This is the week
Jets talk gets Bill fired up
So where do they go from here? “This is the year!” shouts one faction of Patriots nation. “This is the end!” shouts another.
THE BET BOX
Somewhere in between is never good for anyone, especially when the Super Bowl is the only objective. Spies in Foxboro relayed some information that Bill Belichick was exclaiming “This is the week!” You know, Bill. Never one to have eyes in the back of his head when all that matters is in front of him. That being the Jets. “Good team. Tough defense. Nice young quarterback. We used to have one of those,” Belichick was alleged to have said as a hush filled the locker room. “Nice coach, too, Todd Bowles, though I heard he’s getting fired.” A rare, candid Bill must have overdosed on the turkey. He actually had something to shake up the scene. He then supposedly went on and on about Tom Brady missing on too many passes; Gronk not wanting to play; Eric Rowe not capable of playing; too many McCourtys in the secondary; not enough running backs; not enough passes to Dwayne Allen; can’t get any pressure on the quarterbacks; Grigsby may be returning again; can’t tackle; can’t go undefeated the rest of the way; must go undefeated the rest of the way; the road trips stink; what’s a wild card game? Belichick went on and on to a stunned listening audience of his players, packing more worthy words into one rambling talk than in all of his 19 years as Patriots coach. And now it’s the always pesky Jets . . . on the road! And Bill had nothing left to say. Remember when: Patriots (-10) at NY Jets — No truth that Tom and Gisele will be taking in some Broadway musical on Saturday night. That New York audience will not be on his side. It’s all football time, Tommy Boy. Pats, 31-16. ’Tis the season: Jacksonville (-3) at Buffalo — Only 3-point favorites against Buffalo. More insult for the decaying Jaguars. Hometown Bills, go get ’em. Bills, 19-17. Oakland at Baltimore (-10½) — Ah, 10½ points? Ravens aren’t 10½ points better than Navy. Ravens, 23-21. San Francisco at Tampa Bay (-3) — Jameis Winston back at QB for the Bucs. Ryan Fitzpatrick enjoying game films of Harvard-Yale game. Buccaneers, 27-12. NY Giants at Philadelphia (-6) — The Eagles should play the Jaguars in some kind of Chumps Bowl. Got any pride left in Philly? Eagles, 26-23. Cleveland at Cincinnati (-3) — It looks like Marvin Lewis and the Bengals won’t be extending their winless playoff streak this year. Browns, 16-14. Seattle at Carolina (-3½ )— Always count on the Panthers to play dud ball when least expected, last week included. Seahawks, 13-10. Miami at Indianapolis (-7½) — The Colts are back! From nowhere to somewhere. A better place indeed. Colts, 31-20. Arizona at LA Chargers (-13) — Sometimes you just have to give the points. Chargers, 33-17. Pittsburgh (-3) at Denver — One miracle win a year is too many for the Steelers. No miracle needed here. Steelers, 28-20. Green Bay at Minnesota (-3½ )— Time for these two to tie another tie on this season. Tie, 24-24. Tennessee at Houston (-6 ½ ) — The Titans got embarrassed last week, returning to their mediocre selves. Texans, 27-10. Last week: 7-5-0. Season: 73-78-7.