A very weird feeling knowing this is the final ever primetime game slated for Ralph Wilson Stadium, barring any late-season schedule adjustments. Very fun game to go out on if so, and one that I think goes down to the end.

Even on a day where the Patriots' defense was mostly solid and consistently was able to bail out a Patriots offense that committed five turnovers (four fumbles, one pick), the offense was the "bad football to take advantage of" talked about all offseason in its final form for at least one afternoon.

All week, the Patriots (rightfully) highlighted the importance of "winning" the second half of games, and wouldn't you know it, that's where their worst football as a team would come from. Not that it was a spectacular first half from them either, but the lack of a coherent run game, ability to take advantage of good passing opportunities because Maye was either being pressured off the edge or just sailing balls, and the cavalcade of chunk plays allowed...

Over the last seven or eight years, Week 1 has been a mixed bag for the Patriots, but no matter who has headed the sidelines, been the top dog under center, or played on defense, home openers have been a major struggle for this team during the same timeframe. Going into Mike Vrabel's first-ever regular season game coaching the team he played eight seasons for, New England has dropped their last four home openers, as well as five of their previous eight.

The phrase, "taking advantage of bad football," was something everyone gravitated towards in Vrabel's opening presser, and simply looking at the Patriots' schedule, those opportunities should be there.

They had the money to bring a guy like Williams in and took no chances.

In a thrilling display of resilience and drama, the Detroit Lions pulled off a miraculous win over the Houston Texans, stealing the...