AFC East 2009: Intrigue, Scandal, and Competition

[Box_O_Rocks]

AFC East 2009: Intrigue, Scandal, and Competition - Associated Content

AFC East 2009: Intrigue, Scandal, and Competition
July 29, 2009 by
Matt Schirano

Who Will Come Out on Top? Who Will Claim the Bottom? Only Time Will Tell, but I Can Offer Prophecy

1. New England Patriots
Predicted record (11-5)

Playoff chances: 90%

Strengths: Brady

Weaknesses: Brady

Players to watch: Greg Lewis (WR)

2. Miami Dolphins
Predicted record (9-7)

Playoff chances: 63%

Strengths: ...Wildcat offense...

Weaknesses: ...Pennington...

Players to watch: Ted Ginn Jr (WR)

3. Buffalo Bills

Predicted record (8-8)

Playoff chances: 40%

Strengths: ...Terrell Owens...

Weaknesses: ...offensive line...

Players to watch: Lee Evans (WR)

4. New York Jets

Predicted record (6-10)

Playoff chances: 12%

Strengths: No more Brett Favre!

Weaknesses: No more Brett Favre!

Players to watch: Mark Sanchez (QB)

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

If the Pats biggest projected weakness really was Brady, I'd say it's a ring season. Too bad that the really big question marks at CB and OLB aren't addressed in the attempt by the writer to be cute.

 

[farn]

Ridiculous. Owens is not the Bills' strength. Pennington is better than the wildcat for Miami.

 

[patriot lifer]

Ridiculous. Owens is not the Bills' strength. Pennington is better than the wildcat for Miami.

agreed. if pennington goes down this season, then they're in trouble. if he didn't hold up so well last season, then there's no way they made the playoffs. he is not a weakness.

 

[Bartmac36]

I don't think Greg Lewis is the player to watch...I would say Crable/Bodden would be the choice(s) there...

 

[farn]

I don't think Greg Lewis is the player to watch...I would say Crable/Bodden would be the choice(s) there...

I'll watch Lewis... as he once again doesn't get the ball thrown his way.

 

[Kontradiction]

agreed. if pennington goes down this season, then they're in trouble. if he didn't hold up so well last season, then there's no way they made the playoffs. he is not a weakness.

They seem to be really high on Chad Henne. In fact, most "experts" believe that Pennington was exposed in the playoff game against Baltimore last year and say that we could be seeing Henne introduced into the starting line-up as soon as halfway through next season.

Personally? I respect and hate Pennington at the same time because he always seems to be capable of picking this defense apart. But he IS a noodle arm. The affectionate nickname does have some validity to it. Plus, the Dolphins have a first place schedule next year and a hard one at that. Pennington is going up against better defenses this year than last year with what is essentially the same receiving corps. So yes, I too would not be suprised if he was benched mid-season in favor of Henne.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

I love these predictions,.... if only he would specifiy who the Pats are suppose to lose to.

 

[RDS11]

This ''evaluation'' is a complete joke.

The Wildcat formation can't be the Dolphins main strength....they are going to use it 5 times a game at the most. And Pennington might not have the best arm in the league, but the guy is a winner and has one of the best passer rating of all-time. He has completed 66% of his passes during his career, that's 1st all-time. He doesn't throw ints (2.6% interception ratio, 12th best all-time) and doesn't fumble (3 fumbles last year). In a league were the QBs are losing more games for their team with mistakes and turnovers than they are winning with great plays, Pennington is far from being a weakness. If he is the Dolphins main weakness, they should give them the division title right now !

Pennington might even have a little of Peyton Manning in him...he played 2 of his worst games ever in the playoffs, and he is 2-4 for his career. But then again, if it wasn't for his great play in the regular season, maybe his teams don't even go to the playoffs...

 

[jmt57]

Somehow I don't think that the player who is replacing either Jabar Gaffney or Kelley Washington, and will probably finish the year no higher than sixth on the team in receptions is the key player to watch.

 

[363839]

I love these predictions,.... if only he would specifiy who the Pats are suppose to lose to.

Good point. And apparently the Pats will be losing to 5 teams unless this guy thinks we'll be swept by a div rival.:singing: