In Case You Were Wondering

Just two weeks ago, pigskin pundits and bobbleheads wondered aloud if Bill Belichick chose to kickoff in OT against the Jets to lose on purpose, essentially knocking the Steelers - the team nobody wanted to see in the playoffs just three weeks ago - out of the playoffs. 

Okay, that didn't work out so well. Who saw the Jets choking away their chance at Super Bowl glory? Oh, wait. I did. 

"The only other thing I have going for me is the Jets being the Jets. Let's face it. This is a franchise that seems genetically engineered to snatch tragedy from the jaws of victory."

So, what was Belichick up to in that Miami game?

He was convincing the Miami Dolphins that Ryan Tannehill is their franchise quarterback.

My Perfect Sunday

Wasn't this supposed to be the year the rest of the AFC East caught up with the Patriots?

Doing Some Other Guy's Job

As it is so often in Week 17, things couldn't be simpler for the Patriots. There's no mystery here, fellas. Beat the Dolphins.

That's it.

We're All Week-to-Week

Just like that, the team nobody wanted to face in the playoffs isn't in the playoffs any more.

Of course that could change again next week.

Southside Story

The Patriots will be without two starting wide receivers, both starting safeties, their offensive line is still a work in progress and their leading rusher is on IR.

The Jets playoff existence is on the line. And they're playing at home.

The pigskin math is pretty in this one, isn't it?

Christmas in New England will be Played on the Road

Watching a little bit of Bill Belichick's press conference Wednesday morning on ESPN. As usual, Belichick was effusive and detailed in his praise of the Jets and their players while being guarded if not downright stingy in his assessment of his own players (with a variation on "they're all good" in response to Chandler Jones' career high 12.5 sacks). In his responses to questions about the newest Patriot, Steven Jackson, Belichick did not disappoint. 

"We'll see."

Yes, yes we will.

This One's Optimistic

We could start with the obvious. 12-2-0. The #1 seed in the AFC is theirs to lose. Tom Brady. Rob Gronkowski. That defense. They can rest Devin McCourty, Julian Edelman, Dont'a Hightower, Danny Amendola and Patrick Chung (five starters!) until the playoffs and still win out because Bill Belichick is always roster building.

I mean… Akiem Hicks? Joey Iosefa? Who? What? I'm already looking forward to Leonard Hankerson's first TD catch. And Steven Jackson's first 100-yard rushing game.