The last time the Eagles opened a season as NFL champions Womens Theo Riddick Jersey , it was 1960 and, well, who remembers what folks did then in Philadelphia?What they'll certainly do Thursday night at the Linc when the Falcons come to town is roar with approval at the site of the Lombardi Trophy and the championship banner. Fans will sing many, many choruses of "Fly Eagles Fly."And then the guys on the field will get down to business, defending the title they took away from New England last February.That defense will be difficult, particularly in the NFC, a stronger conference than the AFC."Quite honestly, it's going to be a great night from that standpoint," coach Doug Pederson says of the season opener. "The fans that are in attendance are going to be crazy and they're going to be excited. It's going to be great for the banner to be dropped in Lincoln Financial (Field). It's going to be a great atmosphere."I think with this football team, though, they understand this is a different season, it's a new team, new year. We're sitting here 0-0 with a great opportunity against a great opponent 鈥?a playoff/Super Bowl-caliber team coming in here. Quite honestly Womens Matthew Stafford Jersey , that's their focus."It had better be, because the Falcons barely lost in Philly in the divisional round last winter, and they've upgraded on both sides of the ball. Atlanta, No. 8 in the AP Pro32, comes in as a 2陆-point underdog to top-ranked Philadelphia.Pro Picks goes out on a limb early.UPSET SPECIAL: FALCONS, 22-20KNOCKOUT POOLWe didn't stick around for too long last year, so consider that when we choose the SAINTS to win this weekend.No. 15 San Francisco (plus 6) at No. 3 MinnesotaJimmy Garoppolo is undefeated as a starting quarterback. Streak ends Sunday.BEST BET: VIKINGS, 27-16No. 5 Pittsburgh (minus 5 1-2) at No. 31 ClevelandThe Browns are defeated in 17 straight. That streak continues, even if Le'Veon Bell is a no-show.STEELERS, 23-20No. 29 Tampa Bay (plus 9 1-2) at No. 6 New OrleansAlmost went with this as BEST BET. Saints have Super Bowl-level talent.SAINTS, 33-16No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (minus 5) at No. 21 Oakland, Monday nightThe return of Jon Gruden to the Black Hole. Raiders could struggle after Chucky traded his best player.RAMS, 27-25No. 28 Chicago (plus 7 1-2) at No. 9 Green BayKhalil Mack surfaces in Chicago. More significant: Aaron Rodgers is back at QB for Packers.PACKERS 27-13No. 13 Kansas City (plus 3) at No. 10 Los Angeles ChargersLots of people like the Chargers in the AFC West. So do we.CHARGERS Danny Amendola Jersey , 21-13No. 12 Houston (plus 6 1-2) at No. 2 New EnglandIf healthy, the Texans could be ready for special season. But they rarely play well in Foxborough.PATRIOTS, 30-20No. 26 Buffalo (plus 7) at No. 14 BaltimoreSean McDermott didn't want inexperienced Josh Allen at QB against this defense. Smart man.RAVENS, 18-7No. 24 (tie) Cincinnati (plus 3) at No. 30 IndianapolisAndrew Luck returns at last. He doesn't have much surrounding him.BENGALS, 22-14No. 7 Jacksonville (minus 3) at No. 20 New York GiantsHow satisfying will this win be for Tom Coughlin?JAGUARS, 20-19No. 17 Tennessee (minus 1) at No. 27 MiamiNot feeling good vibes about the Titans right now.DOLPHINS, 21-20No. 16 Dallas (plus 2 1-2) at No. 11 CarolinaNot feeling good vibes about the Cowboys right now.PANTHERS, 30-24No. 22 Washington (pick-em) at No. 24 (tie) ArizonaTwo of the NFL's most mysterious teams this year. Go with the hosts.CARDINALS, 24-20No. 18 Seattle (plus 3) at No. 23 DenverTwo more of the NFL's most mysterious teams. Go with the ... you get the drill.BRONCOS, 20-13No. 32 New York Jets (plus 6 1-2) at No. 19 Detroit, Monday nightSam Darnold's debut gives this game some intrigue. So does Matt Patricia's as Lions coach.LIONS, 23-192017 RECORD:Super Bowl: Against spread (1-0). Straight up (0-1)Season Totals: Against spread (124-125-10). Straight up: (167-98)Best Bet: 10-9 against spread, 11-8 straight upUpset special: 10-8 against spread Christian Jones Jersey White , 9-9 straight up DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Lions now face a different set of questions.After a blowout loss in Week 1 raised concerns about the team’s tenacity and commitment level, the Lions rallied gamely Sunday at San Francisco. But a late penalty left Detroit a few points short in a 30-27 loss . The Lions certainly didn’t give up, but they made too many mistakes — and now injuries are becoming a concern as well.“We have a lot of work to do, we know that,” coach Matt Patricia said Monday. “We’re a blue-collar team that’s going to go to work every single day and try to get better.”That’s a more credible statement now than it was after Detroit’s season opener, when the Lions were throttled 48-17 at home by the New York Jets. Sunday’s game looked like more of the same when the 49ers took a 30-13 lead in the fourth quarter. Then Detroit scored two touchdowns and appeared to be in position to win when Tracy Walker intercepted a pass and ran it back to the San Francisco 7-yard line.But that play was negated by a holding call on Quandre Diggs. The Lions would eventually get the ball back, but they couldn’t make it across midfield. Patricia said he always tries to get clarification on questionable calls from a game, and he indicated the penalty on Diggs would be one the Lions would ask the league about. He also said the game was officiated tightly, and it was up to his team to adjust.Detroit had 10 penalties for 105 yards, and running back LeGarrette Blount was ejected in the fourth quarter for shoving a San Francisco player.The Lions (0-2) seemed to show more fight than against the Jets, but that’s of little consolation for Detroit fans. This team went 9-7 in each of the past two seasons and appears in danger of taking a step back in Patricia’s first year at the helm.“The fans are obviously the ones that we’re trying to go out and work the hardest for,” Patricia said. “I certainly understand their frustration and we’re doing everything we can possible to make sure we get this turned around.”The path ahead is daunting. Patricia’s former team, the New England Patriots Ricky Wagner Jersey White , comes to Detroit next weekend. Then the Lions go on the road to play Dallas before hosting Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay.Detroit also faces some potentially troublesome injuries. Star cornerback Darius Slay left Sunday’s game with a concussion, and pass-rushing standout Ziggy Ansah missed the game with a shoulder injury.“We have talent on this team, and obviously guys like Ziggy and Slay are hard to replace,” linebacker Devon Kennard said. “But it’s no excuse. We have to go out there and find ways to win and play effective defense.”Big plays have been a problem. The Lions allowed a 62-yard touchdown run against the Jets and a 66-yarder against San Francisco.“It’s total team defense. It goes from the line to linebackers to the secondary, and we have to finish the play better, we have to do a good job of stopping that,” Patricia said. “We can’t let that happen and we have to go out and execute that better next time.”Next weekend, the Lions face a team that can certainly make them pay if they don’t execute.“We’re ready for the opportunity,” wide receiver Marvin Jones said. “It’s the NFL, it doesn’t get easier. Nobody is just going to come and give us the game. We have to take it and Sunday will be another opportunity for us to do that.”