I think you have it backwards...We are the biggest contenders (based on our offseason and results of last year) to the Pats...That's pretty difficult to say for a Fins fan, but until they are no longer div. champs, none of the rest have anything to stand on...
I do like our chances tho. The addition of Culpepper will be big and put a leak in the biggest hole...he may not be the total savior, but he'll certainly turn some heads...
The Pats, while having done very little and taken a few hits just can't be factored out of the race. The Jills and Jests both have a long way to go and have unstable FO at this time. Either or both may do better than what it appears they'll do, but that still remains to be seen. The fact that we are in the second year of our 'reorganization' makes us the odds on favorite to challenge the Pats for the division...