Happy Opening Day: A Look Back at the 2007 Season

I have been waiting for this day since February 3, 2008.

Tonight, the Washington Redskins visit the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants in the kickoff to the 2009 season.

Even though I am a die-hard Eagles fan and they do not play until Sunday, just the thought of a regular-season game being on NBC tonight excites me.

A new start to a new season can only make a fan wonder what to expect this season. Last year, there were plenty of amazing stories that kept all NFL fans on their feet.

5. Vick-less Falcons finish 4-12

They say one man can't carry a team. Well, some people haven't seen Michael Vick. The former Falcons quarterback has proven to us all that a franchise can fall apart without its star quarterback.

Michael Vick is currently serving his sentence for his role in running a dogfighting ring in his own home.

The former Virginia Tech star had it all while he played for the Falcons. He had a 10-year, $130 million contract and plenty of other endorsements.

Unfortunately, Vick's off-field actions not only hurt himself, but the team, too. The story of Vick's dogfighting ring progressed a few months before the start of the 2007 season. By the time the season started, the Falcons had no other choice but to move on without him.

Vick had plenty of milestones throughout his young NFL career. In 2002, the 22-year-old Vick gave Brett Favre his first-ever home playoff loss at historical Lambeau Field as the No. 6 seeded Falcons upset the Green Bay Packers, 27-7

In 2005, Vick fell shy of reaching the Super Bowl as he led the Falcons to the NFC Championship game, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10.

The worst part about Vick's actions is he not only hurt himself, but he hurt the entire Atlanta Falcon franchise, as well. The Falcons, who were playoff contenders at the beginning of the season, struggled during the year and fell to a horrifying 4-12 record.

Arthur Blank, the owner of the Falcons, had no other choice but to move on this season. With the status of Michael Vick's return to the NFL up in the air, Blank decided to draft Matt Ryan out of Boston College as his new franchise quarterback.

4. Saint-it ain't so: Saints can't live up to 2006 hype and fall short of playoffs

In 2006, the Saints were the feel-good story of the NFL.

After the events of hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Saints had to wait a season before they could play in the Superdome because of the damage.

I can remember the first game played in the Superdome since Katrina. Words cannot describe the emotions running through the stadium that night. Tears were running down some of the players' eyes. I remember watching the game in my apartment room sophomore year thinking "this is truly amazing."

What was even more amazing about that game was the way the Saints played that night. After signing quarterback Drew Brees in the offseason and drafting former USC Trojan and Heisman Trophy-winner Reggie Bush, the Saints had high expectations coming into the 2006 season.

After a 2-0 start, the Saints held their first home post-Katrina in the third week of the season against the 2-1 Falcons. On the first score of the game, Curtis DeLoatch recovered a blocked punt for the touchdown. The Superdome erupted with cheers.

The Saints would go on to win that game, 23-3. After going 3-13 the previous year, the Saints would go to win 10 regular season games in 2006, making it all the way to the 2006 NFC Championship game.

Many thought the Saints magic would continue into the 2007 season. However, a slow start led them to finish off the season with a 7-9 record. With Deuce McAllister back from another knee injury, the Saints should be another playoff contender this season.

3. Despite slow start, San Diego wins AFC and falls just shy of Super Bowl

No matter what team you may be, if LaDainian Tomlinson is your starting running back, you are going to be a contender.

As usual, the San Diego Chargers came into the 2007 season with hopes of the Super Bowl.

After defeating the defending NFC Champion Chicago Bears, 14-3, in the opening week of the season, the Chargers would go on to lose their next three games of the season.

I remember watching an interview with LaDainian Tomlinson on ESPN after the Chargers lost in Week Four to the Kansas City Chiefs.

He was crying because he had no idea what was wrong with the Chargers. He wasn't the only one; the fans didn't know what was wrong, either. Even my weekly picks were suffering because I kept picking the Chargers to win.

The dynamic Tomlinson and San Diego Chargers all of a sudden seemed human. However, things eventually turned around.

The Chargers returned to their normal selves and finished the season 11-5 with another AFC West division title.

Despite giving their fans a scare, the Chargers would put on quite the show in the playoffs.

In the second round, the San Diego took on the defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts.

Most football fans were hoping for another classic Manning vs. Brady showdown in the AFC Championship game. However, the Chargers had other plans.

San Diego went on to beat the Colts, 28-24, in Indianapolis, to advance to the AFC Championship against the undefeated New England Patriots.

Despite a long-fought battle, a series of injuries to Phillip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Antonio Gates caused the Chargers to fall short of the Super Bowl, losing, 21-12.

2. Brett Favre's last season in Green Bay turns out to be a magical one

For the past few seasons, it seems like we hear the same question: When is Brett Favre going to retire?

Brett Favre has always been an idol of mine. He is a role model to all athletes out there.

Most athletes these days want to play for big contracts. Every year during the start of training camp, we see a whole list of athletes that refuse to participate until they get what they want (Stephen Jackson, I'm talking to you!).

When I look back at all of the athletes I have seen play the game of football, nobody will ever be able to have as much love for the game as Brett Favre. The man holds off on retirement year after year just so he can play another season of the game he loves.

Even when we watch press conferences of Favre, I have never seen a man so emotional about the game.

On Dec. 22, 2003, Brett Favre had one of the most amazing performances that I will ever see in my life.

On the day after his father's death, Favre went on to throw for 399 yards and four touchdowns as the Packers defeated the Oakland Raiders, 41-7, in one of the best Monday Night Football games in the history of the NFL.

I have been a fan of football ever since I was a young kid. There is no doubt in my mind that I will see a Monday Night Football event like that game again.

Before last season, many fans of the NFL felt that Brett Favre's time was coming to an end. Not only were his numbers declining, but the Packers record wasn't so hot either.

After posting a 12-20 record over the last two seasons, Brett Favre led the Green Bay Packers to a 13-3 record and the NFC Championship Game.

Not only did Favre post numbers of 28 touchdowns and 4,155 yards passing, but he also passed Dan Marino on the all-time list for career passing yards (61,655) and touchdowns (442).

The 2007 season will always be a memorable one for Favre, as it ended up being his final season in Green Bay. After retiring from the game of football in March, it did not take him long to file for reinstatement. However, the Packers had already moved on with the Aaron Rodgers era. Green Bay traded Favre to the Jets back in August.

Obviously, those record-breaking numbers will change this season now that Favre is a Jet (does anybody else find it weird that Favre is on the cover of Madden 09 in a Packers jersey despite playing for the Jets?). The start of the Aaron Rodgers era begins in Green Bay this weekend.

1. Giant upset causes Patriots to fall just short of perfection

Before last season, Tom Brady never had any offensive "superstars" to play with on his Patriots squad. The brightest star on offense that Tom Brady has had in his career was probably Deion Branch, who is now on the Seattle Seahawks.

Last season, Brady received all of the offensive power he could ask for.

In the 2007 offseason, the Patriots loaded up on offense by signing Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donte Stallworth as receivers. Tom Brady went on to throw for the NFL's first 50-touchdown season, with 21 of those touchdowns going to Randy Moss.

All season long, the Patriots were crushing team after team. Despite a few close games toward the end of the season, everybody knew the Patriots were the team to beat in the AFC.

When the last game of the season rolled around, the Patriots were flirting with perfection. They had posted a 15-0 record and were one game away from becoming the second team in NFL history to post a 16-0 record.

After a long battle, the Patriots ended up beating the New York Giants, 38-35, in the regular season finale to become the second team in history to finish the regular season undefeated.

Little did we know that this great regular season finale would end up being the Super Bowl matchup in February. The Patriots entered the game 18-0 on the season. All they had to do was win against the Giants and their historical team would be right up there with the 1972 Dolphins.

Unfortunately for the Pats, the Giants had different plans.

After scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter, New York ruined the Patriots' Cinderella season and won the Superbowl, 17-14. Eli Manning delivered the winning touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress with 35 seconds left to seal the win.

Even though they lost the Super Bowl, the New England Patriots gave us a season for the ages. The sensational passing from Brady to Moss was the best dynamic duo we have seen since Batman and Robin.

Even though Stallworth has departed to the Browns, expect the New England Patriots to put up superb numbers again this season. I am sure most of the team wants to fight for perfection again.