Since Tom Brady replaced Drew Bledsoe at quarterback almost 12 years ago, there have been few things more sure in the NFL than New England blowing out Buffalo, whatever the location or circumstances.
With the Bills starting a rookie quarterback in Week 1 for the first time since Rich Stadium was a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility, another humiliation is certainly possible.
Especially since, with cornerback Stephon Gilmore out and safety Jairus Byrd doubtful, Buffalo's secondary is experienced primarily in the area of chasing opposing receivers into the end zone.
And the Bills' offensive line is breaking in a new left guard in Colin Brown, as well as a right tackle, Erik Pears, who missed more than half of last season with a groin injury.
The Patriots, though, have problems of their own.
Brady's three top targets from 2012 will spend Sunday presumably watching on television, in Denver reveling in two touchdowns scored for the Broncos on Thursday and awaiting trial for one murder, while under investigation for two others, respectively.
Of course, Brady has repeatedly shown himself capable of shredding any secondary, particularly one as beat-up as Buffalo's, with a bunch of guys he finds playing catch in the parking lot.
Buffalo's rookie quarterback, meanwhile, has yet to prove anything.
Even with all the other storylines, E.J. Manuel's debut makes today's game worth watching, no matter how painful the trauma of more than a decade's worth of torchings by the Patriots, including this one last year. And this one.
Manuel showed enough arm, legs and brains in training camp and two exhibitions before sustaining a knee injury to give hope that Buffalo's 15-year run of ineptitude and infirmity at quarterback might finally be coming to an end. Then again, he -- like the system installed by first-year coach Doug Marrone, which is also making its first professional appearance -- could prove totally overwhelmed by the speed and complexity of big-boy, regular-season NFL football, particularly the variety executed by the Patriots defense as orchestrated by Bill Belichick.
As ever, feel free to share your impressions and biases in the comments below.
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