Opening Week Is Most Critical To...

I would have to say the Jets, due to the yipping of their head man. If you're gonna talk the talk, you gotta walk the walk.

In 2 of the past 3 years, the Giants have started 0-2 and won the Super Bowl and 5-0 and failed to make the playoffs. I am convinced that the start of the season is less important than we all think.

However, Turk does make a lot of good specific points here.

10. Derek Anderson as your QB = disaster
9. Possibly beat Indy in week 1, but will still finish behind them in the AFC South
8. If Kevin Kolb isn't the answer in Philly - Andy Reid might be finished in Philly
7. Giants D should be better because they couldn't get much worse - I think they still miss Strahan much more than anything else
6. Bears = last place in the NFC North - How does Lovie still have this job?
5. McNabb - New Team, New Coach, New Fans = same dissapointment
4. Brett Favre should have retired while he was ahead, not going to end well
3. I like Dumb and Dumber better - should be entertaining though
2. Preseason means nothing - just ask the Colts - although I cringe at the predictability of Garrett's playcalling
1. Jets - Too much hype and will crumble under pressure this year.

1a) Green Bay - can they show some semblance of a defense? Kolb is question mark, but their other skill position players are formidable. This game has the appearance of a track meet, a continuation of the Cards/Packers playoff game. If the Packers D can hold, Katy bar the door.

Originally Posted by giantsfan97

In 2 of the past 3 years, the Giants have started 0-2 and won the Super Bowl and 5-0 and failed to make the playoffs. I am convinced that the start of the season is less important than we all think.

However, Turk does make a lot of good specific points here.

In a 16 game season, every game is important. I'm not saying that winning or losing game 1 will make or break your season. I'm just pointing out a few of my thoughts going into week 1. I think that there are some very compelling story lines, and what happens in week 1 could be a precursor of things to come, that's all.

Originally Posted by giantsfan97

In 2 of the past 3 years, the Giants have started 0-2 and won the Super Bowl and 5-0 and failed to make the playoffs. I am convinced that the start of the season is less important than we all think.

However, Turk does make a lot of good specific points here.

Only 2 teams have started 0-2 and won the SB. Odds aren't in your favor putting yourself in that kind of hole early.

Originally Posted by Darren83

1a) Green Bay - can they show some semblance of a defense? Kolb is question mark, but their other skill position players are formidable. This game has the appearance of a track meet, a continuation of the Cards/Packers playoff game. If the Packers D can hold, Katy bar the door.

Green Bay's defense was ranked #2 in the league last year, #1 vs the run, #7 in points & had 30 picks. I don't think that if they give up some points vs Philly you can say that they are going to be a bad defense the rest of the season. Green Bay's defense doesn't seem to be a problem IMO.

Originally Posted by FessJL0861

I would have to say the Jets, due to the yipping of their head man. If you're gonna talk the talk, you gotta walk the walk.

All coaches do that, but only one gets to be on Hard Knocks each year. Rex Ryan isn't much different from other NFL coaches but he gets a lot of press because it's New York and because the are on HBO.

I agree with a lot of the points Turk made.

I would say the Texans are #1 on that list because this Week 1 game against the Colts really can set the tone for the entire season.

The Jets obviously have a big target on their back but a loss to the Ravens won't kill them (unless they follow it up by losing to NE and Miami as well).

The Giant D definitely has a gut check after the way Jonathan Stewart tore them apart in Week 16 last year.

As a Packer fan, I was not prepared for the sudden outpouring of love for Green Bay as a Super Bowl team. They have definitely trended upward as a chic Super Bowl pick so now all eyes will be on them, and they do not have an easy assignment in Week 1. The defense and special teams will definitely be under a microscope against the Eagles.

I would also add Dennis Dixon to the list. The Steelers have a tough road to hoe in their first 4 games without Big Ben and Dixon did not look good during the preseason.

It's most critical to Miami because everyone and their uncles say that the Bills are the worst team in the league. If the fish get squished, it's time to panic! Go, BILLS!!! Real football, boo-yeah!!!

I really like this list. I agree with almost everything including the picks and the order. The Jets are definitely up there for the ones with most expectations with the combination of the roster turnover, the sheer amount of personalities on the team, the hype, "Hard Knocks" and the stress of being a New York team with talent.

Personally, I do see some underlying issues like Faneca, Jones, Richardson not being there and Sanchez secretly having a bad season last year. One great deep throw in the playoffs does not make a franchise QB. It can give much-needed confidence, but Sanchez did not have the 40 starts or overall stats that normally come from great college QBs who become great NFL QBs.

I am most familiar with Batman and Robin in Cincinnati. TO and Chad are the NFL's best 1-2 punch of self promoters. This game is interesting....Tom Brady on the verge of signing a $58MM contract, Wes Welker's amazing rehab, Randy Moss making noise about not being appreciated as he lobbies for a new deal. All of that and TO and Chad will dominate the hype for the game. Amazing what reality TV and twitter can do for players.

Turk, not that they're a contending team, but Weeks 1 and 2 are going to be critical for the Cleveland Browns' new regime, especially for Eric Mangini and Jake Delhomme. The Browns open with two relatively weak opponents--the Buccaneers and the Chiefs--and the head coach and the quarterback desperately need two victories against teams they should beat in order keep the natives from calling for their heads early (and by extension, calls to bring Colt McCoy onto the field). The stakes are pretty high for the Browns, whose fans expect the team to be competitive than last year and who want to believe the team is finally moving in the right direction. Losses to Kansas City and Tampa Bay could undermine confidence in Holmgren early, but wins would capitalize on the positive energy and validate the fans' enthusiasm. I know people nationally aren't typically thinking of my team, but these games are crucial.

Originally Posted by mkocs6

Turk, not that they're a contending team, but Weeks 1 and 2 are going to be critical for the Cleveland Browns' new regime, especially for Eric Mangini and Jake Delhomme. The Browns open with two relatively weak opponents--the Buccaneers and the Chiefs--and the head coach and the quarterback desperately need two victories against teams they should beat in order keep the natives from calling for their heads early (and by extension, calls to bring Colt McCoy onto the field). The stakes are pretty high for the Browns, whose fans expect the team to be competitive than last year and who want to believe the team is finally moving in the right direction. Losses to Kansas City and Tampa Bay could undermine confidence in Holmgren early, but wins would capitalize on the positive energy and validate the fans' enthusiasm. I know people nationally aren't typically thinking of my team, but these games are crucial.

Completely agree, I had them on my list but I had to drop one team and it was Cleveland. This could make or break Mangini's status with Holmgren. Also, it's Delhomme's last stand and if they drop the first couple of games to bottom of the league teams, Jake could be out as starting QB quickly. Important game for Mangini & Delhomme IMO.

I know that in the locker room the coaches will all preach "one game at a time" and that outside the saner heads will understand that it's just one out of 16 games. But if the Cowboys or Jets lose their openers the talking heads will go nuts with chatter.

Players and coaches say they don't pay attention to media but the sheer volume of negativity will have an effect.

Also, if the 49ers lose at Seattle I might very well invent new swear words involving an obscene mixture of Alex Smith's head and Singletary's proclivity to drop his pants in team meetings.

Originally Posted by msclemons

I know that in the locker room the coaches will all preach "one game at a time" and that outside the saner heads will understand that it's just one out of 16 games. But if the Cowboys or Jets lose their openers the talking heads will go nuts with chatter.

Players and coaches say they don't pay attention to media but the sheer volume of negativity will have an effect.

Also, if the 49ers lose at Seattle I might very well invent new swear words involving an obscene mixture of Alex Smith's head and Singletary's proclivity to drop his pants in team meetings.

No worries Clem, if they drop their opener to Seattle, they've got New Orleans coming to town with 10 days rest ... piece of cake.

Damn you Turk. That was not cool.

Now I need gin.

its funny usually you go into the season and trying to pick out when you play the champs they always get teams best everyone wants to knock off the champs

you know what other team always gets the bullseye the team that likes to talk the talk and cant walk the walk. the chumps

biggest chumps this year the Jets. they need this game against the ravens

dont forget that if the Jets dont play well their is a good chance they have tv games blacked out for not selling out non premium PSL's even after the 50% price break. time to pony up and pay for your half jets fans lets go!

Yep, we get to whip up all this conjecture before the first game, setting up all these scenarios and giving heavy weight to various situtations, and then after three or four games it is all irrelevant and we can start to play "Contener or Pretender?" That's one of my favorites, it lasts till about week seven or eight.

I think the 2nd guessing has already happened with the Cardinals. I think they will be modest with Derek Anderson at quarterback. If Larry Fitzgerald has an Awesome year like I expect him to & Beanie Wells as well, not silly to say that DA is Pro Bowler.

Will DA be like Steve Young after Joe Montana left? Will be like Jeff Garcia when Steve Young left? Will he be in a conga line of QBs that have come after Dan Marino in MIA or John Elway in DEN? Having talented players around makes it Much Better; We'll See.