Looking at Week 1: Let’s get it started!

The regular season gets underway tonight as the defending champion Colts host the Saints in what should be a matchup of epic offensive proportions.

Most of the action gets underway on Sunday, including the Cowboys-Giants tussle at Texas Stadium on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. Then, on Monday, we’ve got a MNF doubleheader (for those who can’t get enough football).

Outside of thsoe two matchups, there are a few pretty good ones going on this week. The Patriots get a tough test right out of the gate when they go to the Meadowlands to face the Jets. New England is being touted for a return to the Super Bowl, but the Jets are coming off of a big turnaround season, and a big win out of the gate could be a springboard for a run at the Patriots’ dominance in the AFC East.

Tennessee goes to Jacksonville in the first game of the post-Byron Leftwich era. Can either of these teams legitimately challenge Indy, or is this the ‘Second-Place Showdown?’ Vince Young’s (let’s hope Matt Schaub makes that feeling of regret go away in Houston) great rookie season brought the Titans close to the playoffs last season, and if Travis Henry can take off from making babies long enough to be a good runner again, Jeff Fisher might ask Roger Goodell to suspend Pacman for a little while longer.

On Sunday afternoon, the defending NFC champion Bears face off with the Chargers in San Diego. Norv Turner’s a head coach again, and this is the best chance he has to be successful, with two of the league’s top players on both sides of the ball, and a rising quarterback in Philip Rivers. Let’s hope A.J. Smith doesn’t keep that power trip going and try to take over the play-calling in the third quarter with the Chargers up by 17.

And, on Monday night, Baltimore goes to Cincinnati. Ravens defense vs. Bengals offense. A defense is what’s separating the Bengals from being the favorite in the AFC North, which Baltimore is. If the Bengals can somehow score 24 points or more, it’s in the bag.

The Rest of the Action

Sunday

Atlanta at Minnesota
K.C. at Houston
Philadelphia at Green Bay
Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Denver at Buffalo
Miami at Washington - If it was 1972, this would be a great matchup
Carolina at St. Louis
Tampa Bay at Seattle - one QB per quarter for Bucs in this one?
Detroit at Oakland - a future star is born? (and no, it’s not you JaMarcus Russell!)

Monday

Arizona at San Francisco

Are you ready for some football? I am!