Quote Originally Posted by nepatriots_12:
Forgot to mention that I am extremely high on my Pats this year (no bias.) If they can keep their core guys healthy, I think they have a real shot at winning this whole thing. Don't sleep on their defense this year. It might even be the better unit!
NE PATS12! What's up, man? How's life treating you?
The Pats look NASTY this year. I think the East is gonna be a deceptively good division and the Pats will have to really earn their bye. Gotta assume Denver gets the 1 seed. Who does that leave for the Pats to beat out for the other coveted bye?
Indy(good team; full of holes).
Bengals(good team but never seem to step it up in the TRULY "big games."
Baltimore(my dark horse to make noise in the AFC; love that defense they are building).
Are there any other true contenders? Jets and Miami are both a leap from "great," but I think both teams can be dangerous. The Jets if Geno steps up(I'm not a big fan, but he's looked good this preseason and playing behind a good D will minimize what he has to do). Miami on the back of Tannahill who I'm high on. He's improved every step of his 2 year journey and behind a line that was the center of America's Outrage of the Month last fall. AHHHH, NOOOOO, BULLYINGGGGG, AHHHHHH!!!! Miami's D needs to step up to boost them to contender status. They have a decent front 7(mostly on the line IIRC), but can their secondary step up?
S+it, I should hunt down EarthWakes preseason thread. I vaguely remember reading it about a month ago on a Sunday night in a mile long Sonic drive-thru line as I went on an evening run for the family for some ice cream(sonic blast god damn).
I take 12 minutes of my life to poke through that thread again and I'll instantly be an expert on every aspect of that team. Earth, great job, man. I love what you bring to the community.
Andy, what's your take on the Chargers? I haven't really delved into that game, but I think Zona is laying 3.5. I have no real thoughts or notes, but my gut tells me San Diego rolls into Arizona and HAMMER them, Rivers quietly had a helluva season last year. I remember Denver steamrolling SD for 3.5 quarters and then Rivers staged a backdoor that HURT(would have been a clean sweep that weekend for me), and he looked pretty good. Almost like the Rivers in the AFC Championship game 7-8 years ago. Rivers like a warrior out there playing on I believe two sprained or torn ACL's while Tomlinson sat on the sideline holding his helmet like a little b*tch. Anyway, if SD builds on the decent season they had last year......maybe they are a surprise team.
Anyone a SD Charger guru with some info?