Winning Week 1 Provides an Edge

[Calvin Clean]

NFL openers do more than merely start the season. They immediately open the gates to hope, fear and all kinds of speculation. Too immediately, some say, especially the opening-day losers.

It's only one game, insist both winners and losers. There are 15 more to go. They're all important. No Super Bowl is ever won in September. Or lost...

If the opener isn't bigger than just one game, why have all the teams that reached the Super Bowl gone 66-10-2 in season openers? Super Bowl winners are 32-6-1 and losers are 34-4-1.

Last season, the Indianapolis Colts were the only opening-day losers among the 12 playoff teams. Since seven of last year's playoff teams lost Sunday  all to non-playoff teams  it could signal another upheaval in standings this season.

The opener sets a tone. It confirms (or questions) all the offseason changes every team makes for seven months. It validates (or dashes) the months of preparation and practice for the opener after the schedule comes out. Even if the celebration lasts only one week, it sure feels good. Teams don't have nearly as much time to prepare for the Super Bowl itself.

Good article about the importance of winning the season opener. Here is the link:

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9341932/

 

[LFTzDAN48td]

Good article about the importance of winning the season opener. Here is the link:

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9341932/

I agree with the importance, especially with this franchise in dire need of a good start. I believe our penalties will be there for our offensive line due to pressure of the Crop dusters defensive line pass rush and the crowd factor. The defense will be ok, its just I think the o-line has alot of things going against them. Hopefully Gus can handle the pressure he is about to receive, and make rational decisions. Go phins:fire: