Some time during the early second quarter this week, the Patriots will hits the one-third point of their season. (Yes, I actually used a calculator to figure that one out). By that time, many Pats fans will probably be a bit nervous as the perennial doormats who occupy the most abysmal stadium in sports, will be giving the Pats all they can handle.
While the Pats and Bills both (for this season at least) occupy top half of the division, the division as a whole deserves a good look.
The Jets, who I thought would be carried by an outstanding defensive front and punishing offensive line, to an easy 8-8, 9-7 record are 1-4. I guess the fact that their secondary could not cover Nell Carter might have something to do with their struggles. The Jets opponents are completing 64% of their passes on the season, with twelve touchdowns. Add to that a second year quarterback, who simply has not proven any ability to play as even a game manager, has thrown four touchdowns and six picks. A good way to compare how the Jets QB has done versus the wild success of QBs facing the Jets is the QB rating: vs. Jets- QBR of 107, Geno Smith QBR 69. The verdict is in- Geno Smith blows.
The only glimmer of hope is Michael Vick, who looked rusty and not too grateful to be playing last week against a Sand Diego defense who was in search, track, and destroy mode. Vick was 8-19, with a long completion of eleven yards. Maybe Jets offensive coordinator, Marty Mornhinweg, can get out his coaching WD40 and resurrect Vick and the Jets season, but that probably isn’t likely, as MM is a bit of an idiot.
Something tells me that this team and Sexy Rexy are beyond resuscitation. This time next year Rex will be reporting daily to an empty office in New Jersey, reading the Daily News and eating a sandwich, collecting his last guaranteed year.
Jets odds of winning the AFC East as of today: About the same as a Fox News anchor praising Obamacare.
The Dolphins have the stench of a perennial middle of the pack team. Aside from the defensive line (Pats) and maybe QB (Bills), there are no players who would improve the front-runners. Just a question, does anybody think they didn’t kick themselves every day for not signing Drew Brees? My man, Nick Saban, claims Brees failed his physical- which puts that non-signing on the medical staff, not Nick. Brees was coming off of shoulder surgery, but it was 2006, not 1976; meaning, big injuries aren’t nearly ay big as they once were. Sometimes you have to go with your gut and your eyes on a guy, not on a medical exam that could probably fail every player in the league for one miniscule ailment or another.
Dolphin’s odds of winning the AFC East as of today: About the same as Shane Victorino playing more than 110 games next year.
The Bills are a team on the rise. Loaded with skill position studs (leaving out QB/poster boy for “game manager” Kyle Orton), this team has a chance to be one of those groups that keeps improving with each week. They are a confident eleven, one capable of disemboweling a defense that will let them march down the field in the hopes that the Bills make a mistake- like maybe the one Matt Pattricia guides, perhaps? Their two-headed monster at running back, Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller, are both excellent runners who thrive catching the ball out of the backfield in space. Jackson, the steadier, less explosive, and better of the two, is maybe one of the most underrated players in the league.
The Bills defense lives to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Watching them play Detroit last week (God Bless the USA and the Sunday Ticket) was eye opening. On most plays, Matthew Stafford was reacting as if hand grenades were going off all around him. They are exceedingly difficult to run on, especially with the addition of thumper supreme, Brandon Spikes, in the middle. This team lost Kiko Alonso and his 159 tackles and four interceptions and hasn’t missed a beat.
Just a side note- I’ve been to that dump of a stadium and Sunday that will be Zubaz pants heaven, and it will be rocking.
Bills odds of winning the AFC East as of today: To me, this is Bush/Gore 2000- too tight to call.
The Patriots saved their season and saved the Tobin Bridge from being overpopulated by Charles Stuart wannabes, by slapping Cincinnati around last Sunday night. Their sense of urgency was visible and they allowed the Foxboro faithful the opportunity to exhale. It was equally impressive that they beat Cincinnati without Don’t’a Hightower, arguably their best defensive player this year. All was well and good until today’s injury report came out- rookie center Bryan Stork did not practice with an apparent concussion. Since this isn’t the bad ol’ days when a player was “dinged up” or “had his bell rung,’ rather its the era of protocols, dark rooms, rest, and caution, it is unlikely that Stork will play Sunday. That makes things against the Bills a Perfect Storm of crap. I’m a bit frightened for the Pats prospects for this Sunday. If they lose Sunday, to fall to 3-3, and 0-2 in the division, we’ll all have to start watching Wild Card scenarios and checking Stubhub for Bills tickets for the day after Christmas. Something tells me the local liquor stores are gonna be selling a ton of booze for that one.
Patriots’ odds of winning the AFC East this year: Win Sunday, driver’s seat- lose, see Bills prediction above.
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