P-A-T-S: Pats! Pats! Pats!

Season starts tomorrow against the AFC team that plays in the Ghetto-lands. We lost two of our best defenders and have a running back coming of surgery. We have an entirely new starting line-up at wide-out, and we lost one of the great second tier tight-ends to the Broncos in Daniel Graham.

At this point, most teams would be picked to get beaten by a resurgent Jets team. What does it mean when we're in an era of parity and the Pats can play short-handed and still be expected to trounce a play-off team who signed a big name running back?

Everytime a former Pro-Bowler would get released, I used to wish the Patriots would run out and sign the guy. Now, we have no room left for former Pro-Bowlers. The entire defense is locked up with players who excel at running the defensive scheme. We have complimented Bruschi and Vrabel with Colvin and Thomas and gotten younger and faster at LB. We have a GREAT young D-line. Ellis Hobbs is exciting to watch and no one played a better cornerback than Samuel last year.

The offensive remain intact and seems healthy for the first time in years. We have one of the top five athletic tight ends in Ben Watson, and a veteran to play blocking tight end.

Then again, we could always use a proven veteran at back-up QB, preferably someone between the ages of Vinny Testaverde and Matt Cassell. And we probably want a better feature back than Sammy Morris in case Maroney goes down again.

I would love to see Priest Holmes in Patriot blue as insurance, and before you dismiss this idea, realize we have Randy Moss, Junior Seau, and Rodney Harrison who were all recently among the best at their positions, and all of them found a way on the Patriots roster. The former Chargers have fit right in and contributed, and we are all very optimistic about Randy.

My prediction: Look for the Pats throw deep early in order to open up the running and underneath passing game. If the score stays close, watch for a couple of running back screens in the second half. Pats by 14, only because Mangini understands the Patriots philosophy and he will have some surprise wrinkles on defense that may produce a costly turn-over early.

Score: Pats 35 Jets 21.