Who wins the AFC East?

[roy_miami]

I'm sticking with my preseason prediction that Miami will control the AFC East until a December mini-collapse when NE will go back on top. We just need to hope we've already clinched playoffs before week 15.

 

[KTOWNFINFAN]

I agree, but many people believe the Pats are on their way down. I would not be surprised if two teams make it from the AFC East, and NE is not one of them.

WOW, that would surprise the crap out of me. If two teams make the playoffs from the AFC East, I would say there is at least a 95% chance that one of them will be the pats.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

As many have pointed out, every year the fan bases say, “this is the year NE declines”. This year though it seems like there are reasons it could actually happen. If they can not get their O-Line issues straightened out (and keep in mind they have a new O-line coordinator) that leaves them unable to protect an aging, immobile quarterback, who seems to struggle a bit more under pressure every year now, has had problems with his deep ball for years, and outside of an injury prone TE has no receivers who are going to keep defensive coordinators up at night. Anyone who's watched this game long enough knows that that is a recipe for accelerating an aging quarterback's decline.

I'm not going to underestimate Belichick and Brady, but Tom is 37, and if you take a look at what historically has happened to a quarterbacks production starting at their age 37 season through their age 39 season over the last 40 years, you'll see a precipitous drop off. The injuries start to take their toll and take longer to heal, they often don't adjust to the fact that their skill has eroded and find throws they once made with ease are suddenly going for pick 6's. Again, I'm not claiming this is the year, but if NE can't get their line fixed soon, and Brady keeps taking a beating (the fact that all 3 teams in the division have defenses that can get after the QB with just their front 4 compounds this issue further for the Pats), I think the pieces are in place for the rapid erosion of his skills. I guess the same thing applies to all QB's, if you pressure them and hit them they won't preform well, immobile ones in particular, but when you throw in all of the other factors working against Brady this year I believe NE is walking a tightrope and it's starting to get windy.

Edit: Taken from PFF, hopefully this lends some credence to what I posted. I'd like to see the data for YPG and INT's as they age as well. I'd query it but don't have the time right now.

 

[KTOWNFINFAN]

Don't be ignorant. The legal action against Adrian Peterson was a matter of public record, and the story came out of Texas NOT Minnesota or Massachusetts.

It was obviously a joke, see the smiley face?? Calling posters ignorant around here will get your hands smacked.

 

[AphexPhin]

Of course I went with Miami and really think we can make some more noise this Sunday IF we beat the Bills and hopefully the Pack beat the Jets . Not too confident in the Vikes now that their POS running back is out

 

[KTOWNFINFAN]

NE it is their division until proven otherwise.

How many years have Fin, Jet and Bills fans said this looks to be the year NE is on decline early in the season?

Every year for at least the last 6. I remember back in 08 everyone said Brady would never be the same after his injury. Personally I thought last year might have been his best year ever. What he did with absolutely no talent around him was amazing. He had fewer weapons last year than RT had his rookie year and still went 12-4. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to see them go 12-4 again this year.

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

Fans of the other AFCE teams have been predicting NE's imminent demise for almost a decade. I'll believe it when I see it actually happen.

It's happening.

Brady is still a great QB, but he is now a great QB who is 38 years old. The Patriots have drafted like **** for a while now and they lack anything resembling talent on offense, save for a one-legged Rob Gronkowski. On defense, they have a good secondary, a shell of a Vince Wilfork, and a bunch of try-hard guys who are coached well.

I don't know what's going to happen the rest of this season, but Miami was simply a better football team than the Patriots on Sunday. It was not an 'any given Sunday' win. It was a 'we're just better than you' win. That should be real scary for Patriots fans, because Miami hasn't had a win like that against New England in almost 20 years.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

One thing that does concern me is, if Brady doesn't decline, I believe they have a ton of cap space next year.

 

[PhinFan1968]

It's happening.

Brady is still a great QB, but he is now a great QB who is 38 years old. The Patriots have drafted like **** for a while now and they lack anything resembling talent on offense, save for a one-legged Rob Gronkowski. On defense, they have a good secondary, a shell of a Vince Wilfork, and a bunch of try-hard guys who are coached well.

I don't know what's going to happen the rest of this season, but Miami was simply a better football team than the Patriots on Sunday. It was not an 'any given Sunday' win. It was a 'we're just better than you' win. That should be real scary for Patriots fans, because Miami hasn't had a win like that against New England in almost 20 years.

Amen.

Vince Wilfork said they knew everything we did, and planned against it. Belicheat got beat by Lazor, handily. Defensive genius my balls. They didn't "stop" our offense until the 4th quarter, at a point we'd already taken the lead.

And for the life of me, I still can't see why the Cheater traded away Mankins...it just makes no sense, and bit him in the ass with quickness. Hope they get a turd with that 4th round pick they got.

We have a legitimate chance to be in every game we play this year because of three upgrades...Lazor, Benton, and Moreno. I'm definitely not saying we'll win 'em all, but we'll be fully competitive, and we'll win most, unless injuries keep stacking to key players.

Arrow's up.

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

One thing that does concern me is, if Brady doesn't decline, I believe they have a ton of cap space next year.

I don't care how much cap space they have, because they've traded away a good guard to free up cap space, and they have not proved that they can draft worth a **** to replace that kind of talent.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

I don't care how much cap space they have, because they've traded away a good guard to free up cap space, and they have not proved that they can draft worth a **** to replace that kind of talent.

I hear you, I'm just saying what better way to make up for poor drafting then by signing a ton of free agents. Regardless, based on our posts in this thread we are obviously on the same page in regards to NE's decline.

 

[Ed Norton]

Beating New England was the easy part. Now comes the difficult part of outlasting NE through October and November and December. It's not the first time NE looks like crap early. They usually find a way to get it together and even though they aren't a dynasty anymore they know how to close out games most of the time and are probably good for 11 wins. It's certainly not the Patriots first rodeo.

I think the Dolphins can win the division and right now they are in the drivers seat. They are the only team with a division win and it's against the team that wins it every year.

Things look much, much better with a win tomorrow but this a marathon.

If God forbid the Bills win than the division picture gets really interesting, and depressing at the same time.

 

[tay0365]

Have to still put the Pats as the favorite, considering it's only been one game, and Miami has beaten the Pats before, but if Miami beats the Bills in Buffalo, you have to start thinking Miami could be for real and the new favorites...Reason why I picked Miami, because I also expect Miami to win this week.

Amazing that Miami very well could be 4-0, before the bye and then facing the Pack...who even expected Miami to get close to that?

 

[PhinFan1968]

Have to still put the Pats as the favorite, considering it's only been one game, and Miami has beaten the Pats before, but if Miami beats the Bills in Buffalo, you have to start thinking Miami could be for real and the new favorites...Reason why I picked Miami, because I also expect Miami to win this week.

Amazing that Miami very well could be 4-0, before the bye and then facing the Pack...who even expected Miami to get close to that?

Had 'em pegged for 3-1 in the 4 games...if they can win this weekend, that gets upgraded (predicted W-L-W-W). Would love to see it!

 

[roy_miami]

Have to still put the Pats as the favorite, considering it's only been one game, and Miami has beaten the Pats before, but if Miami beats the Bills in Buffalo, you have to start thinking Miami could be for real and the new favorites...Reason why I picked Miami, because I also expect Miami to win this week.

Amazing that Miami very well could be 4-0, before the bye and then facing the Pack...who even expected Miami to get close to that?

The Pack after a bye and at home. Win that game and 8-0 at home is a real possibility.