Could opening weekend have possibly went better for the Patriots? Yeah, the Broncos/Steelers beat out-of-conference teams, but I’m a division guy first, conference guy second, personal hatred guy third. This early in the season, it’s all about the division race. The Patriots completely blowing everyone’s minds was just the icing on the AFC East cake where the other 3 teams started out 0-1. That was supposed to be their chance to unseat the almighty Patriots, right? The Patriots were guaranteed to lose, and all that the other teams had to do was win to get their early lead during the Brady suspension where the Patriots wouldn’t recover. Ha!



Instead, the Patriots shock Vegas & the Patriots-hater households that kept their children up late Sunday night to watch the downfall of the greatest NFL dynasty their ever was. As the Patriots sit a top the AFC East, this scenario could not have come at a worse time for the rest of the division.



Let’s look at the Patriots schedule: vs MIA, vs HOU, vs BUF, then Brady comes back to lead his most talented roster in a decade. All 3 very winnable games, at home—The Patriots are already a 6.5 pt favorite over Miami with most bookies. Out of the first 4 games, on the road against Arizona without Brady, Gronk, a couple starting offensive lineman, dion lewis, etc… I can go on… the narrative doesn’t change: A top 5 NFL team was supposed to murder the Patriots & put them in a hole to give way to another AFC East team to take an early lead.



Since the Jets/Bills are playing Thursday night, one team is going to come out 1-1, and the other 0-2. All the Patriots have to do is beat Miami at home to be 2-0 with (2) other teams in the division being 0-2. Only 12% of teams that go 0-2 end up scraping their way into the playoffs. The Jets had better hope they beat the Bills tonight, because they’ve got a tough road ahead: @KC, vs SEA, @PIT, @AZ. 4 games in a row vs 2015 playoff teams, 3 of which are away, and the single home game being Seahawks. Ouch. After 6 weeks, I strongly believe we’ll see a 2-4, possibly 1-5 Jets team.



The banged-up Bills could very likely be sitting at 0-4. They play the Jets Thursday night and all-around, the Jets are just a much more healthy team than the Bills right now. After the Jets, the Bills host the Cardinals then travel to Foxboro. It gets easier after the first 4 with back-to-back games against the Rams and 49ers, but we all know this team will quit if they’re 0-4. Our buddy Rex will probably escape the axe again this year because his crutch will be injuries.



The Dolphins? After the Patriots they’ll get their first win hosting the lowly Browns, but then will take another L on the road in Cincy. 1-3. Their final 5 game stretch would crush them anyway: @BAL, vs AZ, @NYJ, @BUF, vs NE.



I’m not going to go full Skip Bayless and declare the division over, it’s very early, but if the Patriots unparalleled consistency tells us anything--it really isn’t looking good outside of Foxboro.