By virtue of winning the Super Bowl, the Giants earned the right to host the Thursday night season opener. Since that tradition began in 2004, the defending champs are 4-0, with the margin of victory increasing each time. The trend is unlikely to continue – primarily because Indy blasted New Orleans by 31 points a year ago – but the Giants should control the trenches the way they did last season, when they topped our Defensive Hog Index and finished sixth in OHI. Fielding capable replacements for the retired Michael Strahan and injured Osi Umenyiora, New York will open its title defense with a win.

 

These AFC North rivals are both coming off losing seasons in which they combined to go just 3-12 against Quality Opponents. Rookie Joe Flacco gets the start at quarterback for the Ravens, and having a limited Willis McGahee in the backfield won’t make the task any easier. In the end, Baltimore won’t be able to generate enough offense to keep pace with Cincinnati’s potent passing attack.

 

If only this game had an interesting storyline … Brett Favre, whose record 442 passing TDs have all come with the Packers, making his Jets debut? Tony Sparano, the handpicked choice of new Dolphins V.P. of Football Operations Bill Parcells, coaching his first NFL game? Chad Pennington, who signed with Miami after getting released by New York, looking for revenge against his former team? Opposing a defense the finished second-worst in Bendability and then said goodbye to stalwarts Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas, Favre and his new team should emerge victorious.

 

The bad taste of losing the Super Bowl (and a perfect season) has lingered in the mouth of the Patriots like gridiron garlic. Tom Brady didn’t play a down of the preseason, so he and his teammates will be anxious to reestablish the dominance that saw them lead the league in Scoreability and Yards Per Passing Attempt. Facing a Chiefs team that finished dead last in Offensive Hog Index, Scoreability and Big Play Index will definitely help New England cleanse its palate.

 

The well-balanced Steelers finished in the top half of the league for nearly all of our “Stats That Matter.” The lone exception was Defensive Hog Index (21st), but they were still 10 spots better in that category than the next-to-last Texans. Both teams have shown an improved ability to throw the ball, but Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger should outgun Houston’s Matt Schaub in somewhat of a shootout.

 

Last year’s two AFC wild-card teams square off in a matchup that figures to feature heavy doses of the ground game. The Jaguars seem better equipped to run the ball, as they shared the top spot in our Offensive Hog Index with the Patriots. Jacksonville’s one-two punch of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew should be too much for Tennessee.

 

Neither of these teams has posted a winning record in the last three seasons, but both feel that fresh faces in the backfield will provide a boost. The Lions will start rookie Kevin Smith at running back and complement him with the newly signed Rudi Johnson. The Falcons inked free-agent RB Michael Turner and drafted QB Matt Ryan in hopes of improving an offense that ranked next-to-last in Scoreability last year. With more veteran leadership, Detroit gets the W.

 

In the first of four interconference matchups from Week 1, the Seahawks fly across the country to play a game at 10 a.m. body-clock time – an angle we like to bet against. With only one veteran wide receiver, Nate Burleson, who is completely healthy, they must face a defense that finished in the top 10 in Bendability. Trent Edwards and Marshawn Lynch will give Buffalo a more explosive offense in their sophomore seasons.

 

In their two meetings last season, these teams combined for 45 and 50 points, with the Bucs coming out on top both times. The Saints can score from anywhere on the field, but – as evidenced by their third-worst finish in our Big Play Index – they allow their opponents to do the same. Expect another high-scoring affair…and a familiar outcome.

 

Despite finishing the season at .500, the Eagles had a better Bendability rank (7th) than four of the playoff teams in their conference. The Rams, meanwhile, were dead last in that category. In a matchup between two of the league’s premier backs, Philly’s Brian Westbrook should find more room than St. Louis’s Steven Jackson.

 

There will likely be a lot of offensive fireworks in this one. The Cowboys ranked second in Yards Per Attempt and fourth in Scoreability last season, while the Browns were sixth and ninth in those categories, respectively. The bad news for Cleveland, however, is that its defense is nowhere near the level of the one from Dallas.

 

While LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates and the rest of the San Diego offense garner most of the attention, the Chargers were even more impressive on the other side of the ball in 2007. They dominated our defensive Quality Stats last season, finishing first in Bendability and Defensive Passer Rating, and tying for fifth in Defensive Hog Index. The Bolts should have few problems shutting down a Carolina offense that will be minus top playmaker Steve Smith, who is out due to a suspension.

 

After passing for an abysmal 4.08 Yards Per Attempt last season – nearly a full yard worse than every other team in the league – the 49ers have turned to the immortal J.T. O’Sullivan at quarterback. On the opposite side will be a high-powered Cardinals offense that ranked sixth in Scoreability last year. It’s tough to envision the journeyman getting a victory in his first NFL start.

 

When these teams last met, it was in a little game called Super Bowl XLI, a 29-17 victory by the Colts. Indy has remained highly productive offensively, finishing in the top 5 in Scoreability, Passing Yards Per Attempt and Offensive Hog Index. Chicago, meanwhile, has seen some decline on D, dropping 16 spots in Defensive Passer Rating (3rd to 19th) and eight spots in Bendability (3rd to 11th). This time around, there’s not a botched extra point.

 

It hasn’t gotten much media coverage, but there’s actually a new quarterback for the Packers this season. Aaron Rodgers inherits an offense that finished third in Passing Yards Per Attempt, thanks largely to the after-the-catch ability of its wideouts. However, he will have his hands full against a Vikings defense that ranked third in Bendability and has added 2007 sack leader Jared Allen. Look for both teams to play conservatively and try to avoid mistakes.

 

The Broncos were surprisingly poor on defense last year, finishing near the bottom of the league in Bendability, Defensive Passer Rating and Defensive Hog Index. With emerging offensive weapons like QB JaMarcus Russell, TE Zach Miller and rookie RB Darren McFadden, the Raiders have seemingly improved enough to take advantage. The Black Hole will be in full throat on Monday night, and Oakland may just spring the upset.