Re: MNF Gang (Gruden,Jaworski) predict the AFC East
There is no way Jaws has actually watched any of the Jets pre-season games. He said that Holmes was a huge addition and will help out Sanchez. Unless Holmes can throw the ball, I don't see how he can help out Sanchez at all... I think if the Pats can get 11 wins, that will be good enough to win the division.
And if he's struggled with him in preseason how the heck will be help him in the first month of the season when they play Baltimore and three division teams while he's on suspension... And people forget when these guys are on suspension they can't even be on team property, which is why Ben is hogging the snaps in Pittsburgh this pre season...
I think they are also assuming LaDanian will maintian that adreneline based trade fueled bounce in his step through the first month...and beyond, because if he doesn't they may be really screwed. The rookie RB isn't looking any more special than the rookie OG...
The JETS lost a lot of veteran leaders this off season and another one this pre season. Their most talented player period is holding out with no end in sight. They've added a lot of formerly inconsistent or aging diva's to the mix, many of whom have a history of negative leadership (which is why they were available). But Rex is a hoot and everyone wants to play for him...until the losses start piling up and he has his patented meltdown. This year they may not have a core to save themselves when that happens. They will all be too busy sulking or pointing fingers under the critical glare of the NY/NJ media horde. Sanchez is going to remain a boom or bust QB they struggle to manage since pulling broken plays out of his ass is both his strong suit and his weakness. And they may not have enough elsewhere on the roster to even attempt to rein him in with traffic light playcalling this season. The entire outfit is an emotional tinderbox.
The Dolphins have Marshall, but aside from the drops he also suffers when his QB can't find him. Henne has a strong arm, what he lacks is touch and accuracy. They have to rely on the ground game a lot which is tough to do when your OL isn't set on the eve of the season and the fascination with wildcat has run it's course.
We all face the same schedule, only the Dolphins and Bill's face it in inverse. NE and the JETS face the toughest opponents outside the division at home, Miami has to face them on the road.
But aside from that, it makes perfect sense to assume a team with Brady and Belichick will falter because it's not like over the last decade they've dominated the division and won with less or anything.