The time is finally here, the New England Patriots regular season opener, as well as the start of Sunday NFL Football that will continue all the way through early February, with the exception of the idleweek in between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl (sorry, the Pro Bowl nonsense doesn’t count).

In other words, your Sundays are all booked up. Even if the Patriots aren’t worth watching – and often, they won’t be – with widespread legalized gambling, fantasy leagues, etc. the NFL is more popular than ever and you will be hooked.

What about the Patriots? They’ll be worth all your time when rookie Drake Maye finally takes over for Jacoby Brissett, but until then, well, cross your fingers and hope. Including today’s opener vs. the Cincinnati Bengals.

“We have to go out there and control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” Patriots first year head coach Jerod Mayo said.

That would be a major surprise.

Now, we will get to the Lucky Seven picks, as we normally go with New England’s game, two other AFC games, two NFC games, and two interconference games worth picking – but no spread.

After this week, as in the past, this picks column will mainly be on-line only at nashuatelegraph.com, mainly posted in the Saturday or Sunday cycle unless the Patriots are playing a Thursday night game, which takes place in Week 3. There are too many other local things to have an opinon on in this weekly print space.

Here we go:

BENGALS 27, PATRIOTS 10

Keep in mind the first four weeks of an NFL season are basically a crapshoot as all the teams work the kinks out. But the Bengals win the battle of quarterbacks with Joe Burrow, even if receiver Ja’Marr Chase isn’t around, and New England’s offensive line is too much of a liability. But the Patriots defense keeps them in it longer than expected.

JAGUARS 19, DOLPHINS 16

Not quite sure what to think about either team, but the Dolphins lost some key people in the off season while shoveling out dollars to QB Tua Tagovailoa and jokester head coach Mike McDaniel. The real key to the game: Mac Jones will hold a great clipboard on the Jags sideline.

TEXANS 30, COLTS 13

Houston, you have a good team. So what you have to do to remain that way is beat teams like Indy on the road and not fall victim to early season upsets. We don’t think they will.

LIONS 33, RAMS 28

A tight one in Detroit, but one the Lions need to win games at home to establish themselves as a Super Bowl contender. Not sure what to think about Matthew Stafford and his Rams, and perhaps his return to Detroit will give him a spark. Just not quite enough.

VIKINGS 17, GIANTS 10

Sam Darnold vs. Daniel Jones. Zzzzzz…Drink plenty of coffee to stay awake if you have the overpriced Sunday Ticket and are watching this. Darnold doesn’t see ghosts this time.

COWBOYS 23, BROWNS 22

Dak Prescott is going to try to prove he’s worth a nice shiny new contract. His counterpart, Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson, is still trying to prove himself in Cleveland, period, as he tries to shake more rust off. Prescott wins.

JETS 27, NINERS 24

Monday Night Stunner. The Jets aren’t just about Aaron Rodgers, who makes it through the game without getting hurt this time. They’re talented all around, and we think even with the returns of holdout lineman Trent Williams and previously injured back Christian McAffrey, the Niners will be thinking they’re facing the same ol’ Jets and wake up too late. Should be a great game to watch – unless you have DirecTV of course as Mickey Mouse pulled the plug until an everything Disney deal is reached. Sigh.

2023 REGULAR SEASON: 79-47

2023 PLAYOFFS: 4-9

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on X (@Telegraph_TomK).