AFC East Breakdown: J-E-T-S ... JETS, JETS, JETS!
Gang Green takes over the throne
by: Bob Bonett
For the AFC East, a couple of stories stayed the same. Miami marched into second place in the division, continuing to make fans forget about last year's one-win debacle. The Bills, meanwhile, look so lost that Dick Jauron, an early coach-of-the-year candidate, may be on the hot seat.
Oh, and then there was the Jets/Pats game ...
Let's break down the AFC East:
1) Jets (7-3)
After getting clobbered by San Diego,48-29, in Week 3 and then dropping the overtime game in Oakland, just about everybody – Jets fans included – counted Gang Green out of contention. Now, a four-game losing streak by the Bills, coupled with the HUGE win on Thursday night over New England, has New York in the driver's seat in the AFC East.
The talk right now is whether or not New York is relevant in the conference picture. I'll withhold judgment until the tell-all game coming up on Sunday against the Titans, where the ramifications are pretty simple: Beat the only undefeated team in the NFL and start believing an appearance in the Super Bowl is possible, or lose and ... well, what's the point of being pessimistic?
The Titans game, by the way, is going to be one that the classic NFL fan loves: Low-scoring, hard-nosed football, with a WHOLE lot of Kris Jenkins and Albert Haynesworth (Tennessee's version of Jenkins, in case you forgot).
2) Dolphins (6-4)
OK, so if New York is in first place in the division, who would you guess would be No. 2? New England? Not so fast. Bill Parcells & Co. are on a mission to resurrect this franchise; the fact that it is happening already is flat-out uncanny.
After salvaging a pair of two-point victories over a couple of not-so-elite teams, the Pats come to town in a game with monumental implications that may be overshadowed by Tennessee vs. New York. But after New England, Miami has arguably the easiest schedule in the NFL. Aside from a game at the Meadowlands in Week 17 – which could, crazy as it sounds, determine the division – Miami's four opponents are a combined 11-29. Translation: At least 10 wins for the Fish.
3) Patriots (6-4)
If there is one positive that can be taken from Thursday night's loss, it's that Matt Cassel is the real deal. "Tom Brady Light" passed for 400 yards and rushed for another 62, nearly bringing New England back from an 18-point first half deficit.
However, it's getting to be must-win time for the Pats. With the most intimidating schedule left in the East, New England has yet to bring Pittsburgh and Arizona – two teams with division titles in their radar – to Gillette Stadium. But before they start worrying about Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner, this week it's an old foe that could sink the dagger a little deeper into the Pats' season: Chad Pennington.
4) Buffalo (5-5)
Proclaiming Jauron on the hot seat may have been a bit hasty. Heck, he just signed a three-year extension. Mark my words though, if Buffalo, after starting 4-0, finishes last in the division, you can be sure as hellfire that the Bills' faithful will be calling for their coach's head.
The Bills still have two very winnable games coming up against Kansas City and San Francisco. But marking them down as victories would be premature after Trent Edwards played like the worst quarterback in the NFL for the second consecutive week.
Bad news comes starting Week 14 for Buff too, as four above-.500 teams await. Time to start looking toward 2009 at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
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