A smart NFL blogger would probably wait until the Thursday or Friday before each game before making his weekly prediction. He would study the injury reports, dissect trends, and the pick games based on previous performances.

But not I. So here goes nothing. Keep in mind, as confident as I am in these picks, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still watch the games. It’s the NFL after all, you never know for certain what’s going to happen…but this is just about as close as you can get.

Week 1 vs. Cincy: Pats 28, Bengals 23

I try not to take the pre-season too seriously, but if it taught us anything, it’s that the Pats defense is probably going to struggle a bit keeping teams off the scoreboard. On the other side of the ball however, they looked a lot more balanced than they did in 2009.

That’s why the Bengals are an interesting opening matchup. Their defense has been very solid under DC Mike Zimmer, and they have a lot of weapons on offense. Cincy may find the end zone early, but I think the Pats D makes halftime adjustments and steps up at home.

Week 2 @ NYJ: Pats 20, Jets 16

Oh how I wish we got these guys Week 1 instead of Week 2. If there has EVER been a situation where a ridiculously over-hyped team was primed to lose an opener it’s the 2010 Hark Knock Jets. Sadly, by Week 2 they will probably come back to Earth a little bit and get really pumped because they'll be facing the New England Freaking Patriots. But the Pats will get by.

Week 3 vs. Buffalo: Pats 42, Bills 10

Not much analysis needed here. The only thing worse than the Bills’ defense is the Bills’ offense. This is a three-team division. Maybe a tougher game in Buffalo but a blowout in Foxboro.

Week 4 @ Miami: Pats 24, Fins 14

So this is sort of cheating, but I am picking this game conditionally. The condition is that the Pats are able to at least slow down Shonn Greene and the Jets running attack in Week 2. If not, then I see no reason for them to be able to stop Miami and they will lose both of those games. But let’s face it, Belichick has figured out the Wildcat and while Miami is a sneaky team it’s tough to sneak up on people during Monday Night Football. Add that to the fact that Ronnie Brown will probably be out for the season by now and it looks like the path is cleared for a 4-0 start.

Week 5: BYE

Week 6 vs. Baltimore: Pats 21, Ravens 17

If this game weren’t at home, it would be a loss. If the Pats weren’t coming off a bye, it would be a loss. And if they hadn’t been embarrassed by Ray Rice & Co. in front of our home crowd to end the ’09 campaign it would be a loss.

Week 7 @ San Diego: Chargers 27, Pats 16

The Chargers are one HELL of a regular season team and nobody can take that away from them. They're gonna be tough. Hey, you can’t win ‘em all, and traveling to San Diego less than a week after playing a team as physical as the Ravens will not be easy.

Week 8 vs. Minnesota: Pats 24, Vikings 21

This Vikings team has more questions and uncertainty than the Cromartie household on Father’s Day. Will Brett Fav-rah live through the season? Will Brad Childress run Adrian Peterson into the ground? My guess is that they peaked last year and that the next couple of years will be a violent regression, which is a shame because AP is still young and they have a great defense, but that’s what happens when you let Favre hijack your team. That’s the price you pay for selling your team’s soul.

-- MIKE STIRITI
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