LAS VEGAS — Zoneblitz has once again embarked on a week one trip to Las Vegas. We were here two years ago and can only hope that the tables treat us better this year than they did the last time around. So far … we’re not betting on it.

We may have been a bit distracted during our first rounds of Blackjack tonight because we were frequently sneaking glances at the television to watch the Vikings-Saints NFC Championship rematch that kicked off the season.

The game was far less important than its predecessor in January … and far less exciting. The final result, with the Saints winning again, was predictable given some of the injuries facing each side, with Brett Favre probably still knocking off some rust and with New Orleans just being a damn good team, especially in the Superdome.

But I was surprised at the score. I placed a foolish, last-minute bet on the Saints and Vikings going over the over/under, which was posted at 49 by kickoff. And when Drew Brees took the Saints down the field as though Minnesota forgot to show up on the first drive, I thought the bet was looking good.

The defenses stiffened and I was quickly out that cash. And so it goes.

We’re looking forward to some more Blackjack and to full slates of college and pro football over the next couple days. We’ll be bringing you some previews, which will feature thoughts from several bloggers who write about specific teams around the league.

And we’ll be getting back into the swing of things with more regular postings as football news hopefully swings back toward on-field activities and away from such supposedly newsworthy items as Troy Polamalu’s hair and Kendall Langford’s $50,000 earring.

Tom Boswell once wrote a book about Major League Baseball called “Why Time Begins on Opening Day.” I’ve never read it but I understand the sentiment of the title. But for me it’s most definitely the beginning of football season when everything seems right with the world.