There are plenty of good teams in the AFC this season. Every division has at least one. Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Denver, the list goes on.
It'll be a dogfight just to make the postseason. And while all of those aforementioned teams will be in that battle, there's one that many people seem to have forgotten. They're not the sexy team like the Bengals.
They're not the Johnny-Come-Lately team like the Jaguars. And they're certainly not the Win-It-Once-And-For-All team like the Colts.
No, they're just the plain, old Patriots. The Super Bowl champions three out of the last five years. And last week, they told everyone emphatically they have no plans on bailing out of this battle.
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"We're still confident. We always feel confident," quarterback Tom Brady said. "We try to take advantage of our scoring opportunities, get the ball in the end zone when you're in the red zone and limit your penalties. We're trying to be like the Patriots you're used to seeing."
And while they may have hit a bump in the road or two, and while they may have lost quite a few spokes in their championship wheel, the Patriots, indeed, are showing signs they're the team you're used to seeing.
New England (3-1) — who will play host to the dreadful Dolphins (1-3) today in Foxboro (the Patriots are -9 1/2 on WagerWeb.com) — is back where it belongs: Alone in first place of the AFC East. The Patriots are 2-0 in their division and fresh off a dominant 38-13 victory over those previously unbeaten Bengals.
"Nobody's really given us a chance," Brady said. "That always makes it sweeter."
While Brady's assumptions may be a tad too strong, we do understand his logic to a degree. The Patriots have somewhat been lost in the shuffle. And they seemed like they had work ahead of them, seeing as though they lost, among others, Adam Vinatieri and Deion Branch.
"We're getting more comfortable. Like I've said, we're building into something here," Brady said. "We're still a long ways from where this team needs to be, but we do have a bunch of confidence now that we can take on good teams and beat them." Well, the Dolphins aren't one of those good teams, but at the very least, they'll give Coach Bill Belichick's defense a chance to continue its progression. The unit hasn't allowed more than 17 points in a game all year.
"I'm reluctant to single one person out and I think that a lot of people have to do with our [defensive] success," Belichick said generically, as only he can. "They play together. Everyone has to do their part."
The same can be said offensively, and this is where rookie running back Laurence Maroney comes in. He's been able to spell the aging Corey Dillon in a way Kevin Faulk never could. The former Minnesota Golden Gopher brings energy, enthusiasm and has a nose for the goal line.
"He's a good back and he's an obvious playmaker," Belichick said. "He's becoming a complete player and he's certainly making plays for us. Really, he has all year."
For the most part, his team has as well. And the rest of the AFC should think about that.
FLYING FALCS: So Atlanta ran into an emotional wall two weeks ago as the surging, sentimental Saints reopened the Superdome. No one's making excuses, but even the harshest critics can probably forgive them for that. The important thing is Michael Vick and Co. bounced back with authority and as they enjoy a bye today, they stand at 3-1 and look every bit a contender in the NFC.
"It's good to be 3-1," Coach Jim Mora said, "even better to have a lot of things that you can do better than you have and still be 3-1."
Mora is right. The offense has struggled in the red zone and had it not been for the collapsing Cardinals being in town last week, Atlanta might be 2-2 right now.
"I am not concerned with the red zone," Vick said. "As long as we get opportunities down there, we will make something happen. Whether we get two field goals and a touchdown or three field goals and a touchdown, as long as we are moving the ball on a consistent basis, then I am happy about what we are doing offensively. We are going to get better at it."
The Giants, Atlanta's opponent next week, allow 30,6 points per game. So perhaps Vick can get to work on his strategy right away. New York, meanwhile, tunes up for Atlanta against Washington today in New Jersey. The Giants are -4 1/2 on WagerWeb.com
NUMB NINERS: There's no question with Alex Smith, Frank Gore and Antonio Bryant, the 49ers are slowly putting the pieces together offensively. But any progress is being offset by a dismal defense that is allowing 29.7 points a tilt. San Francisco last week fell on the wrong side of a horrendous 41-0 whitewash at the hands of the Chiefs. And because of it, the Niners are now 1-3 and scrambling for answers.
"It's embarrassing and it's frustrating," defensive end Bryant Young said.
"Nobody wants to be where we are right now," Coach Mike Nolan said.
But there is hope. After all, the 49ers play host to the winless Raiders today in a bay-area battle of bottomfeeders. San Francisco is -31/2 on WagerWeb.com
