In the 2000 season opener, my Tennessee Titans lost 16-13 to Buffalo in a rematch of our Music City Miracle playoff win over the Bills the previous season. Did that defeat set us up for a down season? Hardly, as we won the next eight games on our way to an NFL best 13-3 record.
So take heart Panthers and Cardinals — two teams predicted by many to be Super Bowl contenders, yet opening day losers when their potential game-winning field goals failed in the waning seconds. It's a long season and there's plenty of time to right the ship.