If September has proven anything, it’s that the New England Patriots are still in the mix to win the AFC, even without Tom Brady.
The Denver Broncos are a tremendous offensive team, but their defense might be the worst in the NFL.
The Buffalo Bills are undefeated, but is anyone seriously scared of Trent Edwards and company?
The Indianapolis Colts have looked mortal, and even with their starting quarterback, they’ve barely won a single game.
The Jaguars’ offense looks disorganized, and their defense can be scored upon.
The Chargers were dominated for three quarters by the Oakland Raiders, and they’re lucky to be 2-2 right now.
The Titans are undefeated, but nobody’s really sure how.
The Steelers are probably the best team in the AFC, except they’re eventually going to get Ben Roethlisberger killed.
Is there really anyone in that group that scares you?
The AFC, luckily for the Patriots, seems to be in the middle of a down year. The power conference is the NFC this season. Even without Tom Brady, the Pats are right square in the middle of the AFC playoff race.
There are a couple of things the Patriots need to do if they’re going to take advantage of a weak AFC.
Better Quarterback Play
If that’s going to come from Matt Cassel, then great. If not, they need to make the switch to the rookie Kevin O’Connell.
Matt Cassel isn’t the worst quarterback in the NFL, but it’s clear he lacks any mobility whatsoever. If he doesn’t get better reading defenses and getting rid of the ball, the Patriots need to make a change.
O’Connell, at the very least, gives you a guy who can move around in the pocket and make plays with his feet. And frankly, he’s outplayed Cassel every time he’s taken the field since the first preseason game.
Get the Rookies Involved on Defense
The Patriots need contributions from Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite on the defensive side of the ball. Ellis Hobbs, Lewis Sanders, and Deltha O’Neal are all decent professional football players, but none have the speed and potential of the two Patriot rookies.
The secondary has been picked on a little this season. Wilhite and Wheatley both need to mature quickly and get involved if the defensive secondary is going to improve as the season goes along.
Shawn Crable needs to add a pass-rushing force to the front seven.
Mike Vrable seems to have lost a half step—Crable is the guy they drafted to eventually replace his pass-rushing prowess.
His improvement would also allow Vrable or Adalius Thomas to play a little more in the middle, getting the slow and aging Tedy Bruschi some much needed in-game rest.
If the Patriots are going to contend for the Super Bowl this season, they’ll need their rookies to help get them there.
Sean Crowe is a Senior Writer and an NFL Community Leader at Bleacher Report. You can email him at scrowe@gmail.com. His archive can be found here. You can find everything he writes, including articles for other publications, here.
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about 1 month ago
People would be quick to say that Trent Edwards might not scare you, but that defense will. Well, that Buffalo defense gave up 380 yards of offense to St. Louis.
I think the biggest problem with Cassel right now is his hesitation. I don't think he has the confidence to make throws into tight spots because he's too scared to throw the INT. He's only thrown one INT, but taken nine sacks in three games.
Either he needs to get confident in a hurry, or like you said, they need to make a change.
from about 1 month ago
I will take giving up 380 yards for fourteen points any day. Not to mention 7 points from an interception essentially negating seven points. So basically the Bills defense gave up seven points. That sounds pretty good to me Shaun.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah fourteen points isn't bad at all. But you give up 380 yards to any team that's halfway decent and I guarantee you won't be winning that game, regardless of the reason the defense was on the field (difficulty running the ball, offensive, turnovers, etc).
I don't want to sound like i'm taking away from the 4-0 Bills, but right now they are relatively unproven, and there are a handful of teams that I wouldn't want to see on the schedule ahead of the Bills (New York, Dallas, Washington, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Philly).
from about 1 month ago
I agree. The hesitation is killing Cassel. He's thinking too much out there. Not sure there's a cure for that.
It's hard to develop instincts when you haven't played in almost a decade....
about 1 month ago
As a Bills fan I must say I still lack the confidence that I should have in an undefeated team. I find that the Bills play to their opponents level too often. They played definitely played down to both the Rams and the Raiders level until the fourth quarter in both games. The defense does very well especially for being out on the field so often. The Bills running game hasn't been there at all so they aren't putting together long drives. Two big runs for the Bills against the rams totaling 50 yards were called back on penalties. One penalty by the mediocre at best this year Jason Peters. I'm still waiting to see the Bills really dominate someone until I'm convinced. Hopefully they can do to Arizona what the Jets did minus the Jet D. Good Article Sean
from about 1 month ago
I'm not blown away by the Bills, but I still think they're the best team in the AFC East. Not out of the Patriots' league, but at this point, clearly better.
Thanks for the compliments!
about 1 month ago
The Patriots have always had 1 or 2 young defensive players step up. You're right it would be nice to see what Crable can do, but at 6-5 243 maybe hes too light, or plays too high right now. Or maybe Bill is just going with what got him there. He should be able to make an impact on special teams.
One defensive rookie that has stepped is Jerod Mayo, the inside linebacker who leads the club in solo tackles with 21. Mayo notched 12 tackles against Miami and is on pace for 133 on the season.
from about 1 month ago
Has to be someone other than Mayo. If Mayo doesn't step up, they're screwed. By starting him, week one, they're saying they expect him to step up. They need someone unexpected to step up as well.
about 1 month ago
I'm hearing from some insiders that we're about a heartbeat away from seeing what O'Connell can do.
This excites me!
from about 1 month ago
So is O'Connell Joe Biden, or Sarah Palin??
about 1 month ago
I think you're right Sean, they are still in the hunt. Getting the rookies involved on D doesn't concern me as much as Cassel does. I just want to see improvement this week. He's started a couple games, lets see him make a couple plays, put a couple drives togethers and biggest of all: FINISH IN THE RED ZONE WITH TDS. The real test will be in two weeks against a Chargers team that desperately will want to beat the Pats.
Personally I'm not buying the Kevin O'Connell talk just yet. He might have potential but Cassel has had four years in the system. I think Cassel is the guy unless the Pats are out of playoff contention at the start of December, then and only then will there be any chance of O'C starting.
from about 1 month ago
Not sure you're right. If Brady hadn't been hurt, I'm not sure Cassel would still be a Patriot (which is why they had QBs in trying out the day before the first game). Once Brady got hurt, they realized they couldn't teach anyone else the system fast enough, so they went with what they had.
If O'Connell learns the system well enough, and Cassel keeps playing poorly, they'll make the switch...
about 1 month ago
The AFC East is a tricky division from the standpoint that you do not know what you are going to get week in and week out. Theoretically every team has a chance or is in the mix when their record is 2-1, I know the the Patriots are the main focus but Indy at 1-2 is in the mix as well.
A lot will depend on how Cassel develops and what teams do to game plan against the Belicheats. I will be clear though, I do NOT expect the Pats to make the Super Bowl, much less the AFC title game.
Your article does a good job of maneuvering through the AFC landscape, however i disagree that the AFC is weak. If the AFC was week then the same teams would be dominating as in previous years, if anything the overall level has improved.
from about 1 month ago
I think the second tier teams are slightly better, while the upper-echelon teams are struggling. I'm not sure the AFC is better.
In fact, I think the AFC is a significant step below the NFC right now...which is a HUGE change from the last few years.
about 1 month ago
I've seen it happen with Joe Flacco, I think it will happen with Cassel.
Difference: Cassel has been in the league for some time out of USC
Flacco is a rookie outta Delaware.
But yeah, I believe Cassel could carry them. Flacco yesterday outdueled Big Ben, throwing for 200 yds, 1 TD and 0 INT.
Cassel has better receivers, so I think Cassel can win them this thing.
from about 1 month ago
Flacco is lightyears better than Cassel.
about 1 month ago
yea, i be the pats will be a handful this year. They have superstar Matt Cassell who can't even beat the Dolphins (whom the bills of last year (a far more inferior team than this year's) swept).
The Bills may not have too many all-star players but they have a solid team taking the field every game, a team that grinds out yards and knows what they need to do and when they need to do it.
Just look at Trent Edwards' 4th quarter stats from the last few games. The Bills will go 11-5 this year (at worst) and take down Matt Cassell and company at least once, by a landslide. So you can say they are unproven all you want but they have defeated 2 playoff teams from last year--one of which, the jags, are still looking pretty good. And we beat them in their house.
So screw you, Go Bills.
from about 1 month ago
Yawn.
I said they were the best team in the AFC, on numerous occasions now. My point is, while they're better, they're certainly not scary better. Or inarguably better.
While it's probably unlikely, it's not out of the question that the Pats could beat them out for the AFC East even without Brady...
about 1 month ago
While the season is still young, If I were a PATS fan I would be very concerned. The JETS lost that game, the PATS didn't exactly win it in any definative fashion. They started three times in JETS territory and still only managed to score 19 points. The game against the Dolphins was an embaracement. This after most Pats fans criticized the JETS for "barely squeeking by a team that only won one game last year." I'm not saying they can't turn it around, I'm just saying there are many questions.
from about 1 month ago
I agree.
That said, the Jets are awful.
from about 1 month ago
I wouldn't go as far as to say awful. They did score 56 points last game. They do look messy.
from about 1 month ago
We'll see what Buffalo does to the Arizona defense. I'll withhold my judgment until after that game.
about 1 month ago
Just a thought go out and sign Daunte Culpepper for a lil of nothing and turn him loose he's not afraid of the interception and he can get the ball down field for more big plays and right now that seems to be their biggest problem on offense is getting the big plays down the field!!! Defense is going to hold up as usual they are the PATS!
from about 1 month ago
I'll take my chances with O'Connell or Gutierrez before I go after someone like Culpepper....
about 1 month ago
Dude. Give it up. The Pats are finished this season. Hope for a decent pick next year in a qb that can learn from Brady like a Young to Montana thing. Its over dude. You lost to the Dolphins, Samuel is gone, Gay is gone, and your linebackers are getting old. Its over. The Pats dynasty is done. Write on something else.
from about 1 month ago
I was with you, almost, until the "Gay is gone" part.
You realize he played like 15 snaps last season, right?
You also realize, the 2004 Patriots lost to the 2 win Dolphins....how'd that work out?
The 2001 Patriots lost to the Dolphins...how'd that work out?
The Patriots ALWAYS lose to the Dolphins...we're used to it.
from about 1 month ago
Your forgetting Tom Brady is hurt and with him they probaly would go undefeated again. Samuel got killed all day Sunday, I could step in and replace Gay, linebackers old but very smart they will be ok
from about 1 month ago
Actually I didn't. I am now positive that the Pats are done this season because Brady is hurt. And those linebackers could get hurt
22 days ago
It's a month later. A lot has happened. The Patriots are 5-2, the Cowboys are 5-3. What happens next, James? You've obviously got a crystal ball.
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