Thursday night at The Razor there was a pre-party that was more of a spectacle than the game it was supposed to support.

The 2005 NFL Kickoff Concert in my books was a success despite some audio problems, and the fact that I missed the Rolling Stones from LA opening the event and Kayne West getting booed as they simulcast him performing from Detroit.

Security was tight entering the stadium, which was the reason for my delay. I saw two special unit officers out side the proshop with some serious high powered automatic weapons while security patted us down, checked our cell phones and anything persons carried in.

Once I got inside I was able to catch the end of Green Day's performance on a monitor, and by the time I got to my seat I was blown away by the events that happened next.

Santana performed and then Bob Kraft came out and made a his speech, which led to the unveiling of the Pats third banner in four years. The crowd went crazy.

Then, when you didn't think the night could not get any better, the Pats pulled off the ultimate and had Ozzy Osborne appear from inside a large Patriots helmet and perform "Crazy Train," which is the Patriots intro anthem. At this moment the stadium blew open as the season and 68,000 were singing along as Ozzy put on one hell of a performance for us fans.

When he finished, the crowd chanted "Ozzy!" until they brought out Trisha Yearwood to sing the National Anthem. After a great anthem the Hank William's intro came onto the stadium big screens, but was accompanied by silence as there was no audio, which put a damper on the type of response they wanted to get from the crowd as they went live for the coin toss (why was Matthew Perry out there in a 28 jersey?) and opening kick for the start of the game.

The game ... Oh yes the game, a game that one web site said ...

"Another Terrific Start!

The New England Patriots opened the season in style, beating the Oakland Raiders 30-20 at Gillette Stadium on Thursday night. It was a shootout for most of the evening, but quarterback Tom Brady kept the pressure on the Raiders defense and was flawless, finishing the night 24-of-38 for 306-yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions."

Let’s be real people, the Pats beat the Raiders in a penalty-filled game (flags pushed the game over the three-hour mark) that featured the lack of a Patriots running game, a so-so run defense, a nightmare of a performance by the special teams and a third quarter that I'm sure induced sleep to those watching at home.

QB Tom Brady may have finished the night with fantasy stud stats, but it was the passes he missed that could be associated to opening night butterflies. Hopefully, he can bounce back next week, because he was close to having two passes picked off, and at times overthrew his WR's and failed to see open receivers at times.

RB Corey Dillon finished the night with two TDs, but it was more of a 2004 Jerome Bettis performance as he gained only 63 yards on 23 carries. Last year the Raiders finished low against the run, but last night they did themselves justice by taking the wheels from Corey for most of the game.

So how were the Raiders? The Raiders will probably make the playoffs if they can continue to stop the run and keep executing a three-tiered attack with RB Lamont Jordan (18 for 70), WR's Jerry Porter (3 of 48) and Randy Moss (5 for 130 and 1 TD) who made a great play on S Rodney Harrision for a 73 yard TD, while still avg. 14yards for his remaining 4 receptions.

What will keep them from winning games and making the playoffs is allowing defenses to put pressure on their QB as the Pats did often, tighten up their secondary which got torched by open WR's for 306 yards and penalties ... 16 penalties for 149 yards, and these weren't your off-sides and pass interference type calls which can be considered as mental or position errors.

The Raiders were hit with several face mask, offensive holdings, delay of games, to many men on the field, illegal substitutions, a blatant unnecessary roughness and personal foul penalties that can just spark an opposing offense or defense. I know penalties are part of the Raiders mystique, but when do you get a hold of that and bottle it away? You can't come into the home of the Super Bowl champs and try to walk out of there with a win under 149 yards of penalties!

I’m sure the Patriots realize this also, as they were flagged seven times for 46 yards. CB Tyrone Poole was flagged for holding on third and three giving the Raiders a first down after an incomplete pass, LB Mike Vrabel was pinched for illegal use of hands on second and nine where they had knocked RB Lamont Jordan for a one yard loss, LB's Chad Brown and Wesley Mallard with WR Deion Branch were all nailed for an illegal block above the waist for ten yards each. Mallard and Brown's happened on the same play.

Cleaning up these penalties will be in order for this week I’m sure, along with the play of the special teams, which was horrid last night. Punter Josh Miller had a punt blocked late in the fourth, pinned the Raiders twice inside their five, and had some help from Raiders returner Chris Carr who muffed and miss guessed on several punt costing the Raiders some serious field position. Tim Dwight avg. 11 yards on 4 returns, providing a spark and threat for opposing teams, but on the other side the Pats special teams allowed 151 yards on only 6 kickoffs!

The Patriots receiving corps had a great night as the Raiders weakness in the secondary was exploited by eight guys getting touches from Brady. David Givens continued his clutch first down performance with a 5 yard reception on third and four, and a huge 26 yarder that led to Tim Dwight's only reception of the night a 5yard TD. Deion Branch (7 for 99 1 TD) and Troy Brown (6 for 51) proved their keep while TE Ben Watson (2 for 55) started off the game proving my previous mention of how talented the TEs are in New England.

The defense was being watched by all of the world last night. They lost their general Romeo Crennel, and some key players in LB's Tedy Bruschi (on sideline) and Ted Johnson. The Pats showed some cracks in their run defense during the first half, but patched things up to a point for the second half.

The Pats secondary was tight for a majority of the game, but it was the coverage of S Rodney Harrison on WR Randy Moss that cost them seven and a mismatch that left Willie McGinest in pass coverage and getting torched.

What was missing from the Pats defense was the lack of aggression. I saw execution, but I didn't see and feel that aggression which is something I think Bruschi brought to the field of play and spread to those around him.

So was this start terrific? Hell no, there is all lot of work to be done and 15 more games to be played. The reason why these problems need to be addressed now is because this season schedule isn't Patriots friendly as they head to Carolina next weekend for the Panthers, then off to Pittsburgh for week three against the Steelers. Week 4 the Pats return home for the San Diego Chargers, and then head back out on the road for the Falcons and Broncos before the bye week.

The time is now, and if this team wants to make a statement they are going to have to do it early on to make a push for the playoffs. And what makes matters worse, these teams are all teams that can come back to haunt them in possible post season match-ups.

As I close out this report I wanted to get something off of my chest. I am a huge fan of the NFL, and sometimes I can be biased to the things the NFL does, but for the first time I think this league as a whole has dropped the ball.

Thursday night the Patriots announced they collected $500,000 for those who were devastated by Hurricane Katrina, which goes into the NFL pool that is leading into the "Hurricane Relief Weekend" to be held the weekend of September 18/19th. At this time the NFL as a whole has donated $8 million.

Eight million dollars! Are you effin' kidding me? The Patriots alone are worth $1 billion to the NFL, and this years rookie signing bonuses make that donation look like a petty cash drawer.

New Orleans has been home to the Saints for years, but they have also hosted some of their most successful Super Bowls -- three of which included the Patriots. Their city opened it's arms and treated every one from the NFL like royalty. I was there in 2002, and it was crazy how this city made every effort to take care of this league.

The NFL needs to look at themselves and realize that a core of their players come from the south and they should be reaching down deeper into their pockets and making some substantial numbers.

Can the NFL bounce back and change my opinion on this matter? What do you think? Am I being harsh on the league? Give me your thoughts on the matter and let me know if you think $8 million is enough. Hit me up at Sinista1@msn.com