We all agree that the AFC isn't as strong as it was a year ago. Last year the Colts, Pats, and Chargers were the favorites and as expected they ended up having to beat each other  to advance in the playoffs. Of course the Pats came out on top. I thought last year that the the NFC had closed the gap and was getting stronger. I was right and this year the numbers back up the fact that the NFC is at least the equal. I don't see any team in the AFC as good as the big 3 were last year. 

I think the Pats will win the division. There is no reason they can't win their last 4 games, Seattle, Raiders, Buffalo and Arizona. Arizona is over rated and most of their wins come from within their HORRIBLE HORRIBLE division. Seattle, SanFran, and St Louis acoount for 5 of their wins. The Pats are better than the 4 teams left on their schedule.

So the Patriots will go 11-5 and win their division without beating one TRUE contender. Just as I predicted in week 2.  Don't tell me DENVER was a good win, and don't tell me the JETS WEEK TWO was a good win,....THEY WEREN'T.

The Patriots have yet to win 3 games in a row this year and although that should change this week it's not a good sign. Putting three or four straight wins together in the playoffs with an unpolished QB and a so-so defense is not a great recipe.

The Patriots will be a MONSTER next year. Brady is back and the young guys on defense will have grown up a little. All the injuries on defense have forced more playing time for thr younger guys. That's going to help next year.  With the maturation of the defense Bill will go back to the blue collar ball control approach. He'll do this to protect his QB. He'll do this because that's how the Patriots won 3 championships. The Patriots didn't win championships because of their offensive weapontry. They won with a smash mouth, grind it out, mistake proof, bend but don't break brand of football. Dropping back 50 times is not how you keep a QB healthy.