Diving into Success

Here we go, Week 1, where dreams begin. Two former champions hope to score their second titles (and first rings) this season. You know a good start is essential to a championship season. Here we go, face off.

QB - Tom Brady versus Michael Vick. Vick used to be a Dirty Bird but now he's just dirty. Facing a Carolina team that usually manhandles him, the decided advantage here is with Brady (even if he's on the injury report).

RB - Steven Jackson and Rudi Johnson face off against Warrick Dunn and DeShaun Foster. Warrick should have an okay game, but again, the Panthers always annihilate the Falcons offense. I'm not sure why that happens and it pains me as a Falcons fan. As a fantasy football owner however, I love it. DeShaun Foster could have a good game as his numbers are always excellent when he starts and remains healthy. Still, the decided edge is with Jackson and Johnson, who are both facing AFC West teams that can be pushed around.

WR - Marvin Harrison, Javon Walker and Eddie Kennison make a nice trio. Marvin is the best in the business and some prognosticators think he'll have one more great season. Walker is a bit of an unknown but if Jake the Snake has to throw to someone, it has to be the fleet footed former Packer. The problem is, the Dirty Birds also boast a nice receiver trio. Randy Moss, Larry Fitzgerald, and Plaxico Burress are big names and big players. In fact, the Birds could boast the tallest receiving corps in the (fantasy) league. High praise, I know. While Fitzgerald is a first class player, Moss and Burress have been decidedly underwhelming recently. So let's call this matchup a wash.

K and Def - Jason Elam will school Michael Koenen. Sure Koenen pulls double duty as a punter but can he match Elam's decade long consistency? Doubtful. Will the Colts shut down Eli and the Giants? Can the Jaguars reduce the Cowboys to little Indians? It's possible. Let's call it another wash with Elam canceling out the edge that the Colts Def should have.

All in all, it looks like the Birds should handily win their first game of the season. Call it a grudge match for the epic trade that dismantled the Birds a few seasons ago and powered the Jammers to their championship. Then again, the Birds could come crashing back to Earth even before take-off occurs. You never know.

May the best team win. And if they don't, I'll still have faith. It's only Week 1 afterall.