NFL: The Pats and the AFC

I: We haven't talked Pats at all. What's our record this year?


S: An unimpressive 11-5. Question marks all over the place come playoff time. What I really want to see: 13-3, Caldwell steps up, Watson has a huge year, and Maroney emerges at a 1,000 yard back. And our defense finally shows some balls. They looked terrible against the run last night. Your thoughts?


Harrison has one more good year in him, and he's the heart and soul of the shallow secondary. Our defensive struggles last year began with Rodney's injury. Having Bruschi or Vrabel in the linebacking core, and Seymour on the front line, are just as important. If we have one at each spot, combined with Belechik, the defense will be top 5. But put an absence of those guys in one of those cores, and it's trouble. Such was the case with Harrison and the DB's last year.

I see 11-5 and a division championship by the end of Week 15. It might be a 2 or 3 seed in the playoffs.

Other AFC contenders: Indy, Pitt, Cincy, Denver, Baltimore, KC. NOT Miami, Tennessee, Oakland.


Yeah, the AFC is tough again. Thank God for playing the Jets and Bills 4 times.

Tennessee with Kerry Collins = huge mistake. I don't see Pitt having that great of a season, Parker won't be that good. Indy too, without Edgerrin James, they'll throw more which means their defense will be on the field more which does not bode well for them. Denver won't be able to run the ball as they have in the past. I like Baltimore with McNair and that defense still around. Cincy too with Johnson, Johnson, and Palmer; assuming palmer is healthy mentally and physically. KC scares me. Anytime you have a runningback that can change the game like LJ, you're going to be dangerous. Plus there is nothing more frustrating for a defense than giving up 5 to 6 yards a carry. I like Miami this year with Daunte, Chambers, and Ronnie Brown. They won't win the division, but they might get a wildcard birth. Good coaching goes a long way as we know with Belicheck.

As far for the Patriots: you're dead on. If harrison is healthy last year we're a completely different team on defense. That means less guys playing out of position, no Earthwind or Gay as defensive backs on normal downs. Everything changes.


I think Miami is a year away from the playoffs. KC does scare me, maybe more than any team in the conference. Thankfully, their head coach is Herm Edwards. Baltimroe will be good, but borderline playoff good. Indy will be very good again. The running back will have all the room in the world.

Top 3 teams in no order, Pats, KC, Indy. Then Cincy, Pitt, Bmore.

Who is the Pats' #1 running back in January?


Dillon. I think he has flashes of his old self. And Maroney's not gonna be that great of a back right off the bat. There's a reason he fell to us despite his talent.