No matter what sport you play or watch one of the key components to putting yourself in position to win, whether it’s a single game or over the course of entire season, is getting off to a good start. You have a good start you feel confident, you may win a game you shouldn’t against a difficult opponent and before you know it your team has a huge boost of confidence and anything is possible.

According to some research by Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston, the New England Patriots are second in the NFL with the most consecutive season opening wins with six. Only the Pittsburgh Steelers have more with seven. That means going into the 2010 season opener the Patriots haven’t started their season with a loss since 2003. Just to refresh your memory, that was the 31-0 pounding in Buffalo by the Bills who had just signed former New England DB Lawyer Malloy after he was cut. This was the game that brought about the quote from Tom Jackson of ESPN “let me say this clearly…they [the Patriots players] hate their coach.”

So much for my theory, and Jackson’s, because the Patriots went 14-2 and won their second Super Bowl in three years. They would win the following one as well becoming the last NFL team to win back-to-back titles.

By the way the Patriots, who open at home against Cincinnati, have never lost a home opener (1st home game of the season) in Gillette Stadium where they are 8-0 since 2002 and have won 13 of the last 15. In their last 10 road openers (1st road game of the season) they are 5-5 under Bill Belichick and they are 1-2 since 2000 when they open the season on the road which hasn’t happened since 2007 when they massacred the Jets in the Meadowlands 38-14.

Here’s a look at the current streaks, wins or losses, to open a season:

Wins: Steelers — 7; Patriots — 6; Broncos — 3; Cowboys — 3; Packers — 3

Losses: Raiders — 7; Browns — 5; Buccaneers — 4; Chiefs — 4; Dolphins — 4; Jaguars — 3; Rams — 3

Photo credit: Boston Globe

New England Patriots fans have already wondered if wide receiver Wes Welker was superhuman because of his play on the field. Now they’re wondering due to Welker’s seemingly superhuman healing capacity.

Personally I was amazed when he appeared on the practice field for minicamp earlier this summer but now the word is out that Welker will do full participation in drills at training camp which starts on Thursday.

This is a mere seven months since Welker tore his ACL an injury that at times needs an entire year before an athlete can return. We’ve started to see athletes comebck from this injury sooner but I can’t recall a football player coming back so soon from such a devastating injury. Sure TO came back in four weeks but that was a broken leg and even that was stunning but this recovery by Welker out does that.

It makes you wonder did Welker borrow TO’s hyperbaric chamber?

Whatever he did to get back on the field is an amazing tribute to his desire to win. Now hopefully he’s truly fully healed and dangerous as ever because Tom Brady and the Patriots are much better team with Welker in slot instead of on the sideline.

Photo credit: AP Photo, SOX & Dawgs illustration