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The Buffalo Bills will kick off the 2008 NFL season at home against Seattle Sept. 7, and they couldn't catch the Seahawks at a better time.
The Seahawks will be without their most reliable wide receiver (Bobby Engram) and probably without their most talented wide receiver (Deion Branch). They'll be breaking in a new feature running back (Julius Jones replaces the departed Shaun Alexander).
Engram, coming off his best season (94 catches for 1,147 yards and 6 TDs) has a broken shoulder. Branch is coming off major knee surgery.
Nate Burleson, Seattle's apparent temporary No. 1 wide receiver, also is the team's top kick returner. Less experienced players probably will be filling that role.
The Seahawks won't be pushovers, but they probably won't be at their best offensively in the opener.
There's nothing wrong with Seattle's defense, particularly the linebackers. The Bills would have to be sharp offensively and on special teams in order to start the season 1-0.
Week 1 victories are important.
According to Pro Football Prospectus 2008, Week 1 winning teams have averaged 9.1 wins per season and Week 1 losing teams have averaged 6.9 wins per season since the 17-week schedule format began in 1990 (1993 excluded because there were two bye weeks per team in an 18-week season). Week 1 winners have made the playoffs 54.3 percent of the time and Week 1 losers have made the playoffs only 24.7 percent of the time.
The Seahawks will be without their most reliable wide receiver (Bobby Engram) and probably without their most talented wide receiver (Deion Branch). They'll be breaking in a new feature running back (Julius Jones replaces the departed Shaun Alexander).
Engram, coming off his best season (94 catches for 1,147 yards and 6 TDs) has a broken shoulder. Branch is coming off major knee surgery.
Nate Burleson, Seattle's apparent temporary No. 1 wide receiver, also is the team's top kick returner. Less experienced players probably will be filling that role.
The Seahawks won't be pushovers, but they probably won't be at their best offensively in the opener.
There's nothing wrong with Seattle's defense, particularly the linebackers. The Bills would have to be sharp offensively and on special teams in order to start the season 1-0.
Week 1 victories are important.
According to Pro Football Prospectus 2008, Week 1 winning teams have averaged 9.1 wins per season and Week 1 losing teams have averaged 6.9 wins per season since the 17-week schedule format began in 1990 (1993 excluded because there were two bye weeks per team in an 18-week season). Week 1 winners have made the playoffs 54.3 percent of the time and Week 1 losers have made the playoffs only 24.7 percent of the time.
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