AFC East: take your pick

The New England Patriots (13-3) got the easiest matchup possible in the divisional round by drawing Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos (9-8). But as the Pittsburgh Steelers found out Sunday, nothing is guaranteed in the postseason.

SportsNation

Who will win Saturday's playoff game between the Broncos and Patriots?

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    65%
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    31%
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    3%

Discuss (Total votes: 15,409)

So who wins Saturday's playoff game between New England and Denver? Take your pick.

Will it be Tom Brady and the Patriots advancing to the AFC Championship Game? New England is a huge favorite. The Patriots romped the Broncos in Denver, 41-23, in Week 15. Should we expect more of the same at Gillette Stadium?

Or will Tebow's magical run continue? Denver looked good against a tough Pittsburgh team. The Broncos now have momentum and will try to take advantage of New England perhaps gaining rust after two weeks off.

Using our SportsNation poll, vote for who wins Saturday's divisional round game between the Patriots and Broncos. You can also share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Take your pick: Bills at Dolphins

November, 17, 2011
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We have another AFC East matchup in this week's version of "Take your pick." We ask our community who will win Sunday's divisional game between the Buffalo Bills (5-4) and Miami Dolphins (2-7).

SportsNation

Who will win Sunday's game between the Buffalo Bills (5-4) and Miami Dolphins (2-7)?

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    49%
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    51%

Discuss (Total votes: 5,486)

A couple weeks ago this game looked like an automatic victory for the Bills. Miami was winless and Buffalo was off to a solid start.

But things have changed dramatically for both teams. The Dolphins suddenly are the hottest team in the AFC East and winners of two straight. The Bills are one of the NFL's coldest teams, having lost two in a row by a combined score of 71-18.

Will Miami continue its winning ways, or will Buffalo end its losing streak and get back in the playoff hunt? This is not an easy pick.

Using our SportsNation poll, vote on who wins this AFC East battle. You can also share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Pats-Jets II: Take your pick

November, 8, 2011
11/08/11
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SportsNation

Who will win Sunday's rematch between the New England Patriots (5-3) and New York Jets (5-3)?

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    62%
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    38%

Discuss (Total votes: 5,433)

As Tom Brady would say, we are getting "lubed up" early for this week's prime-time showdown.

Let's get Patriots-Jets week started off right with some a prediction. Take your pick on the winner of this big, AFC East rematch with first place on the line.

It is no secret these two teams don't like each other. This grudge match will have major playoff implications after New England (5-3) won the first meeting, 30-21 at Gillette Stadium. Can Tom Brady & Co. right the ship after losing two in a row?

Or will the Jets (5-3) maintain their momentum and win their fourth straight game? New York is one of the hottest teams in the league and is playing at home, where the team is 4-0 this season.

Using our SportsNation poll, vote on who you honestly think will win this matchup. After that, you can provide a score in the comment section below.

Take your pick: Patriots or Steelers?

October, 25, 2011
10/25/11
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The best game in the NFL this coming weekend takes place in Pittsburgh. That is where the reigning AFC champion Steelers (5-2) will host Tom Brady and the New England Patriots (5-1).

SportsNation

Who will win Sunday's game between the Patriots and Steelers?

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    62%
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    38%

Discuss (Total votes: 5,428)

New England is favored coming off the bye week. But is that correct? Pittsburgh is heating up and won three games in a row. The defense is ranked third in the NFL and the offense has big-play capability with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and speedy receiver Mike Wallace.

But New England also has played very well this year and holds the best record in the AFC. Brady has given Pittsburgh headaches in his career. Will New England continue to beat Pittsburgh in big games?

Using our SportsNation poll, take your pick in Sunday's high-profile matchup between the Patriots and Steelers. You can also share your thoughts and predict a score in the comments section below.

Take your pick: 2007 or 2011 Dolphins?

October, 24, 2011
10/24/11
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Quarterback Cleo Lemon or Matt Moore?

Head coach Cam Cameron, who lasted one year, or the embattled Tony Sparano?

SportsNation

Which Miami team was worse?

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    56%
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    44%

Discuss (Total votes: 4,988)

Which Miami Dolphins team was worse: the 2007 version or 2011? Take your pick.

Both teams are forgettable. The 2007 Dolphins finished 1-15 and narrowly avoided a winless season with an overtime win in December against the Baltimore Ravens. That Miami team started 0-13 before winning its first game.

Is this 2011 team worse? This year's Dolphins are 0-6 and probably won't be favored in any game the rest of the season. Miami blew a 15-point lead in the final five minutes to Tim Tebow and the lowly Denver Broncos (2-4) Sunday. Can the Dolphins match or have a worse record than 2007?

Using our SportsNation poll, cast your vote on the 2007 or 2011 Dolphins. Also, send your explanations on which team was worse to our AFC East mailbag. We will run the most insightful comments from our community in the blog later this week.

Take your pick: Eagles at Bills?

October, 6, 2011
10/06/11
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SportsNation

Who will win Sundayıs game between the Philadelphia Eagles (1-3) and Buffalo Bills (3-1)?

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    75%
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    25%

Discuss (Total votes: 5,222)

Week 5 has an interesting matchup of out-of-conference teams when the Philadelphia Eagles (1-3) travel to face the Buffalo Bills (3-1). Both teams need a win for different reasons.

Will the Bills bounce back from a tough loss last week to the Cincinnati Bengals? Buffalo was riding high following its 3-0 start. The Bills were the toast of the NFL before being humbled by the Bengals. Will Buffalo get back on the winning track at home?

Or will the Eagles finally get their act together? Philadelphia’s “Dream Team” is filled with talent but hasn’t been able to put it all together. Is this the week the Eagles start their run to the playoffs?

Using our SportsNation poll, cast your vote on the winner of Sunday’s Bills-Eagles game. You can also share your thoughts (and a score) in the comment section below.

Take your pick: Jets or Ravens?

September, 27, 2011
9/27/11
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We have a big, cross-division meeting between two familiar foes in Week 4.

SportsNation

Who will win the Week 4 matchup between the Jets (2-1) and Ravens (2-1)?

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    27%
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    73%

Discuss (Total votes: 5,002)

Using our SportsNation poll, we ask who will win Sunday's prime-time matchup between the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens? Take your pick.

Both teams are 2-1 and have similar philosophies. The Ravens and Jets thrive off their physical defenses.

New York is coming off a road loss to the Oakland Raiders. Will Jets coach Rex Ryan be able to rebound against his former team? Ryan and other former Ravens such as linebacker Bart Scott, safety Jim Leonhard and receiver Derrick Mason will be fired up for their return to Baltimore.

Or will the Ravens beat the Jets for the second time in as many seasons? Baltimore looked impressive last weekend, crushing the St. Louis Rams, 37-7. Baltimore also beat the Jets, 10-9, in the 2010 regular-season opener.

Take your pick between these two AFC contenders. You can also share your thoughts and provide a score in the comment section below.

Take your fantasy pick: Moss or Johnson?

September, 2, 2010
9/02/10
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In the latest installment of ESPN.com's "Great Debate" series, fantasy expert Ken Daube busts out the whuppin stick on AFC South bard Paul Kuharsky.

They deliberated over who will be the best fantasy receiver for 2010, Randy Moss or Andre Johnson.

Moss
Moss
Johnson
Johnson
Daube presented Moss' case; Kuharsky took up Johnson's.

I have two fantasy drafts this weekend, and before reading this, I would have gone with Johnson. Not anymore.

Daube points out Johnson outscored Moss by only nine fantasy points last year even though Moss played much of the season with a shoulder injury and with a quarterback coming off reconstructive knee surgery. Meanwhile, the loss of Texans tight end Owen Daniels halfway through the season increased Johnson's output.

It hurts me to my soul to see one of my blogging brothers get torn apart in a debate by a fantasy writer, but I can't ignore the carnage. Kuharsky does rally late, but only because two fantasy experts come to his assistance.

Had this been a barroom brawl, the only reason Daube would end up with any marks on him is because Kuharsky's buddies jumped in to end the stomping.

Take your pick: Moss or Andre Johnson?

August, 5, 2010
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If given the chance to decide, who'd you rather have: Randy Moss or Andre Johnson?

ESPN.com fantasy analysts Ken Daube and Christopher Harris debate who's better for 2010.

Daube calls Johnson the safer selection, but Moss the smarter pick because their projected difference is negligible (in Johnson's favor), while Moss has the better likelihood of blowing up statistically.
Obviously, Moss will be 33 years old this season, and historically not many receivers maintain their elite status once acquiring that many birthday candles. However, if you are going to be fair, you should see how players of his stature have performed at that age. The only receiver in history that it's fair to compare Moss against -- based on pure dominance and talent -- is Jerry Rice, and I'll remind you that Mr. Rice had one of the greatest receiving seasons ever during the season that he turned 33 (15 touchdowns, 1,848 receiving yards). I'm not saying that Randy Moss is better than Jerry Rice, that's for another discussion. I am saying that whenever Moss has applied himself, he's outperformed even Rice.

Harris considers Moss second to Johnson in his fantasy rankings because Moss "doesn't exactly have a history of manning up and playing great when his contract is at issue" and has concerns Wes Welker will be ready from the start of the season.
For me, the gap between Andre Johnson and Moss is far greater than the distance between Moss and whoever you care to make No. 3. AJ led all wideouts in receiving yards each of the past two seasons, the second man to accomplish that task in back-to-back seasons in NFL history (Rice is the other). He led the NFL in catches of 20-plus yards last season. He had the most targets in the league and the second-most red-zone targets. And he's 29. Of course, you don't earn 2010 fantasy points for last year's stats. Can AJ do it again? I've yet to hear a convincing reason why he won't.

Take your pick: AFC East's most valuable?

May, 25, 2010
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Tom Brady, Brandon Marshall and Darrelle Revis US PresswireTom Brady, Brandon Marshall and Darrelle Revis should be candidates to be the division's top player.
The AFC East is rife with established star talent and emerging prospects at prominent positions.

Who will shine brightest in 2010?

In the comments section of the blog, fans already are arguing with conviction about how the upcoming season will shake out. They're debating the final standings, the playoff teams, the young quarterbacks, the coaches.

Since there are so many strong opinions out there, I thought it would be a good time to poll the audience to see who you predict will be the AFC East's most valuable player.

Below are my thoughts on the top candidates from each team, keeping in mind such awards are partial to offensive players. Add your thoughts in the comments section below, and feel free to add any names I didn't mention.

Buffalo Bills: Perhaps a reach to be included in this conversation, rookie running back C.J. Spiller might be the most dynamic player on the team already. He has home-run capabilities and will have opportunities in the run, pass and return games. Running back Fred Jackson and receiver Lee Evans have proven to be solid players, but they would need to elevate their games considerably to have an elite season worthy of division MVP.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins have a few candidates who could state a case if the season breaks right. Running backs Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown have been brilliant for stretches during their careers. New receiver Brandon Marshall is a game-changer, having caught at least 100 passes in three straight seasons. And if second-year starting quarterback Chad Henne can pull the offense together, then the team's success would be reflected in his stat line.

New England Patriots: Any offense that features Tom Brady and Randy Moss has a chance to light up the scoreboard. Brady should post big numbers again in 2010. The Patriots didn't make any changes to their backfield that would suggest significant changes. Wes Welker's absence in the slot could be mitigated by the emergence of sophomore Julian Edelman. The Patriots have upgraded at tight end by drafting a pair of highly rated rookies and signing free agent Alge Crumpler.

New York Jets: Here's a rare case where a defender has the best shot. Superduperstar cornerback Darrelle Revis is the best player on the team because of his impact on a defense that ranked No. 1 overall and against the pass last year. On offense, Shonn Greene can be a star if he emerges as the featured back. Does second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez deserve a mention here? If the Jets move away from their run-dominant offense and he starts slinging the ball to his collection of receivers, then his numbers could warrant consideration if he keeps his interceptions down.

Take your pick: Roethlisberger or Vick?

April, 21, 2010
4/21/10
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For those wondering if the Buffalo Bills would be interested in a villain such as Ben Roethlisberger, remember this:

They were interested in Michael Vick.

ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL.com's Jason La Canfora reported the Pittsburgh Steelers contacted the Bills to gauge their interest in a trade. Bills general manager Buddy Nix denied the Steelers had called.

The NFL on Wednesday issued a six-game suspension and a sternly worded rebuke to Roethlisberger for embarrassing actions uncovered in a sexual assault investigation. The information that came to light was disgraceful, but charges weren't filed.

Vick was convicted for his role in a dogfighting enterprise in 2007, served 18 months in a federal prison and was suspended indefinitely by the NFL.

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Vick in August -- but not before the Bills spoke to him, according to Vick's adviser and former NFL head coach Tony Dungy.

Multiple times last year, Dungy spoke about the Bills' interest in Vick. Dungy initially revealed Buffalo's interest in Vick on NBC's "Football Night in America" in November.

Roethlisberger's and Vick's mistakes are viewed differently both by the justice system and in the court of public opinion, but if the Bills were willing to take a look at Vick, how much of a stretch would it be to think they'll consider Roethlisberger?

Take your pick: '07 Pats or '09 Saints

November, 29, 2009
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Which offense is better, the 2007 New England Patriots or this year's New Orleans Saints?

NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas unloads all the information you'll need to make your case for either team, which pursued perfection behind a prolific and devastatingly effective quarterback.

"There are some numbers there that are unbelievable," New Orleans coach Sean Payton said of the '07 Patriots. "I’ve used this analogy before. If you come into a program a few years back like we did, you have to pay attention to the Microsofts of the world if you’re someday wanting to compete in that industry."

Yasinskas' column includes reams of stats and comments from players, coaches and analysts, but here is the chart that breaks down how each offense fared through 10 games. Defensive coordinators might want to keep a box of tissues handy.

Take your pick: Belichick or Polian?

November, 12, 2009
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Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US Presswire; Christopher Hanewinckel/US Presswire
Who would you rather have running your team: Bill Polian or Bill Belichick?


The running debate every time the New England Patriots play the Indianapolis Colts centers on the two great quarterbacks of this generation and which one you'd rather have to run your offense.

But what about the bigger picture?

Sunday's game in Lucas Oil Stadium also will be a rematch of organizational masterminds bound for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Colts president Bill Polian are among the all-time best franchise managers.

If given a choice between the two, which would you rather have running your club?

Here are some notes to help you decide:

Bill Belichick
Bill Polian
  • 22 seasons as general manager or president (Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Colts)
  • Regular-season record: 222-137 (.618)
  • Regular-season record minus start-up seasons: 207-89 (.699)
  • Playoff record: 16-14 (.533)
  • Four Super Bowls
  • One championship
  • 11 division titles
  • Key moves: Hired head coaches Marv Levy in Buffalo and Tony Dungy in Indianapolis. ... Drafted Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas in the second round. ... Traded for Cornelius Bennett. ... Drafted quarterback Peyton Manning first overall, wide receiver Reggie Wayne, defensive end Dwight Freeney and safety Bob Sanders.

Take your pick: Fins' or Jets' playoff chances?

November, 9, 2009
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The answer to the question I'm about to ask would seem obvious. I'm not so sure it is.

The New York Jets are 4-4. The Miami Dolphins are 3-5.

But which team do you think has the best chance to make the playoffs?

New York is a game ahead, but that lead isn't colossal when you consider the remaining schedules for each team.

Miami's future opponents have a combined .453 win percentage. The Dolphins will face only three teams that have winning records after Week 9.

The Jets' remaining opponents have a .563 win percentage, and their final three games might be the NFL's wickedest regular-season finish.

Plus, the Dolphins are in a better position when it comes to tiebreakers. They have a 3-1 divisional record, including a season sweep of the Jets, who are 1-3 in the AFC East.

Let's take a gander at the remaining eight games, with each team playing four at home.

New York Jets

Head coach Rex Ryan: "We know our schedule is brutal. ... That's a tough schedule. We're capable of beating any team in this league, and I believe that. I've said it before: If we don't play our game and we keep making mistakes, we can get beat by anyone as well. That's the challenge to us. I really think if we can improve little steps, I don't think we need to improve a great deal, but just make improvements in all areas and we'll be just fine."

Miami Dolphins

Head coach Tony Sparano: "I think we are a 3-5 football team. I think you are what your record says you are, but from my end, I know in my heart that we are pretty close to being a pretty good team. ... We are at a point right now this thing can go either way. It really can, but I am going to try my best to make sure it only goes one way."

Take your pick: Galloway or Lewis?

September, 28, 2009
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Genevieve Ross/Getty Images
Greg Lewis knew where to be to catch the winning touchdown throw from Brett Favre.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham


Maybe the New England Patriots cut the wrong receiver.

The perplexing failure of 15-year veteran Joey Galloway to meld with a quarterback's quarterback like Tom Brady has been a running topic in New England.

The Patriots opted to keep Galloway over Greg Lewis, who they traded a fifth-round draft pick to acquire (along with a seventh-round pick) from the Philadelphia Eagles.

So they burned an asset when dropped Lewis, which underscored their fondness for Galloway.

The move hasn’t worked out. While Brady and Galloway have struggled to find chemistry, Lewis made a telepathic play Sunday that will be shown on highlight reels for years to come.

Lewis, after only three weeks of playing for the Minnesota Vikings, somehow knew right where to go, and Brett Favre knew precisely where to throw the bullet for a dramatic, 32-yard touchdown to beat the San Francisco 49ers with two seconds to play.

Granted, it's Lewis' only catch of the year. But it was a big one.

Galloway, meanwhile, hasn't made an impact. He had all summer and the preseason to get acclimated. Brady had targeted Galloway 19 times, but they have connected only seven times for 67 yards.

There have been drops, miscommunication leading to errant throws, an illegal formation penalty.

That sixth sense that Lewis exhibited Sunday simply hasn't been there with Galloway.
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