The NFL in the Moment – Sunday – 9.30 am EDT – Week Four 2017

AFC September Report Cards

With September drawing to a close, we may not yet know who the good teams are going to be in December, but we are able to start determining which offseason hype was without substance. This, in turn, can give us an indication of which teams are maybe not so good.

AFC East

New England Patriots (2-1), First Place (Tie)

Another typical September in Boston. The late preseason injury to Edelman forced the Patriots to expand their pass-catching group by more than just Cooks. The more recently acquired Phillip Dorsett has already shown flashes of brilliance, along with Jacob Hollister who has also shown he can take a hit and hang on to the ball. Brady is, as always, in MVP form. Gronkowski is a force. The running game is down Rex Burkehead and has been used sparingly thus far. LaAdrian Waddle had his hands full covering for Marcus Canon vs. Houston, but will only get better with more experience.

New England’s Defence is undergoing an intensive overhaul. Unlike last season when they used plug-and-play Free Agents to fill in the holes, the Patriots are developing a corps of Defensive Linemen while miss their best Linebacker Hightower as well as starting Cornerback Eric Rowe. Belichick will most probably bring someone in to upgrade the area(s) that continue to be a problem by the Trading Deadline at the end of next month. Tom Brady needs to keep scoring in the 30’s while the Defence sorts itself out.

Buffalo Bills (2-1), First Place (Tie)        

What a pleasant surprise Sean McDermott and Beane have been. They proved last weekend that they are s serious team. We give them every chance to beat the incredibly overrated Atlanta Falcons to close out the first quarter of their season, but fear the Pro-Falcon bias we have seen from the officials this season will continue. The problem with Buffalo is the same that it has been for quite some time: The Bills need an NFL caliber Quarterback. Tyrod Taylor does put up better numbers than some very highly paid starters, but none of them should be starting.

Getting rid of overpaid veterans is nothing new, but Belichick might have started something last season when he sent his two highest rated Defenders in line for their first big contracts (Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins) on their bikes and then went on to have the top Scoring Defence and win the Super Bowl. The Bills did the same thing this year, moving on from many veterans while maintaining a strong Defence. The quality of the new players that come along each year and having the best possible position coaches and Coordinators allow for the turnover. The Division’s tougher schedule this season makes projecting a Wild Card difficult, but it is possible. October will be a key month for the Bills.

Miami Dolphins (1-1), Third Place

We have heard an awful lot about Adam Gase, but it was not good after getting shutout by the Jets. Neither Cutler nor Tannehill is an NFL caliber Quarterback. The Dolphins made the playoffs by not losing to bad teams when they had a soft schedule last season. Moreover, they have only played two games. Wait and see.

New York Jets (1-2), Last Place

All things considered, it is entirely possible that Todd Bowles is well along the road to being a fine Head Coach. Jets QB Josh McCown is an actual NFL caliber Quarterback and Robbie Anderson is becoming, as Brandon Marshall predicted, a true WR1. Kearse has been a valuable addition while Forte and Powell are steady. Forte has turf toe this week. The Jets have a tough schedule, but could go 8-8 if their play as a unit continues to improve. At this point, they look better than Miami at least.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens (2-1), First Place (Tie)

Baltimore once more spent their draft capital on Defence, leaving bags of room for improvement on Offence. Nothing new here – Move along!

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1), First Place (Tie)      

Nothing new here either. Everyone is a year older. Rookie TJ Watt is interesting. Expect the status quo.

Cleveland Browns (0-3), Last Place (Tie)

The Browns are putting on a show starring Kizer. The Defence is starting to play well. Garrett is practicing and they could have as many as two wins by the end of next month.

Cincinnati Bengals (0-3), Last Place (Tie)

The Bengals once had a great staff (Zimmer, Gruden, Jackson etc.), but those days are gone. Not generally interested in change for the sake of change, it is possible that after 15 years Marvin Lewis is out of ideas. Does it really matter if they pass Cleveland?

AFC South

Tennessee Titans (2-1), First Place (Tie)

We still have a ton of questions about the Titans after losing their home opener to a not very good Raiders team. They will have faced each Division rival by the end of next month when we hope to know more. Head Coach Mike Mularkey is a liability.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1), First Place (Tie)    

Head Coach Doug Marrone Mularkey is an asset. Quarterback Blake Bortles is a liability. Completely unreliable.

Indianapolis Colts (1-2), Last Place (Tie)

The Colts could have the two best Quarterbacks in the division under contract. It will be a lot to ask of Brissett, but if he goes into Seattle and pulls off the upset like Keenum did in 2015, Jacoby could turn over a team with a winning record and a share of first place when Luck ultimately returns.

Houston Texans (1-2), Last Place (Tie)

We thought Bill O’Brien was blowing smoke about Watson and that he would be a complete disaster, but he actually seems to be getting better. As Watson goes, so go the Texans.

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs (3-0), First Place

The new Running Back (Hunt) looks like the real deal, but the rest of Kansas City are the same old gimmicks and tricks common to Reid Regular-Season Refuse. Kansas City is not a serious team.

Denver Broncos (2-1), Second Place (Tie)       

You may remember us mentioning how Trevor Siemian was starting to choke at the end of the Chargers game. He was fine in the Dallas blowout, but threw a terrible interception in Buffalo, which allowed the Bills to go up two scores late in the fourth quarter. You can cut Trevor a little slack because he has under 20 starts. We will see Chad Kelly at some point, though not this season if Siemian gets through this.

Oakland Raiders (2-1), Second Place (Tie)

Everyone keeps arguing with us about Derek Carr, Marshawn Lynch and the Raiders, We have never been impressed by Carr and attribute the Raiders 12-4 record last season to good luck, both with the schedule and Head Coach Jack Del Rio’s gambles late in game. Del Rio is the one part of the whole Raiders thing that we like. October should give us a better idea of where the team truly is.

Los Angeles Chargers (0-3), Last Place

We thought the Chargers would compete in a vastly overrated Division, but they continue to be snake-bitten and injury prone with a penchant for losing close games at the end. They can get on a streak, but need to pretty much win all of their upcoming games this month to climb back in it.