NFL: Week 11 Picks

Matchup	Jarboe	Sloth	Matera
Jets (-6.5) vs Broncos	Broncos	Jets	Jets
Bills vs Dolphins (-2)	Bills	Bills	Bills
Bengals vs Ravens (-7)	Bengals	Ravens	Bengals
Jaguars vs Browns (Pick Em)	Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars
Raiders (-1) vs Vikings	Raiders	Raiders	Raiders
Panthers vs Lions (-7)	Lions	Lions	Panthers
Bucs vs Packers (-14)	Packers	Packers	Packers
Cowboys (-8) vs Redskins	Cowboys	Cowboys	Cowboys
Cardinals vs 49ers (-9.5)	Cardinals	Cardinals	49ers
Rams (-1) vs Seahawks	Seahawks	Rams	Rams
Titans vs Falcons (-6)	Titans	Falcons	Titans
Chargers vs Bears (-3.5)	Bears	Bears	Bears
Giants (-6) vs Eagles	Giants	Giants	Giants
Chiefs vs Patriots (-14.5)	Patriots	Patriots	Patriots
Last Week	8-8	12-4	8-8
Season	68-59-6	69-58-6	63-64-6

MLB: Why the Expanded Playoffs will Ruin Baseball

In case you haven’t heard, the MLB will reportedly add an extra wild card team to the playoffs in both the National League and American League. According to Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, the expanded playoffs could begin as early as next season, and it would result in the two wild card teams playing a one game playoff to determine who advances to the Division Series. Selig, and apparently the majority of owners, believe this to be a good idea to make the playoffs more exciting and popular. However, I disagree. 

While the expanded playoffs will no doubt help teams like the Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves, it will also diminish the September postseason runs. Do we all remember the epic collapses by the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves this past fall? With an expanded playoffs, that would never have happened. While fans of those teams may be for the change, I think that fans are being robbed of entertainment. 

I believe that the September playoff races are what make baseball great, especially the collapses. When September and October roll around, many fans shift their attention to the NFL and college football and baseball is turned into an after thought. In fact, the only reason I checked the baseball scores in late September was to see how the last wild card spots were shaking up, and now that could all be lost. 

I understand that the races could be turned to the final wild card spots, but how often are we going to see two teams fighting for both spots, instead of two teams battling it out for the 6th seed in the playoffs. If the expanded playoffs were in effect last season, the races would not have been as entertaining. 

In the American League, the Red Sox would have earned the second wild card seed after falling behind the Tampa Bay Rays by one game. The closest team to the Red Sox  was the Anaheim Angels, who were four games behind Boston. If the rules had been in effect, the race for the second seed would not have even been a race, the Red Sox would have locked up a playoff berth before the last week of play even started. Tell me, where is the fun in that? 

In the National League, the same standings occured. The Atlanta Braves would have earned the second wild card seed by four games over the defending champion San Francisco Giants. Atlanta would have still made the playoffs despite a September collapse, playing a one game playoff against St. Louis. If the Braves had earned the playoff game and beaten the Cardinals, then we may not have seen one of the greatest World Series in history as we did last October. 

There possibility of a one game playoff between two wild card teams is intriguing, but for me and I’m sure many other fans, I would rather see two teams battle it out for only one wild card seed then two teams play a one game playoff. The only thing that we can do is wait and see how the September races shake up, perhaps teams that would usually be out of the playoff race will play harder knowing that there is a second spot open to them. But as for right now, I don’t agree with the expanded playoff system, but enjoy it Toronto, San Francisco, Atlanta and Los Angeles. 

MLB: Free Agency Predictions

I know were all neck deep in the NFL season, but for those of you who have forgotten, the baseball off-season has just started. Each and every year the league sees two or three prize free agents that are fought for and sold to the highest bidder. In 2008 it was C.C. Sabathia signing with the Yankees, and last year it was Carl Crawford going to the Red Sox (how much you love that signing now, Boston?). This year, we see three prize free agents that will yield the most money; Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, and Jose Reyes. The three of them may not sign until much later in the winter, but let’s take a moment to try and predict where these three All-Stars will play next season. 

Albert Pujols (31 years old, .299 AVG, 37 HRs, 99 RBIs last season)

Among the free agent class, Albert Pujols is the most accomplished of the bunch. Fresh off his second world series victory, Pujols is looking for a huge payday this winter. It was reported today that the Miami Marlins had offered Pujols a 9-year deal worth $255 million, which should be around the contract that Pujols receives. A month ago I thought Pujols for sure would go back to St. Louis, his home for 10 seasons. However, with the retirement of Tony LaRussa and the fact that the Cardinals roster is not earth shattering, I’m wondering whether or not Pujols will return to St. Louis. Pujols is the best player in baseball, but buyer beware: Pujols is 31 and a 9-year contract will see the beginning of the end of his abilities. Much like Alex Rodriguez and Mark Texiera, whoever sings Pujols will be handcuffed by his contract in its later years. 

Prediction: Pujols will re-sign with the St. Louis Cardinals

Prince Fielder (27 years old, .299 AVG, 38 HRs, 120 RBIs last season)

Prince Fielder, in my eyes, is the best free agent of the bunch. Fielder put together an MVP-type season last year as apart of the Brewers playoff run. Fielder, who is only 27 years old, will give whichever team he signs with the majority of his prime years. Unlike Pujols, Fielder may not start to decline until the end of his new contract. Fielder is also a very good fielder despite his size, and is one of the only 275 pound person I’ve ever seen hit a triple. The market will heat up for Fielder once Pujols sets the standard, and look for teams like Texas, Baltimore, Washington and Miami to be in the mix. 

Prediction: Fielder goes to Texas where the Rangers make him a very expensive man 

Jose Reyes (28 years old, .377 AVG, 7 HRs, 44 RBIs last season)

Whoever signs Jose Reyes will be spending alot of money for an injury prone speedster who rack’s up a whole bunch of hits. Before a hamstring injury sidelined him, Reyes was on his way to a potential MVP season in New York last year. I don’t see Reyes returning to the Mets, where the financial trouble is too much to bear. I think its a forgone conclusion that Reyes goes to Miami to team up with Hanley Ramirez on the left side of the infield. 

Prediction: Reyes takes his talents to South Beach

Reyes, Fielder, and Pujols will not be the only prized free agents this winter. C.J. Wilson of the Rangers will most likely get a huge deal from Boston or the Yankees, while japanese hurler Yu Darvish might be the greatest steal of the frenzy. Mark Buerhle may join Reyes in Miami or Pujols in St. Louis. Be sure to stay tuned, because the MLB offseason is one of the only entertaining transaction periods in sports. 

NFL: Why I Love the NFL

I love sports. No, I love everything about sports. The competitive fire, the passion brought to each and every game. Hearing the crowd get off their seats on a 3-2 count in the bottom of the ninth. The air sucked out of the arena when a big shot goes in the basket (come back, NBA). The speed and shock-power supplied by a slapshot goal in hockey. I love sports. I was thinking the other day though, why do I love football so much more than any other sport? 

I thought it could be the season length, that a teams entire season could be won or lost on a week to week basis. It’s nice to watch a baseball or basketball game every couple of nights, but when Sunday rolls around there’s only one thing I want to do. 

Maybe I love football because it’s the last true team game. In baseball, basketball, and hockey, one player can take control and lead his team to the championship (see James, Lebron in Cleveland). Football is like a fine tuned machine, all the parts need to be working together and in sync for the end product to be successful. An offensive lineman misses a block, the play can be blown. A cornerback doesn’t receive proper safety help, it’s a touchdown. 

Hell, maybe it’s the warm blooded man inside me that loves the hard hits and brutality that football brings. A lights-out hit on a clueless running back, a stiff arm to the face of a 280-pound linebacker. Seeing a quarterback make a block, ever. For all the things that football brings to me, it’s none of the above that makes me love it so much. It’s the parity of the game.

In baseball and basketball, we know at the start of the season that teams like the Yankees or Celtics will be in the hunt come playoff time. In baseball, the more money you spend the more games you’ll win. Basketball has become more about star-power than role players. With football, any team at any time can reel off a victory. 

Look at last week, for example. The mighty Baltimore Ravens traveled to Seattle to play a horrible Seahawks team. The Ravens were coming off a huge divisional victory against the Steelers on Sunday Night Football. Everyone and their mother thought that Baltimore would roll over the Seahawks and move on to the next game. What happened? Joe Flacco and Ray Rice got outplayed by Tarvaris Jackson and Marshawn Lynch. The Seahawks win, and now we question whether or not Baltimore is the best team in the AFC or not. 

Each and every year, and sometimes each and every week, a team that should not be winning does just that. This past summer the 49ers hired Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh to replace the fired Mike Singletary. The lockout prevented Harbaugh to even speak to any of his players before the first week in August. The 49ers were a bad team last year and looked to be even worse this year. Rookie head coach? A “bust” at quarterback? A running back who was looking for a new contract? The 49ers weren’t supposed to be good, and what happens? They’re 8-1 going into week 11 and stand in prime position to land a first round bye in the playoffs. That’s why I love the NFL. 

Last year, the Green Bay Packers were plagued by the injury bug. From tight end Jermichael Finley to pro bowl tackle Mark Tauscher, the Packers lost several key players for the season. They finished 10-6, barely making it into the playoffs. They weren’t supposed to beat the Eagles in Philadelphia. They sure as hell weren’t supposed to beat the 14-2 Atlanta Falcons or the 13-3 Chicago Bears on the road either. But they did. Aaron Rodgers emerged as a super bowl MVP and one of the best quarterback’s in the league. But it wasn’t supposed to happen, they weren’t supposed to be good. 

• 2001, the New England Patriots make it to the Super Bowl to face the mighty St. Louis Rams and the Greatest Show on Turf. New England had a former 6th-round draft pick at quarterback, they weren’t supposed to win. 

• The Arizona Cardinals went 9-7 in 2008, they were supposed to be blown out in the first round of the playoffs. They made it all the way to the Super Bowl and nearly won. 

• The 2010 Seattle Seahawks were never supposed to win a playoff game, especially not against the defending champion New Orleans Saints. They did. 

And who could forget the greatest example of parity in recent memory, the 2007 New York Giants. The Giants made it into the playoffs through the wild card. They beat the Buccaneers in Tampa. They beat the Cowboys in Dallas. They traveled to the Frozen Tundra and defeated Brett Favre in negative degree weather. If that wasn’t enough, they went on to face the 18-0 New England Patriots. The team some had dubbed the greatest of all time. No chance the Giants were going to win that game. Not against Randy Moss, Tom Brady, and Bill Belichick. David Tyree was never supposed to make the helmet catch, and Eli Manning was not supposed to elude four defenders in the backfield. But it all happened, the Giants won and the ’07 Patriots would forever be known as the team that went 18-1. 

Every year, something like this happens. There are no experts when it comes to predicting an NFL season. Often it doesn’t even matter if you were the best team in the regular season. Watching a team come together late in the season, fight to enter the playoffs, and continue to win against teams they’re supposed to lose to. That’s why I love the NFL, a place where anything can happen. 

NFL: NFC Contender/Pretender

By Jared Epstein

As we near the end of the season, 2011 has been a wild rollercoaster ride in the NFC. The Lions and 49ers finally decide to show up this season surprising everyone they can actually have winning records in the 21^st century.  The Giants looking great including a magnificent win against Brady and the Pats and yet losing to the Redskins and Seahawks. Green Bay is turning out to be one of the best teams in history, not losing a game since week 16 of last season. With the “dream team” Eagles choking, it gives teams like Dallas a chance to take advantage of an easy schedule. In the midst of all the controversy in the NFC, it’s time to separate the men from the boys. Lets take a closer look into the NFC and choose who’s a contender and who’s a pretender.

Green Bay Packers (9-0; 1^st place in NFC North):  The defending Super Bowl champs are the best team in the NFL, hands down.  They dominate every game they play whether it’s home or away and have scored a minimum of 24 points in every game.  There are no words to describe them except for perfection, at least so far.  In upcoming weeks, the only games I see them having little trouble with are: the Lions, Bears, and Giants but don’t be surprised if they end up going to the playoffs still unbeaten the way Rodgers is handling the ball.

Verdict: Contender

San Francisco 49ers (8-1; 1^st place in NFC West):  San Fran has come out this year fired up and tired of losing. The last time the Niners have finished a season with a winning record was 2002 going 10-6. With a great running back in Frank Gore, Alex Smith starting to wake up, and a number 1 ranked defense in opponent rushing yards, the question isn’t will they win the division, but how far in the playoffs will they go? With the second place teams in their division, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, at 3-6, there’s no doubt they will be in the post-season this year.

Verdict: Contender

New Orleans Saints (7-3; 1^st place in NFC South):  After a huge overtime win against Atlanta last week, the Saints stand alone in first with a two game lead. With six games left in the regular season and a bye week, the Saints play three struggling teams in Tennessee, Minnesota, and Carolina. Plus, the strong teams they play such as the Lions, Giants, and Falcons are all home games so they can have the “who dat” nation loud and right behind them. The Falcons can look real good at times but I see the Drew Brees and the Saints taking 1^st in the division with ease.

Verdict: Contender

New York Giants (6-3; 1^st place in NFC East):  Big blue has surprised everyone this season with being in 1^st place in the eastern conference after week 10. With both the defense and offense bombarded with injuries at the beginning of the year and the “dream team” Eagles in the same division, the season wasn’t going to be easy. Luckily, the Eagles are starting to look like the Heat by blowing five 4^th quarter leads and with Dallas playing up and down certain weeks, the Giants have taken advantage of the division.  On another note, the G-men have the toughest schedule in football ahead of them by playing the undefeated Packers, Saints, Cowboys twice, Eagles and the Jets.  If they can pull out five wins, they will be safe for making the playoffs but that will be an extremely difficult task to pull off.

Verdict: Contender

Chicago Bears (6-3; tied for 2^nd place in NFC North):  With the perfect Packers in the NFC North, 1^st place is out of the question so it’s wild card or nothing for these Bears. After losing to Detroit in week 5, Chicago has battled back and joined 2^nd place after defeating the Lions last week. With Jay Cutler not getting sacked as much as earlier in the season, teams still kicking to Devin Hester, and Matt Forte playing without an off button, the Bears are a team to be taken seriously, especially with a rather easy schedule for the remainder of the season.

Verdict: Contender

Dallas Cowboys (5-4; 2^nd place in NFC East):  This season there are two different Cowboy teams. One team that comes up short on big plays and the other is a dominant force to be reckoned with. With a fairly easy schedule playing the Redskins, Dolphins, Cardinals, and Buccaneers, the Cowboys look good for being playoff bound.  Now that Dallas is getting Dez Bryant move involved in the offense while Miles Austin is out, people can really see how dangerous Bryant is. As long as the defense can keep their future opponents from getting into the end zone too much, look for the Cowboys to be in the playoff picture and possibly get in as 1^st place from the NFC East.

Verdict: Contender

Detroit Lions (6-3; tied for 2^nd place in NFC North):  Let me start by saying bravo to the Detroit Lions. The Lions haven’t had a winning season since 2000 and only 3 years ago in 2008 they succeeded by being the worst team going 0-16. After a red hot 5-0 start this season with the help of the monstrous Calvin Johnson, the Lions have seemed to cool off by going 1-3 in their last four games. This Lions team has proved they can give a tough fight but with the Packers taking first place in the division and the Bears on a roll going 4-1 in their last five games, the road to the playoffs will not be easy. Also, Detroit still has to play the invincible Packers twice, the Saints in New Orleans, a score happy Charger team, and what can be an explosive Raider team at times. I take my hat off to these ferocious Lions and the season isn’t over yet but I see the Lions coming up short to the Bears for the wild card spot, leaving them watching football in January instead of playing themselves.

Verdict: Pretender

Atlanta Falcons (5-4; 2^nd place in NFC South):  Atlanta has had a mediocre start compared to last season finishing first in the division with a 13-3 record. Also, the Matt Ryan and Roddy White connection hasn’t been as strong as usual but fortunately for Atlanta, Michael Turner is still contributing big numbers. Despite getting big plays from rookie Julio Jones, look for the Falcons to perform like Turner on the 4^th and short run against the Saints in overtime- just short.  First place isn’t going to happen in the division at this point due to the Saints fairly easy record so the only hope they have is the wildcard.  Having said that, they will have to compete for that spot with a strong looking Cowboy team and possibly a solid 4^th quarter comeback Giants team depending on how the NFC East turns out.  Don’t get me wrong, the Falcons have a good chance with 6 games left in the season but I pick Atlanta to come up one or two games short of a wild card spot.

Verdict: Pretender

Predictions:

NFC North- Green Bay Packers (1 seed)

NFC West- San Francisco 49ers (2 seed)

NFC South- New Orleans Saints (3 seed)

NFC East- New York Giants (4 seed)

Wild Card- Dallas Cowboys (5 seed)

Wild Card- Chicago Bears (6 seed)

Wild Card Round- New Orleans over Chicago; New York over Dallas

Divisional Round- Green Bay over New York; New Orleans over San Francisco

Championship Round- Green Bay over New Orleans 

NFL: Who Will be Elite in 2016?

Let’s turn back the clock for just a second to 2006. Vince Young had just won Rookie of the Year quarterbacking the Tennessee Titans. Chad Pennington was the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year. Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers hadn’t even thought of the word “retirement” yet. Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady were all entering the prime of their careers. In 2011, Vince Young is a backup on the Eagles, Pennington and Favre are out of football and the above trio of quarterbacks are entering their twilight years (while still playing lights out in the cases of Brady and Brees). Five years from now, what will the NFL look like? Who will dominate their positions, and who will be lost in the wind? We take a look, breaking down which quarterback, running back, wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker, and head coach will be at the top of their positions in half a decade. 

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers (32 years old in 2016)

In five years, Rodgers will be the two years younger than Tom Brady is now. Rodgers, in my opinion, is already at the top of his position, and logic says he still will be in five years. It’s insanely scary to think that Rodgers will be still in the prime of his career five years down the road, being that he already is showing signs of being an all-time great, maybe even better than Favre was. It’s only going to get better from here to watch. 

Others to Watch: Cam Newton, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan, Matt Stafford, Phillip Rivers

Running Back: Adrian Peterson (31 years old in 2016)

This was a bit of a tough one. In the NFL, running back’s have a low shelf life. I thought of going to a younger player like LeSean McCoy, DaMarco Murray, or Chris Johnson here. However, Johnson is showing signs of already declining, and McCoy and Murray are too unproven for me to say they’ll be elite in five years. Peterson will be 31 at the start of the 2016 season, which is usually the beginning of the end for running backs. The way Peterson runs, it could come for him much earlier. However, his skills are far and above superior to almost every running back in the league. I expect him to keep it up and be the best in the league five years from now. 

Others to Watch: LeSean McCoy, Jamaal Charles, Arian Foster, Darren McFadden

Wide Receiver: Calvin Johnson (31 years old in 2016)

Believe it or not, I was very close to going with Dez Bryant here. I went with Johnson, however. Johnson is already among the top-5 wide receivers in the league, and he gets to play the next five years with a presumably healthy Matt Stafford on a good young Detroit Lions team. Johnson should be able to get better and better each year, and while Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson will still be among the best, I think Johnson will be putting up crazy numbers if Stafford can stay healthy enough to throw him the ball. 

Others to Watch: Dez Bryant, Larry Fitzgerald, Greg Jennings, Andre Johnson

Cornerback: Darrelle Revis (31 years old in 2016)

I know, I know, I picked another player who is already the best at his position. Revis will be 31 come 2016, and I see no signs of him slowing down. Looking at other corners around the league now, Charles Woodson (35) and Champ Bailey (33) are still playing at a high level. In five years, we could be watching Revis Island continue to bring in new tourists, on his way to a potential Hall of Fame career. 

Others to Watch: Nnamdi Asomougha, Devin McCourty, Brandon Flowers

Linebacker: Von Miller (27 years old in 2016)

Linebacker was the one of the easiest positions for me to pick. Right now, as a rookie, Miller is putting together a stellar campaign. I know that guys like Patrick Willis, Clay Matthews, and David Harris will still be relatively young in five years. However, Miller will still be much younger then those three. Miller is currently the star on a good Denver defense, and I suspect him to be among the top defensive players in five seasons. 

Others to Watch: Clay Matthews, Patrick Willis, Navarro Bowman, Mario Williams

Head Coach: Jim Harbaugh 

I love the job that Harbaugh has done with the 49ers, taking a team that was supposed to be among the league’s worst this year and turning them into a playoff team after a lockout-shortened summer is beyond impressive. In five years, Harbaugh could be considered among the league’s best head coaches. Packers coach Mike McCarthy has a good shot as well, being able to coach a team with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. I went with Harbaugh here instead, I love his intensity and the way players respond to him. They respect him, and that is vital in the NFL. 

Others to Watch: Mike McCarthy, Rex Ryan, Jason Garrett, Sean Payton

While those guys may be at the top of their positions in five years, there are some other players that could be interesting to think about in five years. Will Tom Brady, who will be 39 years old, and coach Bill Belichick still be in football? What about Stanford product Andrew Luck, will he be the heir apparent to Peyton Manning in Indianapolis? Will Rex Ryan finally win a super bowl? Or will Aaron Rodgers have reeled off another two or three in the process? Only time will tell. 

NFL: Week 11 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers (9-0): Another victory for Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. The Packers find themselves one win away from their regular season total of 2010. The Packers should continue to win handily, at least until facing off against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving and the New York Giants after that. 

Last Week: #1

2. San Francisco 49ers (8-1): The 49ers victory over the Giants on Sunday was probably the biggest test they’ve had all season. San Francisco’s defense held Eli Manning in check throughout the game, and Alex Smith did enough to help the offense as Frank Gore was unable to do nothing against the Giants defense. Sunday proved it, the 49ers are the second best team in the NFC.

Last Week: #2

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3): The Steelers managed to jump back into first place of the AFC North after defeating the Bengals on Sunday. The Steelers were helped by the Jekyll & Hyde Ravens losing to the Seahawks. As of right now, the Steelers look like the best team in the AFC, but the way the conference has worked out this year, there’s no telling how they’ll look next week. 

Last Week: #5

4. New England Patriots (6-3): The Patriots do what they always do when the division is on the line, they win. Tom Brady and the New England no-huddle offense proved to be too much for the Jets defense. Looking at the Patriots schedule, they could run the table and be in the hunt for the #1 seed going into the playoffs. 

Last Week: #6

5. New Orleans Saints (7-3): Who knows what would have happened if Mike Smith had just decided to punt on fourth down in OT on their own 30-yard-line. We all know what transpired, Michael Turner got stuffed behind the line and the Saints kicked a field goal to take the victory. Now, the Saints are in the drivers seat in the NFC South. 

Last Week: #7

6. Baltimore Ravens (6-3): Who are the Ravens? I mean seriously, they look dominant against the Steelers one week, then on Sunday Baltimore loses to Seattle. It’s been the story of the Ravens season, inconsistent and a wishy-washy identity. The Ravens should make the playoffs, but who knows how Baltimore will play against the Bengals twice in the next seven weeks. 

Last Week: #3

7. New York Giants (6-3): The Giants had a chance to tie the game up on Sunday in San Francisco, but an Eli Manning batted-down pass at the line of scrimmage halted all of that. Now, the Giants are still in the division lead, but they have two December match-ups against the Cowboys and a Christmas Eve game with the Jets that could decide their playoff hopes. 

Last Week: #4

8. Houston Texans (7-3): This morning I had the Texans much higher than #8, but with the injury to Matt Schaub, the Texans are in a lot of trouble. Houston will have to turn to Matt Leinart for the foreseeable future, and with the Titans still in the thick of things in the AFC South, the Texans playoff hopes are now questionable. 

Last Week: #10

9. New York Jets (5-4): The Jets had a chance to control their own destiny and finally knock the Patriots off of the Division lead. Instead, the Jets came out totally soft and unprepared and lost to New England. The Jets will once again have to fight their way into the playoffs. The schedule is soft, with games against the Giants and Philadelphia as the only tough match-ups. 

Last Week: #8

10. Dallas Cowboys (5-4): Dallas and Tony Romo looked like a playoff team on Sunday against Buffalo. December will make or break the Cowboys playoff hopes, with two crucial games against the Giants. If DaMarco Murray continues to run like a wild-man, the Cowboys could end up being a very, very scary playoff team. 

Last Week: Not Ranked

NFL: AFC Contender/Pretender

AFC: Contender/Pretender 

As we get to the last seven weeks of games, we’ve seen teams in the AFC look elite one week to horrible the next. Look at the Ravens, who after beating division rival Pittsburgh last Sunday lost to the Seahawks yesterday. Pittsburgh has gone from good to bad to great to good. The Jets lost three games in a row at the beginning of the season. Buffalo and Cincinnati came out of the gate looking like actual football teams. The Patriots look mortal. With such a logjam in the conference, it’s time to clear up the AFC playoff picture...its time to decide whose a contender, and whose a pretender. 

Baltimore Ravens (6-3; tied for 2nd place in AFC North): Baltimore is one of the most confusing teams I’ve ever watched. In some games, such as against the Jets and Steelers, they look like the best team in the league. Then, when they play teams like Arizona and Seattle, they barely win or lose. That’s a good sign for Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, but the Ravens have too good of a defense to falter late in the year. I don’t know if it will be out of the division or wild card, but Baltimore should be a team that plays deep into the winter. 

Verdict: CONTENDER

Buffalo Bills (5-4; tied for 2nd place in the AFC East): It may be too soon, but you have to wonder if the Bills are re-thinking that $50 million extension they handed Ryan Fitzpatrick earlier this year. In the past two weeks, Fitzpatrick and the Bills have been held to poor performances against the Jets and Cowboys. Fitzpatrick completes a high percentage of his passes, but his arm is weak and he’s starting to make poor decisions with his throws. The Bills still have two games against the Patriots and Jets, along wit match ups with scrappy teams like Denver, San Diego, and Miami. They could be right back in the thick of things with victories over New England and New York, but I get the feeling that the slipper is coming off of this cinderella team. 

Verdict: PRETENDER

Cincinnati Bengals (6-3; tied for 2nd place in AFC North): Yesterday, for the first time all season, Andy Dalton looked like a rookie quarterback. Dalton threw two interceptions and struggled against the Pittsburgh defense. The Bengals got off to a hot start with he benefit of playing poor teams like Cleveland, Jacksonville, and Indianapolis. Over the next seven weeks, Dalton and the Bengals will have to play the Ravens (twice), the Steelers, and the Texans before meeting up with St. Louis and Arizona. I can see the Bengals getting to 9 wins, but it takes 10 to get into the playoffs from the AFC in this day and age. If they can steal a game from Pittsburgh or Baltimore, they might sneak in. I don’t see it. 

Verdict: PRETENDER

Denver Broncos (4-5; tied for 2nd in AFC West): I’m going to get this out of the way right now, the Broncos are not as good as Cincinnati or Buffalo, but they might have a better chance at making the playoffs. Currently, Denver has the tie-breaker over Oakland and Kansas City. To me, it looks like no one really wants to win the division. The Chargers are playing like they never win, Oakland is as bipolar as any team, and Kansas City stinks. Denver, however, is a team with a great defense and a “quarterback” who can run it like no other. As history tells us, a strong defense and a good running game leads to victories. Somehow, someway, the Broncos keep winning. I don’t think they’re good, but they play in a division that can help them out. 

Verdict: CONTENDER

Houston Texans (7-3; 1st place in the AFC South): It looks as though the Texans have already locked up the South, currently standing 2.5 games ahead of the Tennessee Titans. However, the Texans still have to play games against Atlanta and the Titans, so a late season collapse is not out of the question. For all the talk focused on the Ravens, Patriots, and Steelers being the AFC elite, the texans have quietly put together a strong season. Should they stay the course and make the playoffs, they’ll be a scary team to face. 

Verdict: CONTENDER

New England Patriots (6-3; 1st place in the AFC East): For as vulnerable as the Patriots have looked this season, they seemed to have turned it around after defeating the Jets last night. Now in soul possession of first place in the East, don’t look for New England to lose any ground in the coming weeks. When all is said and done, the Patriots will more than likely enter the playoffs with a first round bye and a top seed out of the AFC.

Verdict: CONTENDER

New York Jets (5-4; tied for 2nd place in the AFC East): The Jets had a chance to take first place in the East last night and squandered it. Corner man Donald Strickland got exposed by Rob Gronkowski all night. Now the Jets will have to compete with Buffalo, Cincinnati, and either Pittsburgh or Baltimore for a wild card seed. They hold a tie breaker over Buffalo, but still have to play the Giants, Eagles, and Bills in the next seven weeks. Knowledge says they can afford to lose two more games this season if they want to make the playoffs, but with that schedule it will be no easy feat. 

Verdict: CONTENDER

Oakland Raiders (5-4; 1st place in the AFC West): I thought for sure that the Raiders would have fallen out of contention by now, considering Darren McFadden being injury-riddled and Carson Palmer being...well...Carson Palmer. However, the Raiders looked excellent Thursday night against the Chargers, with Palmer looking like he’s developing quite the chemistry with his receivers. With the Raiders in the division drivers seat, all they will have to do is hold off the Fighting Tebows of Denver to make the playoffs. 

Verdict: CONTENDER

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3; 1st place in the AFC North): If you were going to tell me that after 10 weeks the Steelers would have lost to Houston and the Ravens (twice) and still be in first place in the division, I would have called you crazy. For as weird as the Ravens have been this year, the Steelers have been weirder. Just like the Ravens, Pittsburgh can look dominant one week and porous the next. I think they have the experience and ability to make it into the playoffs out of the crowded North, but there is no telling who will win the division. 

Verdict: CONTENDER

Tennessee Titans (5-4; 2nd place in the AFC South): Oh, what could have been for the Titans this year. With Peyton Manning out and the Colts playing awfully, the Titans had a legit shot to steal the division. Then, Kenny Britt was lost for the season due to a torn ACL. Chris Johnson only just got his first 100-yard rushing day (and first touchdown) of the season yesterday. The Titans are only 2.5 games back of Houston, but it may be a little too much too late for Tennessee. 

Verdict: PRETENDER

PREDICTIONS:

AFC East- New England Patriots (1 seed)

AFC North- Pittsburgh Steelers (3 seed)

AFC South- Houston Texans (2 seed)

AFC West- Oakland Raiders (4 seed)

Wild Card- Baltimore Ravens (5 seed)

Wild Card- New York Jets (6 seed)

Wild Card Round- Pittsburgh over New York; Baltimore over Oakland

Divisional Round- Baltimore over New England; Pittsburgh over Houston

Championship Round- Pittsburgh over Baltimore 

NFL: Week 10 Picks

Matchup	Jarboe	Sloth	Matera
San Diego (-7) vs Oakland	SD	OAK	SD
Steelers (-4) vs Bengals	Steelers	Steelers	Bengals
Broncos vs Chiefs (-3)	Chiefs	Broncos	Chiefs
Jaguars (-3) vs Colts	Jags	Jags	Jags
Bills vs Cowboys (-5.5)	Cowboys	Cowboys	Cowboys
Texans (-3.5) vs Bucs	Texans	Tampa	Texans
Titans vs Panthers (-3.5)	Titans	Panthers	Titans
Redskins vs Dolphins (-4)	Redskins	Redskins	Redskins
Saints vs Falcons (Pick Em)	Saints	Saints	Saints
Rams vs Browns (-2.5)	Browns	Rams	Rams
Cardinals vs Eagles (-14)	Eagles	Cardinals	Cardinals
Ravens (-7) vs Seahawks	Seahawks	Ravens	Ravens
Lions vs Bears (-3)	Bears	Bears	Bears
Giants vs 49ers (-3.5)	Giants	49ers	Giants
Patriots vs Jets (-1.5)	Jets	Patriots	Jets
Vikings vs Packers (-13)	Vikings	Packers	Vikings
Last Week	9-5	7-7	6-8
Season	60-51-6	57-54-6	55-56-6

Hot Topic: Penn State Riots

“Joe Paterno will no longer be the head football coach. Effective immediately.”

Those were the words spoken by the Penn State Board of Trustees that ignited a student “protest” outside of the administrative building. To call what transpired last night in State College a protest is a vast understatement, those kids were rioting at the firing of a legendary head coach. 

To an extent, I get the anger that some fans and students may have felt. Paterno is a legend in his field, and it is somewhat sad to see his book closed like this. However, I believe the riots were unwarranted and stupid. Now, I don’t go to Penn State. I’ve never been to Penn State, I’ve never even rooted for Penn State. But I know sports, and I know the degree of fandom that goes along with the sports world. 

What the students and the Paterno apologists need to understand that this should never have become about football. Because of the riots, the story of this all will be Paterno’s firing. Paterno is not the villain in all of this, but he was an enabler, an accomplice, and a man who just didn’t do enough. 

The riots from last night, to me, were absolutely dumb. The boy who was brutally raped in the Penn State shower in 2002 is 19-years-old now, the same age as many of those students from last. I want to know what the rioters think that boy was thinking last night as they protested and fought the firing of a man/men who could have stopped these acts of brutality and did nothing. 

After watching the media coverage of this entire situation for the past week, watching the riots from last night and seeing what Penn State students are saying about it all has me very scared. I’m scared that this will be remembered as a football issue. We can never forget that this is not about football. Its not about sports. Its not even necessarily primarily about Joe Paterno. He shouldn’t be the focus of the story. The children, the victims, the monster who raped them should be the focus of this story. 

Last night’s firing was not about letting go a football coach. It was about holding the men responsible for enabling a monster accountable for their actions, and that is something that we can never forget. Paterno, Mike McQueary, president Graham Spanier, athletic director Tim Curley, they all messed up. They could have done something, and they didn’t. Rioting is stupid all together, but last night’s events were inexcusable. 

I know that the fans and students are upset. Their hero and coach is gone. But what I want all of them to think about is that if Paterno had picked up the phone nine years ago and called the police, then he never would have gotten a phone call last night saying that he had been fired. Paterno is not the victim. He is not the villain. He should not be the story. This should have never became about sports. 

NFL: Biggest Busts of 2011

By Jared Epstein

At the beginning of each NFL season, the players, coaches, and fans all have certain expectations for different players.  Here are the biggest busts of the 2011 season after week 9…

5) To start this list of colossal crashes, we must venture into the depths of Indianapolis. The stock of the all and mighty Colts has completely plummeted. Over the past 11 years, the Colts have dominated, only have one losing season in 2001 with a record of 6-10 placing fourth in the division. Every other year, they finished with three 10-win seasons, four 12-win seasons, one 13-win season, and two 14-win seasons. Also, in their division, they’ve placed 1^st seven times, 2^nd three times, and 4^th just once.  Heading into the 2011 season, people weren’t expecting the usual 12-win season as previous years due to their hero Peyton Manning having to be a spectator from the sidelines because of neck surgery during the off-season. However, they still had veteran players such as Dwight Freeney, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark and Joseph Addai along with young explosive players like Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie to give some hope.  With the Texans getting stronger every year, 1^st place in the division was out of the question but perhaps they could fight for a wild card spot. After 9 weeks through the season the Colts are 0-9 with a hefty side of humiliation. Their passing yards are 28^th, rushing yards 23^rd, opposing passing yards are at 24^th and the opposing rushing yards are 31^st, a disgrace to the Colts franchise name. The Colts have had a mediocre schedule but some of their 9 losses were flat out embarrassing. Losing to the Browns and Chiefs is always embarrassing in this day and age but the way they lost to the Saints in week 7 was the worst display of football I’ve ever seen. Losing 62-7 is just pathetic. I might as well have been watching a pop-warner game the way that defense played. Peyton Manning is and will always be high on the list of greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game but does one player really have that big of an effect on a whole TEAM? Last time I checked football was a team sport, which consists of contributions from MANY players on the team. The quarterback is one, if not the most, important position to fill on the team but when you have talent surrounding you, it’s easy to make a QB look good, look at Mark Sanchez in New York or Joe Flacco in Baltimore. This season is long gone for the Colts and I don’t see them getting more than two wins if they even get that many. Colts fans just hope they lose every game at this point so you get that nice draft pick for next year.  

4) Coming in at #4 on major meltdowns is Donovan McNabb. Throughout MccNabb’s career, he is though of as the hard working QB with a great arm and a great set of legs to scramble with for the smash-mouth Eagles (even though Eagles fans always treated him like shit). He brought the Eagles to five conference championship games and reached only one championship game, Super Bowl XXXIX against the Patriots, which he lost to despite a close 24-21 finish. After being traded to the Vikings from the Redskins this season, there were high hopes for Viking fans. McNabb would be surrounded by top rusher, Adrian Peterson, which would open up the passing game, and would have decent targets in Malcolm Jenkins, Percy Harvin, and Visanthe Shiancoe. Although McNabb has a completion percentage of 60.3%, which isn’t so bad, he only averaged 152.2 yards per game. McNabb went 1-5 before being replaced at the starting spot to rookie Christian Ponder but not before being man handled by the Bears in week 6. McNabb’s had a great chance to make everyone forget that pathetic year with the Redskins but instead he’s showing everyone he’s at the end of his career and will never make it to the Super Bowl again. Say goodbye to Donovan McNabb because it’s only going down hill from here.

      

3) Getting to #3, we must head to New England for the one and only Chad Ochocinco (which should actually be Ochenta y Cinco, not eight five you idiot. Who even changes there last name to an incorrectly spelt number but that’s a whole different topic). Ochocinco, although a cocky asshole, has proven to put up great numbers while on the Bengals year after year besides the last three with Cincinnati but they were dealing with Carson Palmer problems and just an overall poor team. With the Patriots getting rid of Randy Moss last season, the only thing they were missing from their offense was the deep ball threat.  Standing in at 6”1 with 10 years of experience in the league and having one of the leagues best QBs throwing to you, there were big plans for 85.  Unfortunately, Ochocinco’s numbers are less than stellar picking up only nine catches out of 21 targets, 136 yards, only one catch for more than 20 yards and has the big goose egg for touchdowns. How a former elite wide receiver gets stats like these when Tom Brady is throwing to them, I will never know why. Especially when a 5”9 Wes Welker is averaging 120 YDS/G and Ochocinco (6”1) is getting an average of 17 YDS/G. I don’t know how much longer it’s going to take for 85 to learn this offense (let me give you a hint Ocho, it’s a passing offense) but maybe the Pats should of kept Haynesworth and given ole’ Chad the goodbye boot because this performance so far is terrible. 

  

2) Coming in hot at #2 is Peyton Hillis, last years breakout player. Hillis was a no name the first two years on the Broncos so his third year he was shipped to Cleveland to be a Brown. After being a ghost of a running back, he made a completely new name for himself on the Browns. He had 270 rushes that went for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns.  It was such a break out year; he was awarded the cover of Madden 12, which is reserved for only the best of players.  But was it a mistake to accept the cover?  So far this year, Hillis has been plagued with injuries and has only played in 4 games with 60 rushes for 211 yards and just two touchdowns. Hillis, who once had such a promising future, is now being asked questions like, what is his value since the injuries? Can he go back to that break out season or did he just somehow get lucky? Unfortunately for the Browns, they’re sucking as bad as Hillis. This season is long gone for Hillis but Madden curse or not, he better get his shit together or else he will be as forgotten as Tony Mandarich drafted at #2 overall by the Packers in 1989.

1) The past 3 years, Chris Johnson has been in an elite group of running backs with other great names as Adrian Peterson, Arian Foster and Michael Turner, the best of the best. 2008-2010 seasons, CJ has passed 1,000 rushing yards and in 2009 he racked up 2,006 yards. However this year has been a little different for the featured running back with 121 touches and getting only 366 yards and only one touchdown. He’s putting up a pathetic 3 yards per carry and has played all games, yet has one less touchdown than Peyton Hillis at 2 TDs and he has only played in 4 games. With Hasslebeck looking as good as his early Seahawk days, this is not the time for CJ to put up such weak numbers as these. Due to the fact that the Titans biggest receiving target, Kenny Britt, is out for the season, the question on everyone’s mind is, when are we going to see the real Chris Johnson come out and play? If your still not getting how bad CJ is performing, the Titans are ranked 32^nd in rushing yards. The Titans are 2 games behind the rolling 6-3 Texans but one can only hope CJ will turn this horrible slump around to possibly take 1^st place and as we’ve seen before, once Johnson starts going, it’s hard to stop him.

Jared Epstein is a contributing writer for The Jockstrap. He'll be around to drop knowledge on the NFL, NBA, and MLB; hopefully not about the Mets. 

PENN STATE UPDATE II

Tonight the Penn State Board of Trustees informed longtime head coach Joe Paterno that he would be fired. This comes on the heels of Penn State school president Graham Spanier being let go as well. As of right now, wide receiver coach and the infamous former graduate assistnat Mike McQueary is still on staff. Currently students at Penn State are rioting on campus and chanting Paterno's name. Its left to everyones opinion whether to be sorry for Paterno or not, but tonight, finally, the university got something right. That is something rare in this day and age, that a legendary coach of Paterno's stature be let go because of scandal. I had my doubts that Paterno would be fired. Now it's time to move on, and hopefully this can be a lesson to people in and out of the sports world that if you see something, say something, do something. 

Hot Topic: How I Will Remember Joe Paterno

409 wins. Two-time national champion. 1986 Sportsman of the Year. College Football Hall of Fame class of 2007. 

Father. Grandfather. Family man. Role model. Hero. 

Accessory to sexual abuse. Enabler. Hypocrite.

All words that can describe Joseph Vincent Paterno. A legend in his field, Paterno has won more collegiate football games than anyone ever has. He built a football program out of nothing and turned it into one of the most popular sports teams in the world. As we watch the end of Paterno’s career play out, the question must be asked, how will you remember JoePa? I’ll tell you exactly how I’ll remember him. 

Paterno is arguably the most successful football coach in the history of the sport. More wins than any other coach, ever. He has been a fixture in the sport since before my parents could even read. That’s all well and good, but another 409 wins could not erase what has transpired in the last week out of my mind. 

We all know the story, the relationship between Paterno and Jerry Sandusky. The details have been read and talked about to the point that saying the former defensive coordinators name makes my stomach curl. Paterno’s role in all of this is not nearly fully uncovered, not yet. What we do know is that at some point, Paterno was made aware of the relationship and sexual abuse that Sandusky had forced onto a 10-year-old boy in 2002 in a Penn State facility. A Joe Paterno facility. 

What Paterno did next is the most quetionable part to all of this. Paterno did not call the police. He (presumably) did not confront his friend and former colleague. Paterno simply told his superiors what had happened. 

At this point I want to address Paterno’s legacy, pre-scandal, at Penn State. The man is a God at Happy Valley. His face is on everything; from t-shirts to coffee mugs. I go to a school where the men’s basketball coach has brought three national championships to a state with no professional sports team. Jim Calhoun’s popularity can’t hold the jock of Paterno’s popularity at Penn State. 

Paterno has been coaching at PSU for 61 seasons, 45 of them as the head coach. Joe Paterno does not have any superiors at Penn State, not really. In name, Paterno is just the football coach at Penn State. In terms of power and control when it comes to sports, Paterno IS Penn State. 

Legally, Joe Paterno did the minimal amount of action after learning of Sandusky’s indiscretions. According to the law, Paterno, based on chain of command, did nothing wrong. To me, however, what Paterno did morally is the equivalent to seeing a murder and just saying “Stop.” 

Yesterday, Paterno stepped out onto his front lawn and addressed the hoards of media members and fans who had been camping out at his doorstep. Paterno, after canceling his weekly press conference, did not address the allegations against Sandusky or the legal proceedings that were going on. Paterno simply said that he would say a prayer for those victims, eloquently stating, “it’s a tough life when people do certain things to you.” The past couple of days, I started to wonder how I would remember Joe Paterno after he leaves Penn State. Today I made my decision. 

I read the 23 page grand jury report on the Sandusky victims. I actually read it five times. I know how old Victim 1 was when he first went to The Second Mile charity and found himself a role model who took the boy to football games, let him sleep at his house, and forced the boy to give him oral sex (11). I can tell you the details of the encounter then graduate assistant Mike McQueary had as a 28-year-old when he walked into the locker room at the Lasch Building at Penn State and witnessed Sandusky pinning a naked 10-year-old against a wall and raped him. I can also tell you how McQueary told Joe Paterno about the incident, and that neither men called the police. 

I’ve put myself in McQueary’s position and wondered what I would have done as a 28-year-old former football player if I witnessed a man twice my age taking advantage of a boy. Would I be so shell-shocked that I ran out of the room crying as McQueary did? Or would I beat the **** out Sandusky until the police showed up? 

I’ve also put myself in the shoes of Paterno, wondering what i would have done if given this information about a friend. I’ve had some of the greatest friends in the world, and I can tell all of you that if I ever was given information like the information Paterno was given, I wouldn’t sleep until my friend was behind bars. What did Paterno do? The bare minimum. 

Joe Paterno will forever be immortalized as one of the greatest coaches ever to many people. If they want to celebrate Paterno the coach, then that’s fine by me. However, I’m not going to remember Joe Paterno as a football coach. I’m going to remember Joe Paterno as a coward. Paterno’s “by the book” actions have forever turned him into a moral demon in my eyes. As you read this, think about how you want to remember Paterno. If I ever got a chance to speak to the coach myself, I’d simply ask him one question. “Do you ever wonder if you had said something, done anything more than what you did, that you wouldn’t have to pray for as many victims as you do tonight?” Paterno’s silence helped take the innocence from children at the hands of a monster. Paterno is not alone in this, don’t get me wrong. But as we watch PSU senior vice president Gary Schultz and athletic director Tim Curley step down, it’s only fair that Paterno to be treated the same. 

409 wins, two national championships, Hall of Fame. Those words can all be used to remember Joe Paterno the coach. 

Only one word can ever help me describe Joe Paterno the man. 

Coward. 

NFL: AFC Changing of the Guard?

For the last decade, there have been three teams in the AFC that have been the perennial contenders in the playoffs and their divisions. The New England Patriots have had a stranglehold over the AFC East since 2001. Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts have won seven division titles in the last nine seasons. The Pittsburgh Steelers have been battling it out with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North, capturing the division five times on their way to two Super Bowl victories in the last decade. Out west, the division has been fairly shared, with the San Diego Chargers most recently being the dominant team of the four (Denver, Oakland, and Kansas City the others). 

While the Colts, Steelers, and Patriots have been the powerhouses of the AFC, they have always looked down at the “little brothers” in their respected divisions. The Patriots have dominated the New York Jets (more so than Miami and Buffalo) in the division ever since Mo Lewis knocked out Drew Bledsoe in 2001. Baltimore, while winning the Super Bowl in 2000, have always been second fiddle in the AFC North to the Steelers. Down south, the Houston Texans have yet to make the playoffs in their history, forever being overshadowed by Manning and the Colts. 

2011 has brought about a bit of a change in the conference. As we stand in the midst of week 10, the Texans, Ravens, and Jets are all in either sole possession or tied for first place in their divisions. The Colts, without Manning for the year, are steamrolling to the number one pick in April. Pittsburgh is still one of the best teams in the league, but two of their three losses have come at the hands of Baltimore. Could it be that the old days of the AFC dominance by the holy trinity is over? Let us take a division by division look, analyzing the new and old of each. 

In the AFC South, Houston has had the talent to make a playoff run for several years now. The final piece has seemed to be the arrival of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and the rejuvenated Texans secondary. Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, and Ben Tate are successfully shouldering the load on offense while injured superstar Andre Johnson has sat out. It remains to be seen whether or not Houston is taking over the South. Without having to face a Manning-led Colts team, Houston is coasting to the division title. We’ve seen this year that the Colts are awful without Manning, so it could be that Houston is on the up-swing in the South, easily the most complete team among three rebuilding franchises in the Colts, Jaguars, and Titans. 

The AFC North is much different than the South. Baltimore and Pittsburgh have consistently been the two major players in the division in recent memory. However, it seemed to always end with the Steelers in first place and Baltimore having to settle for a wild card entrance to the playoffs. Now, we see Baltimore apparently getting the Pittsburgh monkey off of their backs. The Ravens offense may be younger than that of the Steelers, but it is questionable how much time Ed Reed and Ray Lewis have left in their careers for the Ravens defense. The Steelers have Troy Polamalu locked up for the rest of his career, along with a young superstar in Lamarr Woodley at linebacker. Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, Rashard Mendenhall and Ben Roethlisberger are all still in their twenties for the Steelers offense. I’m not ready to say that this season is a changing of the guard in the North, but all signs point to it being the Ravens year. In the next two or three seasons we could see momentum switch back to the slightly younger Steelers squad, or we could see the Ravens and Joe Flacco create their own monopoly on the division. Either way would not shock me. 

Which brings us to the AFC East. For years, Tom Brady and Bill Belicheck have ruled over the division like kings. Even in the Brady-less 2008 season, the Patriots came within a single game of capturing the division. The Bills appear to be on an up-swing of sorts, with young talent like Ryan Fitzpatrick and Fred Jackson leading the charge. However, I’ve always viewed this division as a two team race between the Jets and the Patriots. I have always said that no division lead is safe in the East as long as Brady is the starting quarterback for the Patriots, but this season the team has not looked as God-like as past years. They’ve currently dropped two games in a row and stand tied for first place with the Jets and Bills at 5-3. Comparing the two teams, the Jets and Patriots are both very young in spots and very old in others. On New England’s offense, Brady and the offensive line are starting to show their age. On defense, the Patriots have one of the youngest units in the league. The youth on D may explain why the Patriots have the 31st overall defense in football, but you have to figure that as the players mature the team will get better in coming years. In New York, Rex Ryan has young players on both offense and defense. Darrelle Revis and David Harris are just hitting their primes, while Antonio Cromartie, Kyle Wilson, Mohammad Wilkerson and Kendrick Ellis are all young cornerstones for the defense. On the other hand, Bart Scott and Calvin Pace are both slow and old, while Plaxico Burress is attempting his comeback at 31. On offense, the Jets are still developing third year starter Mark Sanchez, supplying him with “youth” in Dustin Keller, Nick Mangold, D’brickashaw Ferguson, Shonn Greene, and Santonio Holmes. Both teams are “ready to win now” and built for the future. The race for the AFC East could be decided this Sunday night when these two teams square off on NBC. This division is the closest to call in terms of the changing of the guard. In New York I see youth and bravado, but with New England it’s impossible to look past the greatest quarterback-coach combo in NFL history and presume that they could ever fall off. 

One thing is definite, this season has seen the “little brothers” of the AFC make strong statements in their divisions. Whether or not this is a precursor for a shift in the conference landscape remains to be seen. My advice? Let’s not all worry about who is falling off and who is rising, let’s enjoy these division races for the next seven weeks before the playoffs start and all logic gets thrown out of the window.