Ripe for pickin’
AFC East teams eager to see fall of Pats
This Is The Year! We finally got ’em. The Patriots are going down, down and down some more!
The shouts and catcalls of glee are boiling over with plenty of extra glee, as the Patriots’ struggles have gained no sympathy, even in New England, and especially in Buffalo and New York and the AFC East. Their time has come! Yes, the Bills and Jets are riding high in the AFC East and riding higher with the joy of knowing all the Pats problems and a big oppor- tunity to finally end their reign . . . in the division, that is. The Bills are 3-1, the Jets are 2-2 and their usually comatose fans are rising from prolonged lethargy to shriek out shrill shouts of “This is the year the (expletive) Patriots fall!’
Can’t blame them. Any hint of success is worthy of a little overexuberance, which has gone undercover in the 21st century. Accomplishment has been hard to come by for the Jets and Bills, especially in Buf- falo where the playoffs are nothing but a dream since the 1999 season. Then, Rob Johnson was at quarter- back, Thurman Thomas was an old man and Ted Washington was four sea- sons away from earning a ring with the Patriots.
As for the Jets, the euphoria comes with any win, so let them rejoice. Even in Miami, there’s a voice of hope at 1-2, wimpering, “Well, we’re even in the loss column with the Pats.”
Of course, dreams of dumping on and zipping past the Patriots have al- ways turned nightmarish through the reign of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, things the Bills, Jets and Dolphins do not care to re- member.
Now, it’s onto the next game. It’s onto staying ahead of the Patriots.
And the Bills/Jets are thinking only of reigning supreme in the AFC East, getting rid of their Pats phobia, getting in on the postseason, getting the Pats out of the playoffs, getting B&B’s dominance hopefully doused forever (or, at least in 2017).
The joys of being a fan have been resurrected for the Bills and Jets. Who knows for how long, and it’s all well and good. May they exude confidence and hopes and dreams. But do remember . . . “Baby, even the losers, get lucky sometimes.” Discover America: LA Chargers at NY Giants (-3) — Two woebegone teams entering the midst of woebegone seasons. So much happiness. Giants, 31-26.
Buffalo at Cincinnati (-3) — O.J. wanted to hop on the Bills bandwagon but the wagon sped right on by. Bengals, 24-20.
NY Jets (pick) at Cleveland — So many Jets fans have jumped on their bandwagon that it sped past the Browns stadium and plunged right into Lake Erie, along with the hopes of their team. Browns, 16-13.
Jacksonville at Pittsburgh (-8) — The Jags have won, lost, won, lost. All by comfortable margins. It’s the odd week (to cover). Steelers, 26-23.
Tennessee (-21⁄2) at Miami — Quarterback Jay Cutler says his Dolphins aren’t playing as bad as the record shows. But you are, Jay. Titans, 18-13.
San Francisco at Indianapolis (-1) — Remember when these teams were good? No worry. No one does. Colts, 28-25.
Arizona at Philadelphia (-61⁄2)— What is going on? The Bills, Jaguars, Rams and these Eagles all are leading their divisions. The apocalypse nears. Eagles, 27-17.
Carolina at Detroit (-2) — OMG! And the Lions are in first place, too. LMAO. What gives! LOL. TGIF. MBTA. Lions, 23-14.
Seattle at LA Rams (-1) — The Rams are inching toward respectability by running up the score. Now they meet Petey’s boys. Look out! Seattle, 30-24.
Baltimore at Oakland (-3) — Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is breaking up, as in a broken leg last year, a broken back this year. Luckily, his team is not broken up about it. Raiders, 24-16.
Green Bay at Dallas (-21⁄2) — Many saw this as an NFC Championship Game preview. Until the Cowboys refused to cooperate. Packers, 30-27.
Kansas City (-1) at Houston — All of a sudden the Texans are a powerhouse? Come on. No way, baby. Chiefs, 27-20.
Minnesota at Chicago (off) — Mosquito attack. Get the can of Off. Vikings, 23-17. Last week: 8-8-0 Season: 29-33-1