Pats Next Season

I wonder if the Patriots will be just as good next year. I don't see why not, unless the team is not able to re-sign any of the free agents it has. Although, that has never been a problem in the past. The Patriots have a history of letting players leave for more money, and those players not being as successful. The Pats will still be playing in the AFC East, and still have one of the best quarterbacks and coaches of all-time. So, I think they'll be fine. In fact, look for the team to improve on its regular season record of 12-4 and perhaps win another game or two.

New Team, Same Rex Ryan

Rex Ryan is at it again. The new coach of the Buffalo Bills held his first press conference the other day and it was much of the same for Ryan. The man who multiple times predicted that his former team (the Jets) would win the super bowl, started off his Bills career by promising playoffs for Buffalo. The team has not seen the playoffs in 15 years, but with a strong defense, many believe that the team is just a quarterback away from being a sleeper in the AFC. I appreciate the enthusiasm from Ryan, but haven't we seen this before? When Ryan took over the Jets he led a team with a great defense to back to back AFC title games. Ever since his teams have been mediocre and have never carried good offenses. Ryan has always been the out going head coach who makes big statements to the media in support of his team, but in a place like New York City he just got destroyed. I believe that Ryan is a great defensive coach and he will be fine in Buffalo but I do not think he got off on the right foot by saying what he did at his press conference.

Important For Patriots to Win Out

New England plays host to Miami this weekend, and look to continue their dominance of the AFC East. The Pats finish the season with Buffalo and the Jets as well, all very winnable games. If they win out then home field advantage is theirs. However, with Denver looming, if the Pats drop even one of these games then home field could be lost. We saw last year just how important that home field advantage is, when the Pats went to Mile High and lost in the AFC championship game. The Patriots almost never lose at home, and with the team looking as well-rounded as they have in recent years, I would like their chances against Denver in the title game. Lets hope that the injury bug does not bite them for a second consecutive postseason, and that Brady and co. are back in the Super Bowl come February.

Patriots Last Place in the AFC East?

As I look at the NFL standings, following the first Sunday of the season, there is something shocking about the AFC East. There are three teams tied for first in the division: the New York Jets (W 19-14 vs OAK), Buffalo Bills (W 23-20 vs CHI) and Miami Dolphins (W 33-20 vs NE). This leaves just one team sitting dead last, and that team, is the New England Patriots.

For the first time since 2003, a Tom Brady-led squad lost in week one of the season. The Patriots, as usual, are Super Bowl contenders this year. So, an opening week loss to an injury-plaugued Miami team comes as a bit of a shock to most fans, including myself. Now don't get me wrong, the Patriots and Dolphins always play great games in Florida, but never have I seen Miami's defense so dominant. After a strong first half from Brady and the offense, Miami ramped up the pressure. The Dolphins were able to get to Brady four times, twice forcing fumbles. Miami defensive end Cameron Wake forced both of the those fumbles, the last of which all but sealed the win.

New England was dominated in the second half of Sunday afternoons game, and were left as a last place team. However, the last two times the Patriots lost their opening week matchup, they went on to win the super bowl. That is not to understate how bad the Patriots looked in the second half, but it is interesting. Going into this year the Pats are once again favorites to compete for the Lombardi trophy. Most view them and the Broncos as a lock for a rematch of last years AFC championship game. One that saw the injury-riddled team come up short at Mile High.

This years team is revamped. Especially on the defensive side. The addition of shutdown corner Darrelle Revis is huge for the Pats, considering they let Aquib Talib go to the Broncos. It also gives gives Belichek one of the best corners in the game. Perhaps the biggest addition of all is simply the return of multiple players from injury. From tight end Rob Gronkowski, to middle linebacker Jerod Mayo, New England had many players finish last year on injured reserve.

So, the return of players like Vince Wilfork and Rob Gronkowski should make for a very successful regular season in Foxboro. Whether or not the offensive line holds up is another question. I'm not too concerned just yet, but if the Patriots have more performances like they did in South Beach, a trip to the AFC championship might not be so easy.

NFL Sunday

After an incredible night of college football on Saturday, it is now time for the professionals to take center stage. For myself and most of America, football is the focus of the entire Sunday during the fall, and as Thanksgiving approaches, the games contain more and more importance. There are many different story-lines entering the week; backup quarterbacks are starting in what seems like every other game, the most notable being for the Steelers, Eagles and Bears. A rookie out of Arizona, Nick Foles, takes over for the struggling Eagles, while a couple of veterans, Byron Leftwich and Jason Campbell, start for the Steelers and Bears respectively. However, the biggest story is the late afternoon matchup in Foxboro, between the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots. The rivalry could be renewed after taking a year off last year with no Peyton Manning. 

This year the Colts have a new quarterback in Andrew Luck, and have rode him to their current 6-3 record. While Indianapolis has been rejuvenated by their rookie quarterback, the Patriots have had a quiet year thus far. Currently sitting at 6-3, and atop the AFC East, the Patriots have struggled at times this season on defense, and even offensively in the 4th quarter. Despite this, it does seem like the team is prime for a second half run going towards the playoffs. The Patriots have ended the past two regular seasons on eight game winning streaks. Currently on a three game winning streak, New England seems to be ready to get rolling offensively. 

The real intriguing aspect to this game is the showdown between the two starting quarterbacks: rookie Andrew Luck and perennial MVP candidate Tom Brady. One is veteran who has won three Super Bowls, and two MVP awards, while the other is a rookie standout, who is trying to help rebuild the Colts franchise. While the two are both great quarterbacks, there is also such a contrast between the two. One was drafted late in the sixth round, while the other was just recently selected number one overall. One went to the University of Michigan, while the other was on the west coast studying at Stanford. Despite all that, the two have both produced similar numbers this season, in terms of yards. Luck has thrown for 2631 yards, and Brady is just ahead of him at 2645 yards, but there is a difference in other statistics. Brady has thrown 18 touchdown passes with a 100.1 passer rating, while Luck has only thrown ten touchdown passes and has a 79.1 passer rating. 

Brady and the Patriots do have the edge heading into this game at home, but if the Colts can come into Foxboro and pull off the upset, one could really start talking Luck for MVP.