A take a look at the AFC East standings is a shock to the system.

It has been uncommon over the previous twenty years to want to scroll right down to see the Patriots. However there it’s: The Buffalo Payments in first place at 4-2, after which (sit down for this one) the Miami Dolphins in second place forward of the Patriots. For those who wanted extra proof that 2020 is bizarre.

This has been a tough season for the Patriots already, and it’s not even one-third finished. They misplaced quite a lot of defensive expertise within the offseason. The crew and Tom Brady parted methods. New England was hit more durable than anybody else by coronavirus-related opt-outs. Then, the Patriots had Cam Newton and Stephon Gilmore go to the reserve/COVID-19 record. A Week 5 sport in opposition to the Broncos was moved again to final Monday, after which moved to Week 6.

Even in a standard yr, there could be questions concerning the 2-Three Patriots, who haven’t been below .500 previous the fifth week of the season since 2002, once they have been 3-4. There’s merely not quite a lot of high-end expertise, notably on offense. The 18-12 loss to the Broncos drove that time house.

Earlier than Sunday, the Patriots had by no means misplaced a sport below Invoice Belichick when not giving up a landing, which is a exceptional streak and likewise speaks to the dearth of offense for New England. No Patriots operating again had greater than 19 dashing yards in opposition to Denver. No go catcher had greater than 38 receiving yards except for James White, who had eight catches for 65 yards. Irrespective of how good a training workers is, in some unspecified time in the future you want gamers.

In Week 1, the Patriots offense was quite a lot of Cam Newton, particularly as a runner. On Sunday, his 76 dashing yards have been probably the most dependable a part of New England’s offense. A fantastic dual-threat quarterback is usually a basis of an excellent offense, nevertheless it’s onerous to ask Newton to hold the offense that means over a full season. Additionally, there must be one thing apart from that to lean on.

In fact, it’s an annual incidence to query if the Patriots have misplaced it. It’s an October custom just like the leaves altering. Everybody questions the Patriots, then they determine it out and play unbelievable soccer. Final season, these questions got here after a win, an unpleasant 17-10 Week 11 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The Patriots wanted a Julian Edelman go to get their solely second-half landing. Brady was uncharacteristically grumpy after the win, upset with the offense’s manufacturing.

The distinction is the Patriots by no means actually did flip it round after that. They went 3-Four counting a playoff loss, with some tough offensive performances. They’re 2-Three this season. It has been 12 video games of below-average soccer for New England. That’s not an insignificant quantity of video games. When it comes to the roster, they’re inferior to they have been final season. An excessive amount of was misplaced within the offseason and there hasn’t been quite a lot of rising expertise step up thus far.

If Belichick will get this crew to a different AFC East championship, he deserves NFL coach of the yr (he most likely ought to win it most years since he’s, you recognize, the most effective coach within the NFL). Regardless of a two-game shedding streak, the Payments are fairly good. The Patriots protection is nice, however not in rivalry to be the most effective within the NFL prefer it was final season. And it’s onerous to determine the blueprint for the offense to be a lot better. Newton can solely achieve this a lot. As nice as Newton has been by means of his profession, he’s not Brady.

Perhaps that is one other season during which the Patriots flip the change and make all of the skepticism about them look foolish. If this have been another crew, we’d take one take a look at the roster and surprise how a turnaround is even attainable.

If that’s the hassle the Jets are going to provide, simply keep in New York and forfeit the sport. Don’t threat harm or coronavirus publicity.

31. Washington Soccer Staff (1-5, LW: 30)

I received’t criticize the coach of a one-win soccer crew taking his possibilities on a 2-point conversion to win a sport. You’re extra prone to acquire 2 yards on that play than outplay anybody in extra time. “The one solution to learn to win is to play to win,” Ron Rivera mentioned, through SI.com. “I informed them within the locker room, I mentioned, ‘Guys, I play to win.’ That’s a part of my philosophy.”

30. New York Giants (1-5, LW: 31)

To lastly get a win, the Giants wanted to show away a 2-point conversion at house in opposition to Washington, which is clearly one of many worst groups in soccer. In addition they barely received regardless of a defensive landing. I stored considering the Giants are at the least slightly higher than their file. They’re not.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5, LW: 29)

Since shedding within the AFC championship sport, the Jaguars are 12-26. They’ve two straight double-digit loss seasons and must end 6-Four to keep away from one other one. We make quite a lot of jokes about Adam Gase and Matt Patricia, however why is Doug Marrone by no means talked about in hot-seat conversations?

28. Dallas Cowboys (2-4, LW: 22)

If something, Jerry Jones is just too affected person along with his coaches. And it’s onerous to fireplace Mike McCarthy after he misplaced his quarterback. However let’s say the Cowboys lose double-digit video games and don’t win a pathetic NFC East. Is it attainable McCarthy is one and finished? A crew with Ezekiel Elliott, CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup was caught on Three factors at house in opposition to the Cardinals on Monday night time, till a late garbage-time landing. That’s onerous to elucidate, even after giving the Cowboys some slack for shedding Dak Prescott.

27. Philadelphia Eagles (1-4-1, LW: 23)

Don’t let the ultimate rating idiot you. The Eagles have been fully overmatched for three-and-a-half quarters. Perhaps that final rally sparks one thing going ahead, however most likely not. That is only a dangerous soccer crew. And sure, 4 of the underside 5 groups in these energy rankings come from the identical division.

26. Minnesota Vikings (1-5, LW: 20)

Nicely, the Vikings are dangerous. However we could be watching one thing particular with Justin Jefferson. Heading into Monday’s video games, he was third within the NFL in receiving yards regardless of barely enjoying the primary two weeks. Once more, why was he enjoying behind Olabisi Johnson the primary two weeks?

25. Atlanta Falcons (1-5, LW: 28)

We’re not going to do the entire “Falcons begin the season miserably after which change who they’re and end 7-9” once more, are we?

24. Houston Texans (1-5, LW: 24)

Will Fuller is having a pleasant season. He had an odd sport with no catches after it appeared he damage hamstring in Week 2, however 455 yards and 4 touchdowns within the different 5 video games. Hopefully, he can keep wholesome, which has been a recurring drawback.

23. Cincinnati Bengals (1-4-1, LW: 25)

Tee Higgins had six catches for 125 yards. He was the primary choose of the second spherical and the Bengals ought to really feel very grateful that many groups on the backside of the primary spherical — hi there, Packers — handed on him. He and Joe Burrow are a pleasant 1-2 punch out of this draft.

22. Los Angeles Chargers (1-4, LW: 21)

The Chargers’ subsequent 5 video games are vs. Jaguars, at Broncos, vs. Raiders, at Dolphins, vs. Jets. It’s not loopy to assume the Chargers might win 4 of 5 and get again within the playoff race. Their season outlook could be much more optimistic in the event that they hadn’t let that Saints sport get away.

21. Denver Broncos (2-3, LW: 27)

The Broncos are doing OK filling in for accidents. Tim Patrick has emerged as a pleasant possibility with Courtland Sutton on IR. Phillip Lindsay returned and performed rather well with Melvin Gordon out. The protection had a pleasant sport regardless of its accidents. However they’re going to want Drew Lock to play higher to maintain profitable video games.

20. Detroit Lions (2-3, LW: 26)

Adrian Peterson on Sunday: 15 carries for 40 yards. D’Andre Swift on Sunday: 14 carries for 116 yards. The Lions signed Peterson simply earlier than the season, virtually modified their offense to power the ball to a 35-year-old again who doesn’t contribute something within the passing sport and did so on the expense of a second-round rookie choose. That’s dangerous. What’s worse is everyone knows Matt Patricia and his crew will give Peterson extra carries than Swift subsequent week, too.

19. Miami Dolphins (3-3, LW: 18)

It was solely a handful of performs however given what Tua Tagovailoa has been by means of, that was one nice debut for him on Sunday.

18. New England Patriots (2-3, LW: 15)

Since an enormous sport at Seattle in Week 2, Julian Edelman has seven catches for 66 yards in three video games. It’s not like anybody else for the Patriots is catching the ball. Edelman is 34 years previous, and there’s no assure he’ll rebound to his regular type. That’s one more concern for the Patriots offense.

17. Carolina Panthers (3-3, LW: 16)

There’s no phrase of when Christian McCaffrey can return from an ankle harm. Regardless that the Panthers have principally performed nicely with out him, McCaffrey is among the most gifted gamers within the NFL. They are going to be higher when he can return, and maybe Sunday’s loss in opposition to the Bears would have turned out in a different way with their finest participant on the sphere.

16. San Francisco 49ers (3-3, LW: 19)

That was a powerful sport by Kyle Shanahan. Realistically, the 49ers wanted that win to maintain their season alive. It is going to be attention-grabbing to look at the chess match between Shanahan and Invoice Belichick in Week 7. One of many few coaches who Belichick had a tough time in opposition to was Shanahan’s father, Mike, who had a 5-Three file in opposition to Belichick when he was teaching the Broncos.

15. Cleveland Browns (4-2, LW: 9)

I’m not going to do a 180 on the Browns. I feel Sunday was extra concerning the Steelers’ dominance than Cleveland being uncovered. Nonetheless, the Browns have been completely destroyed by the Steelers and Ravens this season, and that’s not probably the most promising improvement.

14. New Orleans Saints (3-2, LW: 14)

The Saints ought to have Michael Thomas again this week, and presumably the battle that led to a one-game suspension is behind everybody. Only a few non-quarterbacks within the NFL have a much bigger influence on their crew than Thomas.

13. Arizona Cardinals (4-2, LW: 17)

We noticed why Budda Baker is the highest-paid security in NFL historical past. He was phenomenal on Monday night time in opposition to the Cowboys. His versatility is the most important asset the Cardinals protection has, particularly with Chandler Jones out with an harm.

12. Chicago Bears (5-1, LW: 11)

The Bears are simply that crew whose file received’t match how good they’re. They have been outgained by the Panthers. Carolina had extra yards per play, extra first downs, principally extra of every thing besides factors. The Bears protection is nice, however most likely not adequate to repeatedly overcome a foul offense. I can’t justify placing them larger than this, regardless of their file.

11. Indianapolis Colts (4-2, LW: 13)

It’s a little bit of an odd stat, however Philip Rivers grew to become the oldest quarterback since Earl Morrall in 1974 to guide his crew to a regular-season win after it trailed by 21 factors or extra (through NFL Analysis). Rivers obtained quite a lot of grief for a poor sport at Cleveland, and he deserves quite a lot of credit score for a way nicely he performed to save lots of what would have been a foul loss to Cincinnati.

10. Los Angeles Rams (4-2, LW: 8)

It at the least must be mentioned: The Rams are 4-Zero in opposition to the NFC East, which is trending because the worst division in trendy NFL historical past, and 0-2 in opposition to everybody else. I don’t assume the Rams are a foul crew. I do surprise why in two of the previous three weeks their offense has struggled a lot, and the way good they’ll be now that there are not any extra NFC East video games on the schedule.

9. Las Vegas Raiders (3-2, LW: 10)

One factor the Raiders want to determine is a go rush. They’ve solely eight sacks all season and only one participant (Maxx Crosby) has recorded multiple. It’s onerous to persistently win with no strain on the opposing quarterback.

8. Buffalo Payments (4-2, LW: 7)

I’ve been excessive on the Payments, and I’m not bailing on them now. However that was ugly. The Chiefs have been miles forward of Buffalo in a giant spot for the Payments. The offense flailed round within the rain, and the protection continued a really unimpressive begin to the season. They’ll get it fastened. I feel.

7. Inexperienced Bay Packers (4-1, LW: 3)

The Packers hadn’t actually performed a tricky protection earlier than Tampa Bay and their protection was shaky at finest. Sunday’s loss doesn’t erase the primary 4 video games, however the best way the Buccaneers dominated was troubling. Now, the Packers should show their offense can cook dinner in opposition to a top-flight protection, and that their protection can cease anybody.

6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2, LW: 12)

The Bucs’ offense will get the eye, and it’s good. However the protection, which had allowed the fewest yards within the league after Sunday’s video games, is the power of this crew. Holding the Packers to 201 yards, 10 factors and getting a choose six off Aaron Rodgers ought to carry some consideration to that unit.

5. Tennessee Titans (5-0, LW: 6)

I simply can’t recover from Derrick Henry breaking away from the protection within the open area. He’s 247 kilos and he simply ran away from Houston’s secondary, reaching an unbelievable 21.6 miles per hour on his run. What an athlete.

4. Seattle Seahawks (5-0, LW: 4)

Everybody within the NFC West has at the least two losses apart from the Seahawks. Whereas I nonetheless assume their protection goes to begin costing them, they’ve a cushion if that does ever occur.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-0, LW: 5)

I favored the Steelers on paper however thought a few of their first 4 wins have been nearer than they need to have been. I used to be ready for them to hit that stage that actually stamped them as a top-tier crew. Nicely, Sunday was it. If the Steelers play like that, they’ll beat anybody. They’re on a brief record of respectable Tremendous Bowl contenders.

2. Baltimore Ravens (5-1, LW: 2)

Had Sunday’s sport ended with 5 minutes left within the fourth quarter, we’d be way more impressed with the Ravens. I’m undecided how they let the Eagles nearly steal a sport they principally dominated. It’s most likely finest to shrug, chalk up one other win and transfer on.

1. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (5-1, LW: 1)

The Chiefs, who’ve the most effective quarterback within the NFL, bludgeoned the Payments on the bottom. And so they’re including Le’Veon Bell to the offense. There’s a purpose this crew didn’t transfer out of the No. 1 spot after one loss.

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