Sports

Don’t mess with Rex’s

REX Ryan and Mark Sanchez got a tough draw in their first go-round as this season’s hot rookie coach/quarterback combo. They could have hoped for easier than a road game against the up-and-coming Texans with a sack machine named Mario Williams and an offense that can go on the ground with Steve Slaton and through the air with Andre Johnson. And the task is made even tougher by the suspensions to Jets defensive starters Shaun Ellis (one game) and Calvin Pace (four).

But the Jets are worth a play as moderate underdogs for these reasons: 1. They really want to play for Ryan, and especially want to develop a defensive identity right away. 2. Texans QB Matt Schaub has an ankle injury, and Ryan’s defense will be smelling blood (or possibly Rex Grossman or Dan Orlovsky). 3. Sanchez has shown signs of being a special quarterback, which suggests some first-game dramatics.

The Jets won on the road in the opening games of three recent regimes (1997, Bill Parcells, 41-3 at Seattle; 2000, Al Groh, 20-16 at Green Bay; 2006, Eric Mangini, 23-16 at Tennessee).

The pick: Jets +4 1⁄2.

Redskins (+6 1/2) over GIANTS: The Giants won last year’s meetings, 16-7 in the opener at home and 23-7 down in DC. Look for the Redskins to score more than that, with the Giants feeling their way a little under new defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan. With Albert Haynesworth clogging the middle and the Giants possibly light at wide receiver, this figures to be a close, NFC East-style slugfest.

FALCONS (-4) over Dolphins: Shrewd move by the Falcons trading for Tony Gonzalez, who gives Matt Ryan one more good option to go with Michael Turner and Roddy White. Dolphins are well-coached, but Tony Sparano will need more than the Wildcat to keep them near the top. The Peter Tocco/Odd Couple pick of the week.

RAVENS (-13) over Chiefs: This would be a Baltimore blowout even if Matt Cassel were healthy. Pity the Chiefs and new coach Todd Haley as he tries to score against Ray Lewis and a Ravens D amped up to prove they can still dominate without Rex Ryan.

Eagles (-2 1/2) over PANTHERS: Tough road task for the Eagles, but they’ve added speedy Jeremy Maclin to an already dangerous offense, and their defense will be stoked to pay tribute to late coordinator Jim Johnson.

Broncos (+4) over BENGALS: Many are already declaring Denver a disaster area, after the way rookie coach Josh McDaniels handled Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall. But the Bengals didn’t show enough on “Hard Knocks” to suggest they’re ready to come out of the gate with a sizable win.

Vikings (-4) over BROWNS: Brett Favre vs. Mangini in an ex-Jets grudge match. Favre has the upper hand because he can give the ball to best-in-the-business Adrian Peterson. Mangini’s hide-the-quarterback mind game suggests he doesn’t believe he has the talent to play it straight.

Jaguars (+7) over COLTS: Not so fast for what would figure to be a Colts romp to start the Jim Caldwell era. Can’t shake the memory of last year’s meeting in Indy, when the Jags ran for 236 yards, kept the ball over 41 minutes and won 23-21.

SAINTS (-13) over Lions: Saints won 42-7 in Detroit last December for the 15th Lions loss in an 0-16 season. With top pick Matthew Stafford and new coach Jim Schwartz, they’ll close that gap some, but not enough. Drew Brees (5,069 yards, 34 TDs) picks up where he left off.

Cowboys (-6) over BUCCANEERS: New Bucs coach Raheem Morris is 32 and had never been more than a defensive backs coach. It can’t be good that he had to fire offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski less than two weeks before the start of the season. Cowboys aren’t great, but are good enough here.

CARDINALS (-6 1/2) over 49ers: Had higher hopes for Mike Singletary’s first full season after he went 5-4 to end 2008, but the (so far) wasted No. 1 pick on Michael Crabtree will be hard to overcome. Niners just don’t have enough juice to stay close to high-powered Cards.

Rams (+8 1/2) over SEAHAWKS: Battle of new coaches. Seattle’s Jim Mora inherited a better team from Mike Holmgren, but at more than a touchdown, the nod here goes to former Giant defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Bears (+3 1/2) over PACKERS: Possibly the most exciting game of the week. Quarterback was the one thing the Bears have been missing since Jim McMahon — and even he wasn’t exactly great. Jay Cutler makes everyone better, even the defense, which no longer has to be so perfect.

MONDAY

PATRIOTS (-11) over Bills: The Patriots eventually will miss Richard Seymour, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Rodney Harrison. Not this week, though, as Tom Brady returns to whip up on the Bills like usual.

RAIDERS (+9 1/2) over Chargers: Not so comforted by the big number because when the Raiders are bad, they can be real bad. But JaMarcus Russell, Darren McFadden and Darrius Heyward-Bey might not be a bad trio at all.

LAST NIGHT: Steelers (L)

BEST BETS: Vikings, Ravens, Patriots.

dblezow@nypost.com