patfanken

Strangely, I'm not all that excited about Monday's game with the Bills. To me it amounts to little more than a scrimmage against the hapless Bills. Certainly there are elements of the game that I'll be looking forward to seeing, but when the issue really isn't in doubt, it kind of takes the edge off the game for me.

In Fact the more I think on it, the AFC East ISN'T going to be the division juggernaut that a lot of people thought (including myself).

Bills - They looked like a young up an coming team on the verge of taking the next step...and THEN they got TO and assembled one of the better WR corps in the league. Then this preseason, the dismantle their OL and will start 5 new guys. They fire their OC, and for now at least, seem to be in utter disarray. Not a bright image for a team that has to come into NE and face a very hungry Pats group.

Jets - for 2 thirds of a season they were among the league's elite teams, now they look like they will struggle to be a 500 team THIS season. Their OL is still one of the best, but they will start a rookie QB WITHOUT the benefit of quality WRs. Their DL is thin, and a Kris Jenkins injury from being a massive weakness. Any injuries in the secondary will cripple them. They are a step up from the Bills, but probably will not be the threat that they were last season.

Miami - I see the Phins being a lot like the 2002 Pats. They will be better than the 2008 team, but it won't reflect in their record, and they will likely take a step back...like the 2002 Pats. Reason, everything broke perfectly for the Phins last season, just like it did for the 2001 Pats. They had the fewest turn overs, few injuries, and won a lot of close games, etc. ALL those good things are unlikely to happen again.

So I see THIS year being a year where the Pats lose at most ONE division game. All that being said, 2010 will be the year that the AFCE will be a bear to get through.

Now back to the Bills game and what to watch for.

1. The most interesting match up for me will be the Springs/TO clash. It will go a long way in my mind in letting us know how much better this secondary will be than the one that was dismantled. IMHO, Springs was brought it for EXACTLY this kind of match up. He is here to match up against the bigger WRs and to give us a more physical presence in the Red Zone. Where as before the midget formerly know as Ellis Hobbs usually had to deal with these physical mismatches, Springs is a better choice...at least on paper

2, I want to see how the front 7 do against the run. The first unit has been pretty effective in preseason, but Fred Jackson tore us up last season.

3. It will be interesting to see how BB works the various rotations. Where will Brace, Butler, and Chung play and how often. How will he handle the RB carries. How will he work the TEs, etc

4. And then there is the pass rush issue, which looms like a summer thunderstorm. Can we get pressure from 4 man rushes or will we have to Blitz. Derrick Burgess...where are you?

I would expect the defense to be pretty successful for this run at the Bills. You will count me among the very nervous if they score more than 17 points. I'm less interested in what the offense has to offer, because I already think I know....and its GOOOOOOOOD. Still, like everyone else, I'll be watching to see if Brady is stepping INTO his throws. Is Welker going to play. Will the Moroney debate ever end.

Finally I'll be very interested to see how this team is constructed AFTER this game, because I think some moves are coming....at QB, WR, OL, LB We DON'T have enough QBs. We have too many OLmen, etc Once the team doesn't have to guarantee contracts for a season, we are going to see a flurry of roster movement. JMHO

PatsWickedPissah

I look for a trade of surplus OL for a 7th round or conditional pick. Could be that BB really is waiting on adding, say a Feeley, till after the game so he can possibly cut him later in the season if warranted without being liable for the salary hit. I'm not big on a 3rd QB because no Brady = no SB.

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patfanken

No I agree, I have been very vocal about having no 3rd QB, however what I expect to happen is that BB will sign a QB, most likely Feeley, then in about 3 weeks waive Hoyer back the to PS, when Feeley is ready. Nothing will change, except of course Hoyer's status. He'll even get too keep his full roster salary, while on the PS.

Mike the Brit

That would be VERY smart, it seems to me.

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They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Well, Pats fans should be invincible by now. [Fitzy, 16 November 2009]

Still here to learn

Gwedd

I dunno. I remember a certain game where we went into Buffalo looking to start the season with an easy win and got our butts handed to us at 31-0

I NEVER take any game for granted, or easy, because, as has been demonstrated time and again, one never knows which team will show up on any given Sunday. That's why my cardiologist hates my obsession with football..

ctpatsfan77

I can't see them pushing Hoyer to the PS, because I simply can't see him clearing waivers (how often does a UDFA rookie become the #2 QB on a team that went >.500 the year before?).

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MoLewisrocks

No kidding. They may add a veteran presence after week 1 but that is all it will be. For that reason someone like Huard is a lot more likely to be the choice. He can help in lots of ways without ever getting near the field on gamedays.

MoLewisrocks

Nothing is ever a given. That's why they play the games. Including Monday's in Buffalo...

I don't get why in 2010 the AFCE will be a bear. Juaron will be gone and Buffalo starting over AGAIN in further dissaray, Pennington will be giving way to the whomever new QB era in Miami and Bill will be itching to move on, the JETS will still be the JETS and Bill will have lots of film on whatever that is.

Marqui

Same here. After SB42, I never EXPECT to win games anymore. The game still has to be played and the Pats need to bring full effort.

KontradictioN

I think the Pats are going to win, but I also think this game is going to be closer than some of you think. I'm excited about it. This is going to be an excellent test for our defense. They're going up against a T.O./Evans tandem, a no huddle offense, and a RB in Jackson that tore us up last season. If we can hold them to 17 points, I'll be thrilled.

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