In an era where some teams will only carry two quarterbacks on their roster, the New England Patriots have four. Tom Brady, Damon Huard, Rohan Davey, and Tom Brady. And no that's not a misprint, because there's definitely been two different quarterbacks starting for this team. One was responsible for this season's victories against the Eagles and Jets. It's the same quarterback that engineered the comeback in the "Snow Bowl". It's the quarterback that won us the Super Bowl. The other is the quarterback who was throwing interceptions like rice at a wedding. It's the quarterback who showed up for the losses against Buffalo and Washington. It's also the quarterback who made an appearance during that horrendous four game skid last season. Now I know that the Patriots were reeling after they lost Lawyer Milloy in Week 1. I'm well aware that half our defensemen are wearing casts instead of uniforms this past Sunday. But when your team loses by three points and your quarterback throws three interceptions, it's very easy to start pointing fingers. Don't get me wrong for a second. I love Tom Brady. Tom Brady could never throw another touchdown pass and make us lose the final twelve games of the season and I'd still love him. Tom Brady gave me Super Bowl XXXVI and I am forever indebted to him. But this is the NFL, a league that lives by the motto "what have you done for me lately?" And lately, Tom Brady threw three interceptions against the Redskins.
I pride myself on being the eternal optimist. So why have I suddenly taken a shot at my starting quarterback? It's to prove a point. Right now the Patriots are hovering around the middle of the pack in most NFL Power Rankings. Every description talks about how we're missing Milloy or how the defense has too many injuries. But we haven't lost a game this season because Milloy's replacement made a mistake or because our defense couldn't hold up. In all honestly, our defense played tremendously on Sunday, allowing us to get back in a game in which we were down by fourteen points. We lost against the Redskins because Tom Brady didn't play well. The point in all I'm saying is this - The AFC East is just sitting there for the taking and if Tom Brady plays well, we're going to win the division. I've seen Tom Brady do things that are beyond belief. He's an incredible young leader, and he only gets more valuable as he matures. I believe in Tom Brady. He won't let me down.
Predictions:
NFC NORTH:
1. Vikings - I'm kicking myself for not putting them in this spot four weeks ago. But it came down to Bret Favre vs. Dante Culpepper. But I did say the Vikings might surprise me. Consider me surprised.
2. Packers - The "Never bet against Bret Favre" rule has been officially nullified.
3. Lions - They're actually respectable, well half-way respectable
4. Bears - They made them travel 100 miles for home games last season for a stadium that looks like THAT?!?!
NFC SOUTH:
1. Buccaneers - Gotta stick with the champs.
2. Falcons - Vick's coming back - soon!
3. Panthers - I'm not buying it. They aren't as good as everyone believes. That being said, if the Super Bowl is won by yet another "came-out-of-nowhere" team, it's going to be the Panthers that do it.
4. Saints - One of those teams that I just wish would be really good for once. Not happening this year.
NFC EAST:
1. Giants - I'm staying put on my G-Men pick.
2. Eagles - McNabb wasn't terrible, but he certainly didn't look fantastic against the Bills.
3. Redskins - They'll make a run at the wild card
4. Cowboys - They'll be a lot better than expected. But so will the Giants and Redskins.
NFC WEST:
1. Rams - I don't like to give up my division winner picks without a fight. I already lost the Packers. I'm hanging tough with the Rams, but only because I'm stubborn.
2. Seahawks - Make it 4-0 and then I'll believe you.
3. 49ers - Tim Kautzmann's team doesn't have it where it counts. Does that come as a surprise to anyone?
4. Cardinals - Um, yeah...
NFC SEEDING:
1. Giants
2. Vikings
3. Buccaneers
4. Rams
5. Eagles
6. Seahawks
AFC NORTH:
1. Steelers - Why is this division so bad?
2. Ravens - ditto.
3. Browns - ditto.
4. Bengals - ditto.
AFC SOUTH:
1. Titans - Once Steve McNair gets really hurt, they're going to really turn it on.
2. Colts - Being hot in Week 4 helps, but there are twelve more to go.
3. Texans - They have the same record as the Patriots. The shame of it all!
4. Jaguars - Just plain awful. Destined to play the Cardinals in the Pooper Bowl.
AFC EAST:
1. Patriots - I was planning on dropping them. And if I were at all unbiased, I'd drop them in a second. But I managed to psyche myself up just enough with my opening paragraphs. Just disregard this, it's me being a total idiot.
2. Dolphins - They've played really well their last two games. If they hadn't lost to the Texans, and didn't have a ridiculously difficult December schedule, and if I wasn't a total idiot, I'd give them the nod for the division crown.
3. Bills - You beat a team in a complete tail-spin and the Jacksonville Jaguars and suddenly you're Super Bowl favorites. You get embarrassed on national television and lose to a team that's put up ten points in three weeks and suddenly everybody sees you for what you really are - a team full of Patriot rejects in ugly uniforms.
4. Jets - When the Patriots lose, I look at myself and say, "Derek, you could be a Jets fan." Makes me feel better every time.
AFC WEST:
1. Broncos - I've got two 4-0 teams in this division and the Raiders look like crap. I'm picking the Broncos purely out of spite.
2. Chiefs - I refuse to buy into these "early season favorites". Which is partly why Indy, Carolina, and the Skins are all sitting where they're at. My refusal to compromise worked well for me with the Bills. And I'm guessing it will work out the same for all of these teams as well, except for the Chiefs. The Broncos will fold like always. How many times have they been 4-0? The Chiefs will get me in the end. I know it. But I'm stubborn.
3. Raiders - Can you really age this much in eight months?
4. Chargers - At least somebody's making it easy for me in this division.
AFC SEEDING:
1. Broncos
2. Titans
3. Patriots
4. Steelers
5. Chiefs
6. Colts
NFC PLAYOFFS:
Wild Card - Buccaneers over Seahawks, Eagles over Rams
Divisional - Giants over Eagles, Buccaneers over Vikings
NFC Championship - Giants over Buccaneers
AFC PLAYOFFS:
Wild Card - Patriots over Colts, Chiefs over Steelers
Divisional - Chiefs over Broncos, Titans over Patriots
AFC Championship - Titans over Chiefs
SUPERBOWL XXXVIII:
Giants over Titans
