Tom Brady and Co. didn't end up with their usual gaudy stats.  Josh McDaniels was more than happy to eat up clock and yards through the ground game.  New England's aerial assault is always a joy to watch, so in a strange way, Ridley's dominance made the game a little less exciting.  Had Brady been forced to chuck the ball all day, the passing stats would likely have been higher and, potentially, the point total as well. Still, the fact that the Patriots attack has suddenly become less one dimensional bodes very well for them down the line.  Having a horse like Ridley may have certainly turned the tide in the playoffs for the Pats the past two seasons.

Grade: A

The Passing Game:

While not up to their usual standard of excellence, Tom Brady and his slew of receivers/tight ends still had a pretty good day.  Part of their dominance was tempered by Ridley's excellence, and there were a few miscues there as well, such as Brandon Lloyd slowing up on what would have been a wide-open touch down bomb.   Lloyd  and Gronk also managed to bail out Brady on occasion by hauling in some errant throws with tremendous catches.  Other than a muffed post-TD spike, Gronkkowski and Hernandez looked solid.  Lloyd showed flashes of brilliance that could become a weekly occurance as he becomes more familiar with Brady.  The big surprise for me was how quiet of a day Wes Welker had.  He may be working his way back from an undisclosed injury, which could explain things, but overall, the $9M+ that the Patriots are paying him this year seems a tad high based on today's showing.  I'm sure that will change though as the season marches on.

Grade: B+

The Offensive Line:

Considering that the season could be derailed by an injury to Brady, there's simply no room for error when it comes to protecting #12.  Brady took some decent shots today, getting hit four times and sacked once.  Nate Solder in particular seemed to have a rough go at it today.  This was the big question mark for me heading into the season and it remains that way after today.  To be fair though, they did an excellent job of opening up holes for Ridley.

Grade: C-

Stephen:  Based on their easy schedule and the improvements on defense, I expect the Patriots to go 14-2 during the regular season. I know it's not always fair to judge a strength of schedule based on last year's record, but I still think the Pats are set up for a deep playoff run with the opponents on the docket. During the first eight weeks, the only game they should conceivably struggle with will be against the Baltimore Ravens. Other than that, the only two games that could result in losses would be the back-to-back matchups against the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers. 

Before we officially embark on the 2012 Patriots season, I felt that it was only right to take one last look at 2011.  It's not every season that your team gets to play in the Super Bowl.  It's not every season your tight end shatters the touchdown reception record.  It's not every season that your team plays inspiring football to honor the legacy of an even more inspiring woman.  When we look back at 2011, it's all too easy to focus on the gut-wrenching pain we experienced at the very end.  However, when all is said and done, 2011 was one of the most special years in the storied history of this franchise.  We should embrace that fact, savor it, and remember the incredible season that was. 

#10 - Julian Edelman's Punt Return TD

#9 - Vince Wilfork's Interception Against Oakland

#8 - Tom Brady's AFC Championship Winning QB Dive

#7 - Aaron Hernandez's Game Winning TD Against Dallas

#6 - Gronkowski's Backflip Touchdown

After four preseason games, it all starts for real on Sunday. The New England Patriots will begin their quest for the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday afternoon against the Tennessee Titans. New England has brought in free agents such as wide receiver Brandon Lloyd and new defensive rookies in Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower. But, the main question around the team still revolves around the offensive line in whether or not they can keep Tom Brady upright in the pocket. New England hasn’t lost a season opener since 2003, but they run into a tough road test in Nashville to start the 2012 campaign.

The Tennessee Titans had a 9-7 season in 2011. They had a chance to make the playoffs on the final week of the season, but a loss to the winless Colts in Week 15 ruined their season. This season, they begin the Jake Locker era at quarterback. Locker was the 8th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, He played in five games last year and threw four touchdowns with zero interceptions!

Some of the keys to their season will be if Chris Johnson (CJ2K) can repeat his great 2010 season and if the defense can get pressure on the quarterback. Plus, they will try to replace the loss of cornerback Cortland Finnegan in the secondary.

On that note, it’s time for the first keys of the regular season!

QB Tom Brady

Fantasy owners invested top dollar to get Brady in drafts and auctions, and for good reason. He’ll start to deliver on that investment this week, but it would be wise to temper expectations to 3 TDs and around 300 yards. The Titans could fall behind early, which might limit the number of pass attempts in the second half. However, if the Titans can hang around, their pass rush is weak enough to give Brady the time he needs for a gigantic day.

WRs Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd

Welker is always good for a solid 6-7 catches, 90+ yards and a possible score. He may have a little rust in his first game after barely sniffing the field in the preseason, but he should still be worth a start for fantasy owners. Lloyd is a bit dicier. The Titans do a decent job of limiting big plays, but their pass rush is non-existent. I think Lloyd could get loose for a long score to finish with a line of 4 catches and 80 yards.

RB Stevan Ridley

I haven’t been shy about my bullish forecast for Ridley this offseason, and I’d feel very comfortable starting him against a Titans defense that allowed 4.5 yards per carry and 10 TDs on the ground last year. The Patriots have been a throw-first, throw-second, run-third kind of offense the past several years, but I look for him to get around 15-20 touches, close to 100 yards and a TD.

TEs Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez

After Gronk set every single-season receiving record for tight ends last year, I expect defenses to pay him a ton of attention this year. With that said, he’s a safe bet for 5 grabs, 70 yards and score. Hernandez will be the beneficiary of all that extra attention on the other side of the field, and I think he’ll easily haul in 6 balls for 70 yards, with a 50-50 shot of finding paydirt.

New England Defense/Special Teams

The Titans have a very good offensive line, and the offense will likely focus on keeping the heat off of Locker with quick passes and a healthy dose of Chris Johnson in the running game. While I don’t think the Titans will score more than 17 or so, I think it would be overly optimistic to forecast anything better than 1-2 sacks and 1-2 turnovers. They are no better than a middle-of-the-pack option this week.

Continuing on with our look at the Patriots 2012 schedule and predictions, here is my take on Games 13-16 of the season...

Week 14:  vs. Houston Texans

The last December football game that the Patriots lost was to the Texans.  At that point, the Patriots had locked up the division, had nothing to play for, and managed to lose Wes Welker to his torn ACL.  It was just an all around bad day that lingered all the way to New England's trounching by Baltimore a week later.  IF the Texans can stay healthy, I expect this game to be a clash of the Titans between the two best records in the AFC.  The #1 seed could very well be on the line, and I don't see the Patriots choking that opportunity away.

Record: 12-1

Week 15: vs. San Francisco

This would be an easy one to peg for a loss if it were in San Francisco.  Let's face it, the Patriots got dealt a very favorable hand this year by the schedule makers with Week 3's trip to Baltimore being the only time they will face an elite team on the road.  The Patriots are so good in December, and so good at home.  I have a feeling that people may be hyping up San Fran a bit too much this year.  I feel like such a homer right now...

Record: 13-1

Week 16: @ Jacksonville Jaguars

If all goes as planned, this is the point in the season where the Patriots might just be sitting with very little to play for.  Belichick isn't one to take his foot off the gas this early though.  Talent prevails...

Record: 14-1

Week 17: vs. Miami Dolphins

With the exception of the undefeated 2007 season, the Patriots have not swept the AFC East in Bill Belichick's tenure.  I'm calling for a pulling of the troops and Ryan Mallet's first career start as the Patriots prepare to host a divisional playoff game for the third straight season.  Advantage, Fish.

Record: 14-2

A message to all running backs: Fear the Patriots linebackers.

The starting trio of Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes and Dont’a Hightower has the potential to be the league’s best, sooner than later.

Each player brings a unique skill set to the defense, and all three are familiar with playing in pressure situations as former SEC stars.

Mayo, the team’s first-round pick in 2008, has developed into a consistent force during his time with the Pats.

Although he draws criticism for a lack of game-changing plays, the former tenth overall pick is well respected around the league, having earned All-Pro honors in 2010.

A tireless worker, Mayo’s speed, instincts and leadership make him an invaluable member of the defense. After spending most of his career as a 3-4 inside linebacker, he’s expected to play on the weak side in New England’s 4-3 scheme.

Utilizing Mayo as an off-the-line player maximizes his speed and should allow him to post huge tackle numbers once again.

Manning the middle of the defense is one of my all-time favorite Florida Gators: Brandon Spikes.

When the Patriots managed to snag the former All-American at the end of the second round in ’09, I was stoked. Spikes ran a poor 40 time at his pro day, subsequently costing him a spot in the first round.

Luckily for New England, his rare instincts, leadership skills and ability to stop the run made Spikes a worthy selection.

Although he’s missed time due to injury and suspension, there’s no denying Spikes’ impact when he’s in the lineup. Utilizing his menacing 6’2”, 255-pound frame, the third-year pro blows up fullbacks and offensive linemen to make plays in the backfield.

He’s somewhat limited to a two-down player because of his lack of foot speed, but Spikes is clearly a valuable member of the defense and should develop into one of the best run defenders in football.

Rounding out the starting three is New England’s second first-round choice in 2012—former Alabama star Dont’a Hightower.

What separates Hightower from other linebackers around the league is his incredible size. The Crimson Tide’s defensive leader checks in at an imposing 6’4”, 270 pounds and ran a 4.68 at the NFL Combine.

When watching Hightower on tape, it’s easy to see why Bill Belichick didn’t hesitate to move up and snatch him. Hightower’s versatility and knack for making big plays fits right in Belichick’s scheme and should make him an instant impact rookie.

As much as I dream about the damage that New England’s starting linebackers can do, I worry about the depth behind them.

Bobby Carpenter looked good in training camp, but surprisingly didn’t make the cut.

Mike Rivera, who didn’t exactly wow me in preseason action, earned a spot on the 53-man roster, although I would be afraid to see him pressed into game action.

Rob Ninkovich and Jermaine Cunningham play more defensive end than linebacker at this point, but Ninko does have the ability to play strong-side linebacker in a 4-3 or outside in a 3-4.

If any of the starters suffered an injury, it would be a major blow to the Pats.

All three have suffered knee injuries during their young careers, most notably Hightower (torn ACL in ’09).

Assuming all three stay healthy, the Patriots could have three Pro Bowl-caliber linebackers manning the defense.
 

The Patriots opened as 5.5-point favorites as they travel to Tennessee to face the Titans in Week 1.

After hitting four in a row through the preseason, it's safe to say that I'm hotter than Ryan Tannehill's wife. OK, almost. Of course, I recognize that this kind of heater is inevitably followed by a cold streak that rivals those you might see from a blogger's wife when said blogger openly comments on the hotness of another woman (i.e. Ryan Tannehill’s wife). So I’m sure I’ll return to poverty and loneliness again in no time.

While I typically go back and forth on each spread, playing devil's advocate to get inside the heads of bookmakers and fellow bettors, this one seems pretty easy to figure. With New England, what you see is what you get -- a dangerous, up-tempo offense, some questions along the offensive line, youth and inexperience cobbled around veteran studs on defense, and a whole lotta hoodie. The Titans have a superstar RB, a very green QB and an average D. The Titans could easily finish 2nd in their division and boast a winning record, but they match up very poorly against any team that features a high-powered offense and run-stuffing defense.

If Chris Johnson can't get loose for a few big plays, the Titans could have a longer day than Rex Ryan's bariatric surgeon. I’d give the points and take the Patriots.
 

Other Lines I Like

NOTE: I’m cutting back to two extra games a week this season, with the occasional bonus pick when a few spreads are particularly intriguing. Plus it’s easier for those who like to bet a parlay. I am to please! (and I also aim to avoid last year’s disaster of missed picks in non-New England games … yyyech)

Eagles (-9) @ Browns

Giving up 9 points for a team marred by inconsistency last season? Not to mention the fact that said team is also playing on the road, and after their injury-riddled QB took a pounding in the preseason? Am I insane? Probably. This pick has less to do with the Eagles offense and more to do with Cleveland’s deficiencies team-wide. Philly has a wicked defensive line and secondary, so it’s hard to envision a scenario where the Browns find a way to score well into the teens. That Philly defense will set up lots of short fields and could easily score points of their own against a rookie QB. I would have been comfortable giving up a dozen points.

Steelers (-1.5) @ Broncos

I’m not quite a believer in the Broncos yet. Peyton improves that offense, sure. But at this point, it’s more in the way that someone upgrades their mode of transportation from a bicycle to a beat-up silver Camry with a blue driver’s side door and rusted hood. It’s going to take time to gel with the receivers and the offensive line, so we’re not talking about a Ferrari here. And Peyton has never done particularly well against the Steelers, who typically create issues for offensive linemen. I don’t think the Denver secondary matches up well against Pittsburgh’s receivers, so expect the Steelers passing game to treat the Broncos like Big Ben treats drunk girls and hotel concierges. Yes, I realize I used that joke last year. And yes, I still think it’s funny and clever.

2012 Record 4-0

2010-11 Record 76-66-4