It’s better to embrace the future than to live in the past. Yet just last week, my pal Steve Serby picked the Patriots to win Super Bowl XLIV. Even today, a major Web site, a worldwide leader no less, still has New England No. 2 in its power rankings.
Am I missing something? Didn’t Richard Seymour just turn into Jarvis Green? Was I hallucinating when I saw Mike Vrabel, Tedy Bruschi and Jerod Mayo (injured) morph into Pierre Woods, Eric Alexander and Gary Guyton? What’s Brandon Meriweather doing in Rodney Harrison’s spot? Bill Belichick’s still calling the defensive shots, but he’s not using the same bullets he’s used in winning eight in a row vs. the Jets at the Meadowlands.
Offensively, the Pats still have a gold-standard passing game, but Tom Brady, gimpier now, will be under siege (and under Kris Jenkins). The well-regarded New England OL, so exposed by the Giants in Supe XLII, can be overpowered.
Rex Ryan, perfect mix of a young Bill Parcells and Ralph Kramden, knows this game is the key to his whole program in Year 1. He will hold nothing back.
The pick: Jets +3 1⁄2.
COWBOYS (-3) over Giants: With the next three games at Tampa Bay, at KC and home for Oakland, the Giants are almost guaranteed at least a 4-1 start. But this Sunday night in the grand opening of Cowboys Stadium, Big Blue’s injury-riddled secondary won’t be able to hold up against Tony Romo.
CHIEFS (-3) over Raiders: Brodie Croyle threw for just 177 yards and Larry Johnson was the leading rusher with 20, but the Chiefs still were tied with the Ravens at 24 with less than five minutes to go thanks to a blocked punt and an INT. Give them a pop at home against the hard-running Raiders in the Peter Tocco/Odd Couple Pick of the Week (1-0).
TITANS (-6 1/2) over Texans: Skeptical of the Texans going from everyone’s darlings to dolts in one game. Matt Schaub, Steve Slaton and Andre Johnson will do more than they did against the Jets, but it won’t be enough vs. Titans, who had extra rest after a near-miss, OT loss in Pittsburgh.
Bengals (+9) over PACKERS: Bengals lost on a fluke play last week, and the Packers basically had a victory handed to them by the Bears. There certainly wasn’t a big enough gap between these two teams to warrant this nine-point spread.
LIONS (+10) over Vikings: Yes, Adrian Peterson is going to run all over the Lions and this could get ugly. Still, always looking for reasons to accept double digits at home, and if Matthew Stafford can improve at all on 0 TDs and 3 INTs, Detroit can stay within shouting distance in Jim Schwartz’s home debut.
Saints (pick) over EAGLES: Even discounting the stats the Saints rolled up against the toothless Lions, they bring an offensive army to south Philly augmented by the return of RB Pierre Thomas. Eagles are an elite NFC team, but they needed all hands on deck for this one, and Kevin Kolb isn’t going to cut it if he has to play.
FALCONS (-6 1/2) over Panthers: While spread’s uncomfortably high, this is shaping up to be an indoor perfect storm for a Falcon blowout. If Atlanta’s D can take it away from the sure-handed Dolphins four times, what will happen to turnover machine Jake Delhomme?
Rams (+10) over REDSKINS: Rams might prove to be the worst team in the league. Their Week 1, 28-0 loss at Seattle suggests that. But this pick is a nod to Steve Spagnuolo, who has a Ph.D in Shutting Down the Redskins. And remember, Rams were 0-4 last year, outscored 147-43, when they won 19-17 in DC.
Cardinals (+3) over JAGUARS: Not crazy about taking the Cardinals off the long trip with the early kickoff, but Ken Whisenhunt surely has added emphasis to this game after the opening loss to the Niners. Return of WR Steve Breaston helps Kurt Warner, as does the absence of Jags DE Reggie Hayward (broken leg).
49ERS (-1 1/2) over Seahawks: Props to Mike Singletary’s Niners for their opening win at Arizona. Patrick Willis and his mates, who assaulted Kurt Warner, now set their sights on Matt Hasselbeck
Buccaneers (+5) over BILLS: Oddly, this is the Bucs’ first visit to Buffalo in their 34-year history. Bills defense gave up 462 yards to the Pats, and without LB Paul Posluszny (arm), will be hard-pressed to stop the Cadillac Williams-Derrick Ward combo.
BRONCOS (-3) over Browns: Josh McDaniels won his debut on the luckiest break of Week 1. Eric Mangini doesn’t quite have that Midas touch. Broncos have won last eight meetings.
CHARGERS (-3) over Ravens: It took all of one week for the Ravens D to hear rumblings that their past success was mostly because of Rex Ryan. After close call at home vs. KC, can’t back ‘em on tough, cross-country trip.
Steelers (-3) over BEARS: OK, so you have high hopes for the Bears only to see Jay Cutler stink, Brian Urlacher get hurt, a ridiculous call by the long-snapper and an unconscionable bomb to lose it. This team will be loaded for, uh, bear at home, but Steelers are better and have two days’ extra rest.
MONDAY NIGHT
DOLPHINS (+3) over Colts: Dolphins tied a record in 2008 with 13 turnovers, so of course they came out of the gate with four giveaways in their opening loss to Atlanta. Peyton Manning will miss WR Anthony Gonzalez (knee), out six weeks.
BEST BETS: Jets, Rams, Buccaneers.
LAST WEEK: 11-5 overall, 2-1 Best Bets.
dblezow@nypost.com