Mike: This has the makings of a high-scoring game and an emotional weekend when factoring in Drew Bledsoe's induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame and the team handing out 70,000 pins in memory of Myra Kraft. The Patriots haven't lost a home opener at Gillette Stadium, and they've won 14 of their past 16. I know you feel like the emotion of the day could help the Patriots, and I do, too. But in the end, it will come down to performance, and there are a few notable injuries, starting with center Dan Koppen, who is out with a fractured fibula.

Tedy: For the communication aspect of that offensive line, there is a lot that goes on with the center. You see Tom Brady making the checks, but there is a lot going on with the center, who is moving his head from left to right, communicating to Brian Waters on his right and to Logan Mankins on his left, and they start communicating to the tackles. It all starts in the middle, and that's Koppen. It's been Koppen for so long, and that's a huge factor in their success. The Patriots must decipher the Chargers' schemes, so that will be something to watch. Can Connolly communicate that as well as Koppen did?

Mike: Another factor is shotgun snapping. The Patriots use it a lot, and Koppen was almost taken for granted in that regard. I remember Connolly having some trouble with it in the 2008 preseason game at Tampa Bay, but he's really improved since then.

Tedy: We also saw former Patriots offensive lineman Damien Woody have problems with the shotgun snap, and he ended up being moved to guard. Sometimes it becomes mental when you have those problems. As soon as you snap the ball, you have to look and decipher rush combinations and try to pick up the right men to block. Just looking at that quarterback/center exchange, it's a different tempo and flow. A quarterback like Brady develops a comfort knowing where the ball is going to be, and now it's a change, so that's something to watch closely.

Mike: One other injury of note is with defensive lineman Mike Wright, who led the team with 5.5 sacks last season. He sustained a concussion in the season opener, and after missing the final seven games of 2010 with a concussion, this is a troubling situation for him.

Tedy: Any time you're talking about neck and brain injuries, it doesn't get much more serious than that. Concussions have received a lot of attention in part because of the issues that so many former players have had. It comes down to "What does Mike Wright want to do?" It could be a situation where doctors say it's still OK to play, or do they tell him that if he gets another one it could do some serious damage? That's where a player has to face his mortality and think about the long term.

Patriots' defense vs. Chargers' offense

Mike: A lot of places we could start here, as the Patriots are coming off a season-opening performance in which the Dolphins gained 488 yards of total offense. Some see those numbers as a sign of "just like last year," while others focus on holding the Dolphins to 2-of-14 on third down as a step in the right direction. This Chargers offense can move the ball in a hurry.

Tedy: The Patriots have had some difficulties with big receivers in recent years. This year, we saw it in the third preseason game against the Lions with Calvin Johnson and Maurice Stovall, when it seemed like those two guys were outphysicaling the defensive backs for the ball, whether it was jump balls or brushing them off for an underthrown ball. Then you look at Monday night and Brandon Marshall, a 6-foot-4 receiver, and he had some success. Cornerbacks Devin McCourty and Ras-I Dowling were there, in position, so it comes to the time when the ball is in the air and you win or lose. Right now, I'm seeing those bigger receivers being able to overpower the cornerbacks. Now, you look at the Chargers with Vincent Jackson at 6-5 and Malcom Floyd at 6-5, and you can count tight end Antonio Gates at 6-4, who is like a receiver.

Mike: It is interesting how the Patriots have gotten bigger at cornerback over the past few years, as we've seen a shift in philosophy of sorts. Gone are the Darius Butlers, Terrence Wheatleys and Jonathan Wilhites -- that corner in the 5-9, 185-pound mold -- and in their place are McCourty, who is 5-10, 193, but plays bigger, as well as Leigh Bodden (6-1, 193) and Dowling (6-1, 198). We'll see how they hold up against a tough Chargers passing attack that threw for 335 yards in the opener against the Vikings.

Tedy: They're playing more man coverages and counting on those guys to execute. I think that's where the size comes in, so you're not as overpowered in that spot. Maybe Coach Belichick sees it down the line, that you have to deal with Brandon Marshall twice a year, Plaxico Burress twice a year, and then there is a game like this week. Maybe the size helps.

Mike: So you're Bill Belichick and you get into that defensive meeting room, where do you start your plan this week when factoring in tight end Antonio Gates? Earlier this week, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers was talking about how teams try to defend Gates, with a key not letting him get off the line of scrimmage. Rivers joked that the Chiefs are one team that treated Gates like a gunner on the punt team, with two defenders vising him.