It’s hard to believe, but the National Football League season opens tonight.

It’s still hard for some to believe the New England Patriots aren’t playing on the night reserved for the defending Super Bowl champions.

It would have been a nice opener, but there ‘s no way last year’s Patriots team was going to get the Lombardi Trophy with the offense they showed and a pouting Tom Brady. But we didn’t know how serious the problem was until Brian Flores and his Miami Dolphins came into Gillette Stadium on the season’s final day and walked out with a win.

They return on Sunday, but first, tonight, we have the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans doing battle in front of what should be about 17,000 at Arrowhead Stadium. It’s a crowd greatly reduced due to the pandemic, while here in New England no fans will be allowed at Gillette Sunday. In fact, they won’t be allowed to tailgate in the stadium parking lots,either.

So you have all been warned.

Meanwhile, let’s see what Cam Newton and Bill Belichick have up their sleeves for Flores and the Dolphins, and how to counter the culture change their former defensive assistant is creating in Miami. Remember, there’s old friends Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts and Ted Karras in South Florida now with him.

“Again, I think Brian’s talked about what he’s trying to do,” Belichick said on Wednesday. “I think that’s really the place to start there. We just have to prepare for it, so that’s what we’re trying to do.”

And what we’re trying to do in this space is correctly pick seven games, no spread, every week – usually the Patriots, two other AFC games, two NFC games, and two inter-conference games. We call it The Lucky Seven, as some of you may know.

So let’s get to it:

PATRIOTS 24, DOLPHINS 21

We’ll use the same theory we always use: Who has the better quarterback? Over a career, Newton over Miami’s Ryan Fitzpatrick in a heartbeat. But is Newton better today? We still think so. If not, well, the Patriots will be in big trouble all season.

CHIEFS 37, TEXANS 17

Sure, both quarterbacks can probably erase the national deficit with their combined newly signed contracts. But there’s only one Pat Mahomes,and we don’t think the Chiefs will fall behind 24-0. Those 17,000 at Arrowhead simply won’t stand for it.

BILLS 27, JETS 20

Tough one, because we don’t completely have that confidence in Buffalo, especially since the great equalizer will be no fans in what used to be known as The Ralph. Not convinced Josh Allen is the answer, but Buffalo’s defense is. Maybe Jets QB Sam Darnold will be, well, seeing ghosts.

VIKINGS 27, PACKERS 23

Minnesota doesn’t lose this game at home, even with Kirk Cousins at the controls. Aaron Rodgers, a.k.a. Mr. Happy, wins the rematch down the road when they meet again on Nov. 1.

SAINTS 24, BUCCANEERS 22

Tompa Bay has some spunk but the Bucs fall short, although what a great matchup. If the NFL had any guts, it would have selected this for Sunday Night Football instead of wanting to showcase the new stadium in L.A.for the Rams and Cowboys.

Speaking of which…

COWBOYS 30, RAMS 21

Dak Prescott will ride that franchise tag all the way. We’ve said it before, Belichick ruined Jarod Goff’s career. The Rams won’t have a home crowd to disappoint, but Dallas should be better than a year ago.

GIANTS 27, STEELERS 26

Everyone knows the Fighting Joe Judges are near and dear to this space’s heart. What the heck, they won’t be great this year, but 8-8 should be attainable. Seven to go after this.

LAST SEASON: 83-40

Tom King may be reached at 594-1251 or tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on Twitter (@Telegraph_TomK).

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