Patriots: LET'S ROLL!

The Patriots 19 game regular season win streak meets the Chiefs nine game losing streak! If you believe Bill Belichick, then there is NO lingering effects felt from last seasons 18-1 hangover! This is a new season, and the Patriots are ready to roll. On paper, this is the mismatch of the week, even with the concerns regarding Tom Brady’s health.

You still have to like even an injured Tom Brady over Brodie Croyle, who is 0-6 as a starter. This game will be more about the Patriots stopping the KC running game lead by Larry Johnson, and exposing the Chiefs rookie secondary with a healthy dose of Moss and Welker. Maybe the Patriots will even establish a running game with of their own with Maroney, Jordan, and Morris just to eat up time off the clock!

Near the end of last season, many felt that the blueprint was laid out on how to beat the Patriots. You needed to have a speedy pass rushing attack. The Chiefs though do not have players like Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck and Michael Strahan. I am sure Tom Brady is happy that the Chiefs also traded away sack machine Jared Allen to the Vikings! Brady will still need to beware of former Louisiana State defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey though!

Brady will also most likely have one less weapon this weekend. Starting tight end Benjamin Watson's (knee injury) availability for Sunday's season opener looks bleak. He's been held out of practice this week. That would thrust third-year player David Thomas into a more prominent role. It will be interesting to see how well Thomas performs in the starting role.

It is hard to imagine the Patriots falling to the Chiefs week 1. Then again, no one had them falling to the Giants in the Super Bowl either! Heaven help the Patriots if they lose this one!

Point of Interest: Tom Brady's most important streak should remains alive this weekend: He has made 127 straight regular season and playoff starts, the third-longest among quarterbacks, trailing Brett Favre (272) and Peyton Manning (174).