Are you ready for some FOOTBALL???

I've been waiting for tonight since the NFL released the 2005 schedule in April. Title defense II begins in about 75 minutes for my three time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. The opponent: The Oakland Raiders. The venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA. The Pats are 24-3 including playoffs since the Razor opened in 2002 and have won 20 straight home games. My prediction for tonight, Patriots 31, Raiders 17. The game will be close thru the first half, then the Pats will put the game away in the 2nd half. {9/9 1:00 AM ed. note: @ NE 30, Oak 20. The game played out pretty much as I expected.}

With the NFL season beginning tonight, here are my 2005 predictions with regular season record in parenthesis:

AFC East: New England Patriots (13-3)
AFC North: Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
AFC South: Indianapolis Colts (13-3)
AFC West: San Diego Chargers (11-5)
Wild Cards: New York Jets (10-6), Jacksonville Jaguars (10-6)
AFC Champion: New England over Indianapolis

NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles (12-4)
NFC North: Minnesota Vikings (10-6)
NFC South: Carolina Panthers (11-5)
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals (9-7)
Wild Cards: Atlanta Falcons (10-6), Green Bay Packers (9-7)
NFC Champion: Atlanta Falcons over Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl XL Champion: New England Patriots

The Patriots beat Indy because Peyton Manning can't win in Foxboro. He's 0-7 at New England entering the 2005 season. Atlanta beats Philly because Michael Vick is improved and T.O. is too much of a distraction. I'm not a homer picking the Pats to win it all again. You have to pick the champs until someone beats the champs.