Week One-Two

I refute your logic! It ain't over! I swear!

Certainly makes the season a bit more interesting, and cuts the margin for error down considerably. And makes any predictions for the rest of the year completely speculative and unfounded.

How much could Cassel bring this team down? Wasn't it just a couple of years ago that everyone was lionizing the Trent Dilfer's of the world, that you can win with a "Game managing" QB as long as you have a great D? If the secondary jels, the Pats' D could be epic - and you know they'll take this as a challenge.

Let's remember a few things - the '01 AFC title game was won without Brady, and without his replacement (some guy who wore #11) doing much of anything in the 2nd half - it was all D and special teams (which are looking good, albeit against the Chiefs). I'm guessing that Cassel is at least as good as Hugh Millen - the same Hugh Millen who led the 1991 Pats to a 5-8 record as a starter. That team was horrendous. And coached by Dick MacPherson! Now it's Belichik and a cast of All-Pros. Not saying they won't miss TB. But I still see playoffs, and potentially AFC East champs. I'm betting on this team galvanizing.

Starting with this week's opponents, the J-E-T-S. Jets games (especially in NJ) are always interesting, and always closer than need be. This one could be a doozy, what with Favre vs Cassel, return to spygate, and whatnot. But for the last couple days, everywhere I turn, this Jets team is being lauded as the new AFC East favorites, charging up power rankings, and now favored by a field goal. Based on what? A six point win over the helpless Dolphins? Let's review the "highlights" of that one - Favre throws one TD into busted coverage, and one jump ball that would have been picked off by any other secondary. 4th quarter - Jets have Three 3 and out drives. Dolphins drive to the 2 and fail to score, drive for a TD, drive to the 18 and fail to score. A mildly competent team would have won that game, or at least sent it to OT. So let's stop the Favre glorification for a bit, shall we?

OK, well, that's the optimistic view. I'll stick with a prediction of a Pats road win (20-14) - should be a couple INTs on both sides, and one sizable special teams runback. I'll be watching from the comfort of the Granite State, so I got that going for me.