viking611 said:
If I had to set a line on this, it would be:
Will the Patriots miss the playoffs?
Yes: +120
No: -135
It's not as much of a luck as it was in the preseason but the Bills are struggling at QB, the Jets are struggling at QB, and the Dolphins are improved but still the Dolphins.
Pats are weaker but play in a division that isn't doing so hot right now.
royalfan said:
I'm not a homer but I still think the Vikings can win 10+ games...
They just need Culpepper and the defense to get healthy. They play in the worst division in the NFL and before all the injuries hurt them, this team was a legitimate candidate for 10 or 11 wins.
Vikes need to get healthy in a hurry if they plan on going anywhere.
royalfan said:
More referring to them last year than their history. Sorry for not clarifying.
Miami is a good team but their secondary is not as strong as in past year's and their offense is not all that great.
Patriots can score on the Fins and do well on defense against them.
Miami seems to currently be the main contender to take down NE's spot at the spot of the AFC East but I just don't see it happening.
The Jets and Bills are strong on defense but weak on defense.
All four are good teams but I just don't see them taking down the Pats.
They almost have to get in by default. The thing is the injuries are happening in a stretch where they might have lost some of those games anyways. When the guys get healthy they will be coming into the easy stretch.
Look at their division Jets suck and are in worse injury shape than even the Pats. Buffalo is no prize, and they will maybe go 8-8 or 9-7. Miami is the shocker, but I have to think they fall back to reality pretty soon. So Pats can win that div at 10-6, and even 9-7 with a tie breaker.
They figured to have a tuf stretch here, obviously the injuries don't help, but they are happening at the best possible time.
Look at their division Jets suck and are in worse injury shape than even the Pats. Buffalo is no prize, and they will maybe go 8-8 or 9-7. Miami is the shocker, but I have to think they fall back to reality pretty soon. So Pats can win that div at 10-6, and even 9-7 with a tie breaker.
They figured to have a tuf stretch here, obviously the injuries don't help, but they are happening at the best possible time.
These are the current odds on the pats to win the division (let alone make a WC) , they are still a prohibitive fav to win the division.
Odds to win AFC East Championship
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR class=odd vAlign=center><TD noWrap>Buffalo Bills</TD><TD noWrap align=right>9-1</TD><TD><INPUT onclick=checkBox(this) type=checkbox value=F805-BuffaloBills-123005,10 name=POINT_000> </TD><TD width="50%"></TD></TR><TR class=trline><TD colSpan=9></TD></TR><TR class=even vAlign=center><TD colSpan=9></TD></TR><TR class=even vAlign=center><TD width="50%"></TD><TD noWrap>Miami Dolphins</TD><TD noWrap align=right>4-1</TD><TD><INPUT onclick=checkBox(this) type=checkbox value=F805-MiamiDolphins-123005,10 name=POINT_001> </TD><TD width="50%"></TD></TR><TR class=trline><TD colSpan=9></TD></TR><TR class=odd vAlign=center><TD colSpan=9> </TD></TR><TR class=odd vAlign=center><TD width="50%"></TD><TD noWrap>New England Patriots</TD><TD noWrap align=right>5-11</TD><TD><INPUT onclick=checkBox(this) type=checkbox value=F805-NewEnglandPatriots-123005,10 name=POINT_002> </TD><TD width="50%"></TD></TR><TR class=trline><TD colSpan=9></TD></TR><TR class=even vAlign=center><TD colSpan=9> </TD></TR><TR class=even vAlign=center><TD width="50%"></TD><TD noWrap>New York Jets</TD><TD noWrap align=right>13-2</TD><TD><INPUT onclick=checkBox(this) type=checkbox value=F805-NewYorkJets-123005,10 name=POINT_003>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Odds to win AFC East Championship
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR class=odd vAlign=center><TD noWrap>Buffalo Bills</TD><TD noWrap align=right>9-1</TD><TD><INPUT onclick=checkBox(this) type=checkbox value=F805-BuffaloBills-123005,10 name=POINT_000> </TD><TD width="50%"></TD></TR><TR class=trline><TD colSpan=9></TD></TR><TR class=even vAlign=center><TD colSpan=9></TD></TR><TR class=even vAlign=center><TD width="50%"></TD><TD noWrap>Miami Dolphins</TD><TD noWrap align=right>4-1</TD><TD><INPUT onclick=checkBox(this) type=checkbox value=F805-MiamiDolphins-123005,10 name=POINT_001> </TD><TD width="50%"></TD></TR><TR class=trline><TD colSpan=9></TD></TR><TR class=odd vAlign=center><TD colSpan=9> </TD></TR><TR class=odd vAlign=center><TD width="50%"></TD><TD noWrap>New England Patriots</TD><TD noWrap align=right>5-11</TD><TD><INPUT onclick=checkBox(this) type=checkbox value=F805-NewEnglandPatriots-123005,10 name=POINT_002> </TD><TD width="50%"></TD></TR><TR class=trline><TD colSpan=9></TD></TR><TR class=even vAlign=center><TD colSpan=9> </TD></TR><TR class=even vAlign=center><TD width="50%"></TD><TD noWrap>New York Jets</TD><TD noWrap align=right>13-2</TD><TD><INPUT onclick=checkBox(this) type=checkbox value=F805-NewYorkJets-123005,10 name=POINT_003>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Second or first place place, Miami, will be 9-7 at best. Forget about Jets and Buffy unless Holcomb show's brilliance more than .333 of the time like his history has shown. Got to figure Pats still make playoffs in all of a sudden crappy division that has Miami as second choice to cop title.
Easy now, Viking. They had one bad game, for crying out loud. Remember the brilliance they displayed when they won at Pittsburgh just 2 weeks ago? And pretty much every game the last 2 seasons? I mean, they flat out got beat last week, but how much does it mean? They really miss Harrison, but they do have Bill Freaking Bellichek. He'll put Corey Dillon at strong safety if he has to, and they will find a way.
