The 86th NFL regular season is upon us with a Thursday night opener. What are you going to wear? Me, I’m thinking of going with the Ralph Lauren tux and flip-flops since the kids love the flip-flops and I love looking like James Bond.
A reminder: My NFL picks will appear in RedEye every Friday, and this year they come with 10 percent more flavor crystals for more chewing refreshment.
Oakland (5-11 in 2004)
at New England (14-2)
8 p.m. WLS-Ch. 7
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: You know all you need to know about the Patriots, right? They’re incredible, they’re three-time Super Bowl champs, and they play in a stadium named after a razor, so you know they’re clean-shaven. The Raiders? Yes, they’re usually a little scruffy. And since they made the Super Bowl in 2003, they’re 9-23. Hope former Pats coordinators Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis made popcorn and get together to watch this game.
THE LINE: Pats by 7 1/2
OVER/UNDER: 50
FINAL SHAKE: Patriots. And not by the hairs on my chinny chin-chin.
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But wait
And now, a few other general predictions for the 2005 season.
Southern comfort
The Saints will play their home games in Baton Rouge, including a season-ending scrimmage against LSU. Final Score: LSU 24, Saints 20.
Image makeover
Looking to ditch his “good boy” image, Patriots QB Tom Brady will drop his agent and jump over to Row Records.
Terrell’s journey
Released by the Bears this year and cut by the Patriots, David Terrell signed with the Broncos on Wednesday. By Christmas, he will have played for all 32 NFL teams.
Absentee vote
DirecTV has a new channel that clicks around to live action of games where teams are threatening to score from the red zone. The Bears will appear here seven times all season.
Raider love
Randy Moss (right) won’t do a damn thing that embarrasses him. Now, you might be embarrassed by the old “Score a TD and ride the opponent’s mascot while slapping it with a large trout” routine, but that’s your problem.
