We’ve had an extra day to process events, look back at despair on our survivor pools and take some of our old, unused electronics to the pawn shop to make up for our horrible picks against the spread last week. But did we learn anything? Let’s find out.
At 0-2 the New York Giants are primed to win the NFC East
That may have been the first time you’ve read that statement, but you already know it’s true. With Tony Romo and Dez Bryant both out until Thanksgiving, the Dallas Cowboys will struggle just to stay in the hunt. The Philadelphia Eagles are all but already out of it, with no answers on their sideline (especially at head coach). And the Washington Redskins? I mean, come on.
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The Giants just barely lost their two opening week games and have a string of very winnable games coming up, with a contest against the Buffalo Bills the only stumbling block until a No. 15 home game against the New England Patriots. The Giants could be 6-3 or better when that game happens and since Eli Manning is the father of Tom Brady’s children, could be 7-3 heading into the final stretch of the season. In fact, just looking at the Giants entire schedule, a 10-6 record at this point should probably be a disappointment.
It might be a while before the New England Patriots lose a game
I still don’t buy the “pissed off Tom Brady” meme, because to believe that you have to believe Brady was unfairly prosecuted in the NFL’s case. He knows he cheated. Everybody does. Getting mad because you got caught doesn’t make you a martyr.
That being said, the Patriots are still a good team even when they can’t blatantly cheat. Their two best chances to take a loss this season probably already happened in Weeks One and Two. Their next real test doesn’t come until Oct. 25 at home against the New York Jets. In fact, their two toughest games up until that Giants match-up are both at home (Jets and Dolphins).
With the Colts flaming out and the Cowboys short-handed and starting Brandon Weedon, the Patriots’ cakewalk to the postseason has already started.
The Broncos should be able to put together a nice, long win streak too.
This is, unquestionably, the worst Denver Broncos team Peyton Manning has had since joining them in 2012. They’re also still pretty damn good. And while Manning may not have the deep accuracy or arm strength of even early last year, he’s still got his brain and that’s seemed to work out alright so far.
The Broncos also have an elite defense that has shown up big in its two biggest games. Like the Patriots, Denver’s first two contests were its toughest of the first half of the season. With Matthew Stafford out this week for the Detroit Lions and Jim Caldwell still their head coach, that game should be little trouble for this suddenly resilient Broncos team. Denver won’t play a good team until Nov. 1 when they host the Green Bay Packers. Both teams could come into that game 6-0.
It’s time for the Colts and Ravens to panic
It’s not just that both teams are 0-2, and make no mistake, that’s bad. It’s the way both teams are 0-2. The Ravens are getting low-level play on offense and defense, especially when it counts the most at clutch time. The Colts can’t even make it to clutch time because Andrew Luck has become an interception machine and their defense couldn’t tackle an old lady in a Hoveround.
Baltimore’s losses have both come late in the fourth quarter on backbreaking offensive and defensive plays. With games against the Bengals and Steelers coming up, an 0-4 start isn’t out of the question. A 1-3 start is all but guaranteed.
The Colts have an easier row of games ahead of them, with the Titans and Jaguars coming up, but the way they’re playing on both sides of the ball, those two “easy” wins will both turn out to be epic battles. That’s not what you want for a team expected to contend for a Super Bowl.
