KANSAS CITY AT NEW ENGLAND
Kickoff: Thursday, 5:30 p.m. (KNBC/4)
Outlook: Looking for a reason the Patriots won’t win the Super Bowl again? You won’t find it here. This year’s roster is only more talented than last year’s. The NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense added another Pro Bowl corner. The offense added a No. 1 wideout. Rob Gronkowski is healthy. Tom Brady still hasn’t eaten gluten. The Chiefs are a playoff-caliber team with a real shot to win the AFC West, and still, they don’t seem to have a chance here. Maybe it’s the overwhelming impulse to think the Patriots would never screw this up. Maybe it’s the fact that, since 2007, Brady is 51-1 at home against AFC teams in the regular season. Either way, the Patriots are not starting 0-1.
Player to watch: Brandin Cooks, WR. Brady’s newly acquired No. 1 wideout could be his most talented since Randy Moss.
Line: Patriots by 9
Prediction: Patriots, 34-24