It appears that we have a bit of a talking point in the AFC now that Tom Brady is out for the season. A certain question begs an answer: Without Brady, will the Patriots dominate the AFC East and remain the team to beat? Of course, if your answer is yes, case closed. However, if your answer is no, we have a discussion on our hands.
There has been a lot of talk around the blogs and media that the Jets will become the team to beat now that Brady is absent from the starting Patriots. I can put this to bed with one simple statement: even Brett Favre said that this is a hasty call to make. If the starting quarterback for the team (who just happens to be an NFL legend) says that there is a lot to accomplish before the Jets become the team to beat in the AFC East, it might as well come from God himself. Let's look at things from a different angle. In week one, the Jets won and began their season on a good note. Do not be fooled by this though, as the Jets beat the worst team in the AFC East and perhaps the entire conference in the Miami Dolphins. Before you say it Dolphin's fans, I know you've made some good steps forward from last season, but when you go 1-15 is there really anywhere to go but up? The bottom line is, the Jets narrowly beat a broken team for their first win. I will admit that the Favre-Cotchery connection looked good for a long touchdown and a potential season long deep threat, but I still see a lot of weakness on a team that edged out Miami. Do not get too excited too early Jets fans, this one is not yours just yet.
Moving on, we have the Buffalo Bills. Surprisingly, while there is all this talk that maybe the Jets will become the team to beat with Brady out, there is almost no talk about the Bills taking the top spot. I will handle this in the most unbiased way I possibly can, keeping in mind that I bleed Buffalo blood. There is plenty of room for improvement on a young Buffalo Bills team. In the first half of the game against the Seahawks, Trent Edwards looked like he was still playing not to lose instead of playing to win. He looked a little shaky and played fairly inconsistently. Also, his arm is not necessarily built to throw the deep ball and that seemed evident on a couple plays against the Hawks. However, by the end of the game Edwards went 19-30 for over 200 yards and a touchdown. This is a very respectable showing, especially from a guy who just assumed a starting spot. If this is the Edwards Bills fans can look forward to every week, some of the anxiety should subside. Admittedly, it would be nice to see more than one touchdown toss. Allow it also to be noted that if the Jets can beat the Dolphins by a small margin and a lucky fourth down conversion and be suddenly talked about as the new potential AFC East upstart, then why would there be no talk of the Bills assuming the top spot after easily handling the four-time repeat NFC West champ Seattle Seahawks? Ok, the NFC West has been a fairly poor division in football the past few years, but I still think it is at least worth noting that this was not a 7 or 3 point victory for the Bills - it was a 24 point victory. I have a feeling the mainstream sports media (with the exception of the ever Buffalo faithful Chris Berman) writes off Buffalo because they have started strong in the past. We all remember that week one shut-out of the Pats that ended in the tables being turned.
I submit that perhaps this year is a different story. Buffalo's young team showed tons of promise in Week One and I believe that with the type of talent they have in key starting positions, fans may see a youth uprising in Buffalo. With this youth uprising could come serious contention for the AFC East, or at least a wild card spot. Consider as an illustration, Marshawn Lynch. This is a back with undeniable talent. I do not care who your favorite team in the league is, I think we can all agree that Lynch is not a chump back. He has strength and skill to match his confidence on the field and I would like to offer that had he not stepped out of bounds on his run from the 1-yard line in Week One, viewers might've seen a 99-yard touchdown run from this up and comer. Another person that is hard to trash is Lee Evans. Evans may not be the best wide-out in the conference, but he is certainly good enough to be a serious threat. He has great hands and fast legs. All he needs is for Edwards to be able to get those deep balls to him and Evans will prove why he should not be taken lightly. Also, football freaks mustn't forget that the Bills are (knock on wood) playing with a fully functioning starting defense. This is something Buffalo and their fans are not accustomed to. Especially after last season's long IR list, which included some of the Bills' most promising defenders. To pad the defense a little more, the Bills made a move that really seemed to pay off by picking up Marcus Stroud who had a great game against Seattle and added the additional pressure Buffalo needs to be a serious defensive unit.
I think the special teams unit speaks for itself. Just look at some Week One special teams highlights and check out the rankings for the last few years.
On to another AFC East team, the New England Patriots. Yes, fans of the other three divisional teams can see potential for their teams with Brady out, but one would be seriously amiss to count the Pats out on that basis only. The Pats have a fantastic coach, a fantastic receiving core (arguably the best in the entire league), and a great Offensive Line. Combine that with Sammy Morris and Laurence Maroney, two strong backs in their own right, and what can be seen is a team that may be crippled without Brady, but certainly not dead in the water. Putting my fanship aside and being realistic, this is still the team to beat in the AFC East until they prove otherwise. If they fall off in the next couple weeks, fans of New York and Buffalo can get a little more excited. Until then, fans of the AFC East should keep a watchful eye on the Pats and hold their excitement inside.
Will the Miami Dolphins rise this season? Not a chance. They have too much rebuilding and correcting to do to be considered a force in this division.
All that being said, The AFC East is still the Pats' division unless they show otherwise. It is theirs to lose. Fortunately for Bills and Jets fans, they just might lose it without their heroic leader. Like him or not, Tom Brady is one of the best to ever play the position and his absence could create a problem with both skill and morale if the Patriots are not careful. Bills and Jets fans should cross their fingers and hope that this is the beginning of a Pats meltdown so they can swoop in and make this a real fight for the top spot in the AFC East.
