Baby Steps

I think I read somewhere that if everything breaks right this Sunday, the Patriots could not only win the AFC East but secure the #1 seed and home field for the playoffs as well. By “everything” I mean the Broncos losing at San Diego, the Colts losing to the Texans at home, the Bengals losing at Cleveland and… You know, it would be great if the Pats could just win the AFC East this Sunday.

Baby steps.

 

In yet another echo of the ’03-’04 seasons, the Patriots have a chance to avenge a Week 1 loss to a divisional rival on their way to the playoffs and – we hope – a chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. While this game lacks the bookend symmetry of those games with the Bills in 2003 (a season-opening 31-0 loss and a season-ending 31-0 win), I do expect a similar outcome. The Patriots haven’t been swept by a division rival since Belichick’s first year as New England’s head coach, Tom Brady is coming off a subpar (for him) game and history says he’ll respond with a big game this week and the Patriots’ defense appears to be on a mission from God.

I’m looking for a 41-6 win as the Patriots give up a late TD (the two-point conversion try fails) with Revis and Brady laughing it up on the sideline for most of the 4^th quarter.

This the time of the pigskin year when you really can’t help doing a little scoreboard watching and while I will happily sit down to Sunday dinner after a New England win, I do have my rooting interests in a few other games.

Denver at San Diego – A Broncos loss would just about guarantee home field for the Patriots and sets them up for a chance to rest some starters Week 17. Jimmy Garoppolo’s first NFL start! Okay, knowing Brady that’s not going to happen. Still, the Pats could rest everyone listed as Questionable. Anyway, In this game I’ll give the Chargers the edge in terms of desperation. They still have a mathematical chance at winning the AFC West but really they’re fighting for their playoff lives in this one given the logjam of 8-5-0 (and 7-6-0) teams in the AFC. It will be interesting to see how the Chargers bounce back from their tough loss to the Patriots last Sunday night. San Diego made a big emotional and physical investment in the New England game. What will they have left for Denver?

Houston at Indianapolis – The Colts are a long shot to take the #1 seed but why take chances? I’m looking forward to J.J. Watt casting himself as Freddy Krueger in Andrew Luck’s pigskin nightmares. That may only be enough to keep things close. If the Colts are able to minimize Watt’s impact this will be a rout because Andrew Luck = Ryan Fitzpatrick¹⁰.

Cincinnati at Cleveland – It’s Johnny Football time! The Bengals, like the Colts, are a mathematical possibility for the #1 seed, too. Which is crazy because even though they’re in first place in the AFC North I’m not sure they’re better than the Steelers or Ravens. Maybe not even the Browns if Johnny Manziel is as good in games as Donte Whitner says he is in practice. (Practice? You’re talking about practice?) I’m curious to see Manziel playing with live ammo. Could he be a 21^st century Fran Tarkenton? Perhaps one day Manziel could lead his team to a crushing Super Bowl defeat, too. He’s got to be better than Brandon Weedon. Setting the bar too low?

Just for fun…

Pittsburgh at Atlanta – Did the Falcons gain some confidence in their competitive loss at Green Bay? The health of Julio Jones’ hip will probably have more to do with the outcome. If the Steelers could lose on the road to the Jets they’re certainly capable of losing in the Georgia Dome. Anyway, I’m rooting for the Falcons to get to 8-8-0 and win the NFC South. Why am I doing this? I’d like to reference a small triangular pattern of puncture wounds on my abdomen because alien abduction is the only thing that would explain it but I got nothing. Also, hate the Steelers.

Green Bay at Buffalo – Aaron Rodgers = Kyle Orton¹⁰⁰ but in good news for Bills fans, this game will not be decided by a skills competition between Rodgers and Orton. The Packers have been half as good on the road as they are at home and the Bills defense is solid. Okay, I’m talking myself into this one because I’m still ticked off about the Patriots’ loss at Lambeau. Go Bills!

San Francisco at Seattle – So, who doesn’t slow down to take a look when they pass a train wreck? I suppose I should be rooting for the 49ers. Give the Seahawks a tougher playoff draw because that defense is looking scary again and besides, as a citizen of good standing in Patriots Nation, I really want the Packers in the Super Bowl. But rooting for the Niners just makes me feel dirty and the notion that Colin Kaepernick would suddenly snap out of his year-long funk is just nuts.

Dallas at Philadelphia – The Cowboys usually wait till the last game of the season to knock themselves out of the playoffs, don’t they?