I will make this short and sweet. The Oregon Ducks could put up 50 on this team. To say they have bright spots on this team is like saying "W" could win Jeopardy. They'll be picking #1 overall in 2011,2012 and 2013.
Dolphins- B
This is a scrappy team that will rope-a-dope you until you make a mistake, and then POW right in the kisser. That is, unless, they are home. How can you have a winning record and not win any of your first 3 games at home. You must be able to impose your will on teams when you are in you're own home! The addition of Brandon Marshall was a step in the right direction, but may not have been enough to put this team atop this unreal division. Best thing Miami has done is to acquire Mr. Everything on defense, Karlos Dansby. He has played better than advertised. I just don't think the Dolphins have enough to get them into the post season this year.
Jets- B-
Any other year you tell a Jets fan that after 8 weeks they'll be 5-2, they would be excited and their grade would most likely be an A. After this offseason and build up, this team makes you nervous because they seem to not be on the same page every game. When they are firing on all cylinders, they just might be the best team in the league, but every so often they show you a glimpse of just how bad they can be. What got them so far into the playoffs last season was the fact they caught fire near the end of the year, and if it happens again this year the curse of Namath just might be lifted.
Patriots- B+
Tom Brady + Bill Belichick = 10 wins. All they need is the rest of the team to get them 2 more wins and this division is theirs. The '10 Pats eerily remind you of the last Super Bowl winning Pats team, which doesn't bode well for the rest of the NFL. It may not be through the same dominating fashion as they are used to, but not many would be shocked if the Lombardi Trophy is in the hands of Mr. Kraft and the rest of the New England franchise.
Buffalo Bills (0-7). While they've been competitive in most of their games so far--only the Jets and Packers really blew them out--they're still 0-7, so the F is well deserved here; if they had 1 win, I'd give them a D. They've blown big leads to Jacksonville and Baltimore, were close last week against Kansas City, and I expect that they'll find a way to win 2 or 3 games in the second half. Grade: F
ReplyDeleteMiami Dolphins (4-3). If the replay at the end of the game against the Steelers goes the other way, they're 5-2 and in much better shape in a highly competitive AFC. However, at 4-3 they're still in pretty good shape. What really hurts the Dolphins more than their 0-3 home record is their 1-2 division record, which includes home losses to the Jets and Patriots. Grade: B-
New York Jets (5-2). They came into this season with a lot of hype and expectations, and despite throwing up a couple clunkers against Baltimore and Green Bay, they have met expectations. While the offense has been inconsistent, the defense is elite and should be a big reason why the Jets challenge the Patriots for the division title. Grade: B
New England Patriots (6-1). This was supposed to be a down year for the Patriots, but at the midway point they have the league's best record. Despite replacing Randy Moss with the reacquired Deion Branch from Seattle, the Patriots have not skipped a beat. The transition from Moss to Branch probably means they'll rely more on ball control than the big threat down the field, but if that's what Bill Belichick thinks it will take for his team to win, then who are we to doubt him? Keep in mind, they have 2 picks in each of the first 3 rounds of next year's draft. Grade: B+
I am, by no means, a football fan....
ReplyDelete...but I am a fan of Mr. Aikens' writing style and commentary. Good on ya'!