The Jets are seen as the team to beat in the AFC East. With a second year quarterback. With their best defensive player unhappy. I don’t know about you, but I am sticking with what’s tried and true. The Patriots are a perennial playoff team. They will be until Tom Brady decides to hang ‘em up. And oh by the way, the Patriots still have one of the best offenses in the league. They were third in total yards per game and in the top 10 in points per game, as they usually are.
Slot magician Wes Welker will be back this year and hopefully 100% healthy. His absence was a big reason why the Pats flamed out against the Ravens in the playoffs last year. Randy Moss is still there. He can still play. Ben Watson is a viable option at tight end as well. The Pats never were a run-heavy team with Brady at quarterback, and I don’t suspect that will change this year. Laurence Maroney will again get the bulk of the carries with a myriad of others pitching in such as Fred Taylor, Sammie Morris, and others.
Defense is where the Patriots fall flat. At least, that’s how they fell flat against the Ravens last year. This year looks to be even tougher, as the veteran corner of the group in Leigh Bodden has been placed on the injured reserve list for the year. As a result, they will have the youngest secondary in the league. That could spell trouble. The offense will definitely have to make up for the shortcomings of the defense. Still, as bad as the defense supposedly was last year, they still only allowed 17.8 points per game, the fifth lowest in the league.
It should be an interesting AFC East this year. I think the Patriots hold on to their division crown, narrowly escaping the Jets with an 11-5 record.
By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network
Quarterback Tom Brady reiterated Wednesday that he thought last year’s New England Patriots team was not mentally tough and, looking back, indicated there was a “lack of trust, lack of confidence” within the team.
The Patriots’ struggles in the second half of games in 2009 were well chronicled. Of their six losses, they were leading at the half in four of them and tied in another. The Patriots were outscored 94-38 in the second half of their six losses. In addition to their second-half struggles, the Patriots were just 2-6 on the road.
“When it comes down to it, games that we lose in the fourth quarter, games that we lose in the second half, or losing on the road like we did, that can be lack of trust, lack of confidence,” Brady said in an interview on Boston sports radio station WEEI on Wednesday morning. “There are a lot of issues you have when that repeats itself time and time again over the course of the season.”
The Patriots’ up-and-down 2009 season was punctuated by a 33-14 blowout loss to the Ravens in the divisional playoffs. Brady threw four interceptions in the game and the Patriots fell behind 24-0 in the first quarter.
Click here to read the full article – By Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com
Perhaps the greatest quarterback debate of this generation is whether or not Tom Brady is better than Peyton Manning. Although Tom Brady has the rings and the dynasty, Peyton Manning isn’t a huge pussy.
Exhibit A:
Tom Brady Commercial
Not only is saving the earth the least cool thing for a bloodthirsty football player to take part in, look at him. I’m not sure if that’s Tom Brady or Bon Jovi. Not only does he look like a lost European, but his acting skills are on par with Carrot Top. Brady’s only saving grace with this commercial is the giant slab of meat resting on the counter. The only way Brady gets points for this commercial is if that’s fresh WWF panda meat resting on the counter top.
Exhibit B:
Peyton Manning Commercial
Not only is Peyton an exceptional actor, he chooses to do commercials that make him look like the man. While Tom tries to save the earth, Peyton is pillaging it for all of its spoils. Would you rather be saving the Earth from a kitchen remodeled in the 80s, or traveling the world, blowing cash on your MasterCard, driving your Ford and relaxing seaside in a robe?
The jury is out and the evidence is overwhelming. I don’t know who the better quarterback is, but Peyton is definitely the man.
-Zach Superior
Indianapolis Colts Sports Memorabilia
and other Indianapolis Colts Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Peyton Manning.
New England Patriots Sports Memorabilia
and other New England Patriots Gifts and Collectibles
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Tom Brady threw for an NFL record five touchdowns in the second quarter as the Patriots humiliated the Titans 59-0 in snowy Foxborough, Mass.
Brady had six touchdown passes overall, matching his team record, and threw for 380 yards before leaving the game in the third quarter. The Patriots set team records for points and yards (619). We can move past wondering whether Brady will ever look like his pre-injury self.
A week after a shaky showing in a loss at Denver, it was 2007 all over again against the hapless and helpless Titans. … Quite a turnaround for the Jets, who started 3-0 but fell to 3-3 with an overtime loss to the Bills. Rex Ryan will probably be roasted this week on WFAN by the same callers who were calling him a genius and talking Super Bowl three weeks ago.
Click here to read the full article – By MIKE ANTHONY of The Hartford Courant
New England Patriots Sports Memorabilia
and other New England Patriots Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Tom Brady.
