Chan Gailey (with 1st year OC & DC) makes his official debut with the Bills & will field QB Edwards’ 3rd different offense in as many years. Edwards has looked much better with the #1’s in 2010 with 5 TD drives in pre-season games 2 & 3 vs LY when the 1st string offense had 3 pts in 15 drives. Buffalo is expected to have its full set of RB’s here while Miami upgraded the passing game with WR Marshall. They did release 16 of LY’s 44 sacks with OLB’s Porter & Taylor but are faster overall on defense while Buffalo is starting to convert to the 3-4. Miami has a massive edge with stability, a stout OL, a more experienced coaching staff & I like the exotic blitzes that DC Mike Nolan will bring vs the Bills young OL for the win here.

The Lions were beaten by 24 & 14 pts last year vs the Bears. The Lions turned a major weakness into a strength with the retooling of a DL which allowed 127 ypg rush (4.4) (25th) & were 29th with 26 sacks. Detroit has had one of the worst secondaries over the last 3 years allowing 252 ypg (69%) with a 92-30 ratio (1 TD allowed every 17 pass att’s). They will only return 1 DB from LY’s secondary & FS Delmas (groin) has been very limited. Chicago's offense has struggled to adjust to Martz’s complicated schemes & the OL has allowed Cutler to be sacked 10 times in 37 pass att’s thru pre-season game #3. New OL Coach Tice admitted to keeping the blocking schemes (all 37) under wraps in the preseason. Detroit’s former HC & CHI DC Rod Marinelli has a healthy MLB Urlacher an upgrade with FS Harris not to mention the addition of Julius Peppers. Cutler was very efficient LY avg 209 ypg (63%) with a 6-0 ratio vs Detroit in an offense that didn’t suit his talents as the Bears should expose the Lions here.

The NFL does try to schedule similarly talented teams to start the season to give the lesser teams a chance at a good start to the year. This is CLE’s first road game to open a season (1-9) since their return. Cleveland has done much more in FA to upgrade their roster including adding Delhomme (345 yds 79% 2-0 in preseason) provides the Browns with the most experienced & proven QB over L12Y which is a huge boost considering what the position had LY. TB is expected to start 2 rookie WR’s, 2 rookie DT’s & QB Freeman (thumb) only logged 8 pass att for the 1st string offense in preseason. While both teams have outstanding special teams, CLE has a big edge with their secondary vs TB’s WR’s, QB experience and their OL vs TB’s DL. With a more polished coaching staff, I will go with the Browns getting an opening road win.

The Texans are notoriously slow to start the season (1-5 in week 1). They open the season vs a team they have only beaten once in 16 tries. The Texans are also without WLB Cushing (susp) & rookie RB Tate (IR ankle) with a rebuilt secondary that will start rookie 1st RD DC CB Kareem Jackson who will matchup vs a 3 WR base offense. The Colts have major issues on the OL as Ctr Saturday (knee scope) missed 3 Wks of workouts, LT Johnson’s (foot) status as well as top backup OG/OT Ugoh (toe) are unknown here. Manning will also be working with a new play caller for the 1st time in his career as vaunted OL coach Mudd retired so the continuity isn’t there. HOU is very aware of how close they’ve come vs IND losing by 4, 6, 3 & they blew a 13 pt halftime lead in the 2nd game LY. Kubiak will rely on the DL to take advantage of a jumbled IND OL to keep Manning out of rhythm while Schaub & LY’s #4 offense with a healthy TE Daniels.

Last year’s #6 & #2 units open up on the road vs the #11 & #12 units. The Packers’ #1 offense ran 14 series prior to pre-season #4 and they only punted 3 times with 1 being a 3 & out. GB has a massive edge at QB with Rodgers (470 yds 77% 6-0) at the helm with an improved OL & a proven RB with Grant who has B2B 1200 yd seasons. They have major issues in the secondary with CB Harris & SS Bigby being on the PUP and rookie Morgan Burnett filling in at SS. On the other hand Dom Capers deliberately ran a stripped down defense in the preseason not showing any of his blitzes. PHI is making a major transition to QB Kolb who only has 2 starts under his belt with 391 yds vs NO in garbage time & 327 yds vs LY’s #30 defense. PHI’s OL is a question as Ctr Jackson (ACL) isn’t going to play, LG Herremans missed most of camp & LT Peters hasn’t looked strong TY. The Eagles do have a very fast defense to matchup vs GB’s passing game. In what looks to be a shootout, I’ll go with Rodgers at the helm vs an inexperienced Kolb.

ARZ was the big talent loser in the offseason losing 6 starters (3 off, 3 def) as well as their special teams ace (Sean Morey) & K Rackers. The retirement of Warner & fall from grace of Leinart has left the QB spot a mess. Combined with the injuries to Fitzgerald (knee sprain) & #3 WR Doucet (abdominal strain), ARZ will be a much more run oriented team in 2010 & their 3-4 defense should still be able to pressure the QB (43 sacks LY, 6th). STL is expected to start Bradford (1st start since 10/17/09) with the worst receiving group (top 4 projected WR & TE combined for 123 rec’s 9.7 LY) in the NFL and essentially a pair of rookie OT’s on the OL. STL didn’t do much to improve LY’s #29 defense. Keep in mind that their coaching staff is a 2nd year HC/OC/DC/STC. Even in their depleted state the Cardinals have a better roster than STL & their Steeler-style 3-4 will feature a lot of exotic blitzes vs the inexperienced Bradford.