OUR WEEK ONE MATCHUP THROWDOWN! Part One: A Thursday Extravaganza

by Matt Prendergast, avowed lifelong fan of Earl Campbell

Howdy do! Welcome to the first of what may-or-may-not be a seventeen-plus week series of bringing you a little glimpse into how the NFL weekly match-ups are going to break down from my wizened perspective. Due to six fantasy drafts this week, the Thursday night kickoff, and the desperate neccessity of 'my need to remain gainfully employed' this is going to come at you in two installments this week (and probably again later in the season when the NFL Network continues it's tradition of adding an extra night each week when my family hates talking to me). But hey, the opening game deserves it's own piece, don't it? Hold on tight, 'cause here we go!

Thursday Night Kickoff!

New Orleans Saints @ My Green Bay Packers - Two All-Pro quarterbacks who spread the ball around like Pac Man Jones with a fistful of twenties, two multi-headed revamped running attacks that are in all reality pretty much unknown and untested, a boatload of good-to-phenomenal receiving threats, and two defenses schemed by guys that like blitzing in original and unorthodox fashions - all on hand in this showdown of the last two world champions, coming to you from beautiful Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Saints Advantages: The ridiculous pregame show with Kid Rock, Maroon 5 and Lady Antebellum, (not to mention Jordin Sparks on the anthem) is the kind of mish-mashed spectacrap that networks seem to think has some relationship to football (I'm astonished Steven Tyler isn't glomming his way onto this somehow) - it's all loud obnoxious nonsense and attracts freaks and otherwise football-disinterested parties; the Saints come from the town that made these behaviors into a national holiday, so that should put them at ease to start the game in this normally blue-collar burg. Another important point: the Packer offensive line doesn't appear all that clear on the concept of 'quarterback protection' yet again - that may just come into play, possibly, maybe. And Drew Brees is still whip-smart and truly awesome.

Packers advantages: The Lambeau factor appears to have finally returned steadily in the last year. The Saints' backs aren't going to see a whole lot of open field between Matthews and Walden on the outside and Human Goliath Howard Green on the inside....oh, and Dom Capers hasn't shown anybody even five percent of this year's playbook yet. And let's reminisce: Clay Matthews did a good piece of his one-man damage rampage last year with a freaking stress fracture in his foot.

What to Expect: Normally, I temper my expectations for this kind of high-profile matchup and call out a low-scoring affair, but with neither running game showing much to fear (yet), I'm actually expecting a big-time shoot-out to kick off the year with style.

The Fulcrum Point: Aaron Rodgers' spectrum of facial hair. The easy out would to be a claim that the Packers have a superior secondary, but Morgan Burnett has a lot to learn about patience, I believe that's going to prove to be a very exploitable facet for Brees. But you know what's not exploitable? Rodgers' mental intimidation through innovative personal grooming. When Old #4 was holstered in the saddle, you were either getting 'clean-shaven' or 'craggy', that's it - a nice parallel with his two gameplay styles of 'Totally Insanely Nails-On Tremendous' and 'Possibly Started Drinking a Quart of Rubbing Alcohol Before the Game Again'. With Rodgers, there's no such predictability; he might come out of that tunnel with a Van Dyke, muttonchops, a horseshoe....even a straight-up Burt Reynolds chevron - you never know. And don't kid yourself, that's unnerving to a linebacker. Dude lines up under center sporting an Imperial, what the hell else is he capable of? Answer: Anything and everything that you aren't prepared for. The Win Goes To: Green Bay

Part Two: The Rest of the Story coming Saturday. Maybe Friday, depending on how things shake out.

If you'd like to follow my random thought process and continued fascination with shiny objects, your best bet is to do so on Twitter @amazingmattyp. Or check your local police beat.