With a well fought win against the Buffalo Bills this weekend, the New England Patriots have increased their AFC East lead to two games with both the Jets and Dolphins losing their games this weekend. Owning first place in the AFC East with two games left against the Jaguars next weekend and the Houston Texans in the last game of the season give us fans a much better heart rate headed into the post season. The Patriots can clinch the division next week if they beat the Jaguars or the Dolphins lose to the Texans.
The Patriots also tied their division record with the Dolphins, both at 4-2. If the Patriots lose both games and the Dolphins win both games, they will finish with the same overall and division records. Leaving the AFC East to a tiebreaker. Splitting head to head and having the same division record, the tiebreaker would next come down to a common opponent. Meaning that the Texans could play a huge factor in deciding our fate if we don’t beat Jacksonville next weekend. Speaking of Jacksonville next weekend, I’ll actually be at the game to see the outcome.
Closing Out Games
The New England Patriots have shown all season that they can come out of the gates fast. What we haven’t seen much of this year is what we did in Buffalo, closing out the game at the end. Laurence Maroney, as much as Ive given him a hard time this season, has come around and been a much stronger runner for the past six weeks. L-Mo has been powering through tacklers and giving more than enough effort to push the ball forward, all while scoring touchdowns. I don’t want Laurence Maroney to think he’s completely off the hook by doing well in the second half of the regular season, we still have two games and the playoffs for him to show us how bad he wants it.
With all that being said, let’s get ready for the final game of the regular season at Foxboro and see if the Patsies can have an undefeated, 8-0 record at home this season by stopping MJD and the Jacksonville Jaguars. As much as I would love Jones-Drew to keep me going in my fantasy football playoffs, I decided long ago that the Patriots are far more important than 4th and Long.
Thanks to patriotworld for the photo of Laurence Maroney.
