***SWAMPY SNF WEEK 1 - NE @ ARI***

***NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS @ ARIZONA CARDINALS***

Interesting game on the Prime Time stage as we have a depleted New England Patriots squad marching into hostile Arizona to take on a strong Cardinals team without their QB & leader, Tom Brady. Due to suspension, Brady will be unable to be anywhere near the Patriots organization for the first four weeks of the season. The Patriots will also be without Pro Bowl TE Rob Gronkowski tonight due to an injury. While this is absolutely devastating, the Pats as always, have some tools to counter with. Backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo will be getting the nod at QB and will be making his first NFL start. Jimmy Garoppolo from what I can make of the tape I've seen on him seems to be a decent backup QB. He should be a solid replacement during Brady's absence. However, tonight in Arizona, I don't like his chances. He tends to hold onto the ball longer than Brady would, and lets face it almost every QB does. Brady is a master at getting rid of the rock with lightening speed, making it hard to get to him in time. Going up against a defense like Arizona, on the road, on the Prime Time stage in week 1 is a recipe for disaster for anyone, let alone a young QB making his first NFL start. So while I do like Jimmy G and think he will have some success filling in for Mr. Brady, I think he runs into a buzzsaw tonight and this one may be a Patriot beatdown served up cold by the Red Birds. The Cardinals are a top team coming into this season with high hopes for a possible Super Bowl. They were knocked out of the playoffs last season in ugly fashion. They were completely embarrassed on the road in Carolina by the Panthers and ended the season on an awful note. I see them tonight as an extremely hungry team eager to come out strong and start the season off with a big win. Even though the Patriots are not even close to full strength, I see the Cardinals having little mercy on them or possibly overlooking this team. After all it is Bill Belichik and the Patriots we are talking about, if anyone can win without their starting QB, its them. We've seen it before. While the absence of Rob Gronkowski is huge, the Pats picked up another playmaking TE in Martellus Bennett in the offseason who will be dangerous in this offense down the road. Once Gronk returns and Brady is to distribute the ball, I foresee an offense reminiscent of when the jailbird Aaron Hernandez was still in the league, and he and Gronk were an unstoppable force in the two TE set. We are talking about tonight however and I expect this Cardinals defense to get after it. They have their young stud DB Tyrann Mathieu back from injury who will provide that extra emotional charge for this defense and not to mention ex Patriot LB Chandler Jones now suiting up in the red for the Birds after the Pats traded him to Arizona in the offseason. I got to believe this man will have a little extra chip on his shoulder for tonight's game to prove they made a mistake.

I do like this Patriot defense and where it is headed although they will also be without one of their top LBs in Rob Ninkovich for the first four games of the season due to suspension as well. The Pats have added a lot of nice pieces under the radar up front in veteran DE Chris Long from the Rams and cleaning up the Browns garbage with their former top pick LB Barkevius Mingo. Mingo busted for the Browns but I can very much see him becoming the player everyone anticipated him to be in New England. They just seem to have that effect on players. That being said, I see this being a low scoring game as both offenses will have to shake the rust off, especially New England as they break in the young and inexperienced QB. I look for both teams to establish a strong running game in this one. Expect a heavy dose of LeGarrette Blount to pound away for the Pats and I am really high on the Arizona RB David Johnson and believe he will have a big year for this team in both the rush and passing game. Its a chess match between two of the NFL's best Head Coaches in Belichick & Arians, and I will side with the coach with the home field and more weapons in place to start the season. Cards will try and control the clock and I doubt give up many points at all. CARDINALS-9