The New England Patriots beat everyone they played last year during the regular season. The Super Bowl loss to the New York Football Giants was tough to swallow. Especially the way it happened. They had beaten the Giants in the last game of the regular season to become the first team in NFL history to have a 16-0 record. When it seemed possible the Pats might actually do it, former Miami Dolphins running back Mercury Morris a member of the 1972 undefeated Dolphin squad that went 14-0 started running his mouth claiming  there was no way  New England would make it into their " Neighborhood ".Well they actually moved into to their "hood" by going 18-0 including the post season but had to move out because of their heart breaking loss in the Super Bowl. I'm not taking anything away from the Giants,  that pass rush was ferocious and Eli Manning and company played one ' helluva " game, but watching Tom Brady's game since 2001,  it was plain to see he clearly was not himself in that game. Easy five to ten yard passes on out routes were sailing away from recievers that he could probably could complete with his eyes closed. That man was hurt and was too classy to say anything about it. While he is not the most mobile quarterback, we have seen him run out of the pocket to avoid the rush and complete long bombs downfield plenty of times. In the Super Bowl he just stood idle because he didn't have his legs plain and simple. Your legs play a big part in the velocity of your throws as well as avoiding trouble as Eli clearly did. He may be younger but he isn't any more mobile than Brady but he was running for his life on many plays in that game also.  Well that game is history and here we are ready to embark on the 2008 campaign. As we all know the Pats have struggled this preseason , they bear no resemblence to the team that was shredding defenses and were playing as if they were men amongst boys. Not to worry this team will come ready to play on Sundays and will be in the hunt for another title run. However alot has changed since 2007. The AFC East is no longer the laughing stock of the league. For starters the Buffalo Bills are an emerging young squad with a steady QB in Trent Edwards, a mean power running back in Marshawn Lynch, speed merchant Lee Evans at wideout, and a defense that has improved enough to make this team a sexy pick for a wild card birth. The Dolphins snatched the weak armed but heady QB named Chad Pennington who just may have a bit more zip on his throws playing 8 of his games in better elements and not the cold blistering winds here up north. He knows this division well and this team can prove to be a thorn in someone's side with a seemingly dedicated Ricky Williams stealing the starting job from Ronnie Brown.

Last but not least we have an old gunslinger in New York whose rifle is still deadly and he loves to use it. That's right Brett Farve is here and he means business. He also has a running game with the underrated Thomas Jones who runs like a freight train despite his diminutive stature. That guy's arms are the envy of most body buiders I've spoken with. His recieving core is also very dangerous in Laverneous Coles and the acrobatic Jericho Cotchery who had 82 receptions and 1100 yards with unproven Kellen Clemens and the weak armed Pennington tossing you the rock. Now you bring in the strong armed Farve and the Jets suddenly strike fear into defensive coordinaters. By the way they brought in some defensive help to try and slow down the Pats. Eric Mangini knows what's up as does everyone else. The Patriots have a bullseye on their backs. Believe me there will be some dogfights this year in these divisional games and it should be a treat for all football fans. Let's get it started in here. Share your thoughts in our forums room because if you like high scoring games, watch these.

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Message to Patriots : AFC East No Longer A Cakewalk
Tuesday, 26 August 2008
The New England Patriots beat everyone they played last year during the regular season. The Super Bowl loss to the New York Football Giants was...

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