Bruschi proves he's a key piece - The Boston Globe

Waiting for last night's Pat's game was kind of like being a kid on Christmas morning. Sure, they didn't play a great game...hell, they didn't play a good game, but HE was back. Is Bruschi a cure all - no. But, for the first time since Harrison went down, the Patriots defense finally showed some intensity. Some nice hits by Eugene Wilson and Asante Samuel in there. Unfortunately there were also some defensive breakdowns - mostly communication problems.
I have a hunch that as the season progresses, the defense will have fewer and fewer communication issues. Arturo Freeman will remain in the backfield with Wilson and, I'm guessing here, that next week Richard Seymour will be activated for the Monday Nighter against the Colts at the Razor. The defense will come out in a 4-3 with Bru in the middle with Mike Vrabel and Willie McGinnest on the edge.
With the four down linemen, the Pats will be tougher to both run and pass against. Third and long will revert to a 3-4 with Vrabel going to the middle and Colvin rushing the passer from the blindside (although I have a hunch we'll see a 3-3 alignment with 5 defensive backs or even 2-3 or 3-2 if the down and distance are long enough - Poteat and Hobbs are going to begin meriting more time back there).

Do the Redskins know that points can't be transferred from week to week? They're not like your cellular minutes, guys. There is no carryover. That being said, I know a scoring plan you might be interested in. If anyone in the 'Skins organization is interested, dial 1-800-THE-SEASON-IS-16-GAMES LONG.
The 49ers suck. What's the 'Skins' excuse for not showing up?

Preaseason picks revisited -

I'm big enough to admit when I'm wrong

NFC East - Right now I'm guessing it'll finish like this -
Cowboys
Giants (WC)
Eagles
Skins
The Eagles and the skins I think will finish with about 7 or 8 wins a piece, Dallas and the Giants might both get to 10, but both have holes in their defenses that will need to be addressed before the playoffs -oh, and Eli's gonna need to squeak one or two road wins out to do it. Two teams have absolutely embarassed the Eagles, both doing it in the same way. A lot of upcoming opponents are going to be looking at the film of the Dallas and Denver debacles. An injured Donnie Mac with no running game is a potential ticket to staying at home in January. The 'Skins can't play like they did against the Giants with a defense like the Giants have and expect to go anywhere at the end of the season.
The Eagles or the Skins might make the playoffs by default (just not enough NFC teams playing well in the other divisions, but 2nd wild card is most likely to come from the NFC South). That is their big hope.

NFC North - I'm sorry I thought anyone in this division could win more than 10 -
Bears
Lions
Packers
Vikings
Bears win it with a 9-7 record. Packers edge over the Culpepperless-Vikings in the battle of the basement and...oh who am I kidding? This division is in danger of being last year's version of the NFC West, and the division winner likely to be the victim of an embarassing blowout in the playoffs.

NFC South - With Simms QBing, it becomes a foot race between the Panthers and the Falcons to the playoffs
Panthers
Falcons (WC)
Bucs
Ain'ts - as it ain't happening this year either.
I had high hopes for the Saints when they went into the Panthers house and pulled it out, but, like some of the establishments along Bourbon Street, the Saints were just a tease. With no running back pounding the middle and Simms under center it looks like the Bucs will be lucky to go .500 in their remaining games. My guess is, unless someone there on O gets healthy fast, you're looking at 8-8 and out.
I will admit to being wrong about the Falcons in regards to making the playoffs, but they will have a better shot at the Lombardi Trophy with Schaub starting at QB. Vick is an exciting, athletic player who happens to be one of the worst starting QB's in the league. He is, in the long run, a liability.

NFC West - This year's version of last year's NFC North
Seahawks
Rams
Cardinals
49ers
Seahawks will be best of bad division. Like last year, most of the teams in this division will not make past 8 wins - the only exception will be the 'Hawks, who are likely to get bounced in the second round of the playoffs. They are erratic - when on, very good, when off, very bad. The Rams will continue to struggle, the Cards won't cut and the Niners need to go play some college football to get their confidence back...maybe against Columbia.

AFC West - When did the Browns D line begin playing...evidently when they left Cleveland
Broncos
Chargers (WC)
Chiefs
Raiders
The autumn wind blew the Raiders down, the Chargers will claw their way ahead of a Chiefs team that is better than last year's, and the Broncos may well win 12 games with a defensive front that couldn't stop the Energizer Bunny last season. There is an outside chance that this division could produce both wild card entrants into the post-season dance.

AFC South - Indy finally gets homefield advantage
Colts
Jags
Titans
Texans
Titans will continue to experience growing pains, Texans seem to be going backwards and the Jags are probably going to get edged in the standings by Pittsburgh for the final playoff spot. The Colts, with a soft schedule, are likely to get into the postseason with the best record in football and a reasonably healthy squad...could this finally be the Colt's year?

AFC North - Steelers and Bengals represent, Ravens and Browns barely present
Bengals
Steelers (WC)
Browns
Ravens
Ravens made a lot of noise about how the prognosticators disrespected them in the preseason. I actually thought some of that attitude would carry over onto the field...evidently it was just a lot of hot air. The Ravens are going to wrong way, Crennel will eek a couple of extra wins out of this team and the Steelers will be in a dogfight with the Bengals for the division title. The Bengals will go a long way to seeming like a legitimate Super Bowl contender if they can manage to beat the Steelers in the next meeting. If not, look for one and done in the playoffs.

AFC East - Freak injuries reverse course for once-powerhouse division
Patriots
Bills
Phins
Jets
Pats will manage to take care of business within the division, but will the team have jelled enough come playoff time to make a serious run in the post-season? I'm beginning to have my doubts. It could happen, but halfway through the season is a little late to still be Jeckyll and Hyding it. Right now their identity is as an erratic team that's soft in the middle and with enough holes to give any team, no matter how bad, legitimate reason to believe they can beat the world champs.
The rest of the division is a crap shoot. I'm calling for the Bills because they have the best division record. The Phins and Saban are probably two seasons away unless he's able to make some major personell changes in the off-season, and the Jets are likely to be in a four way First-pick-a-thon with the Texans, the Niners, and the Vikings.

Coaches - Martz is as good as gone. Mike Tice won't make it to next year, and the following might have a few issues retaining employment; Dom Capers, Norv Turner, Jim Haslett (might be saved by the hurricane situation). Also Brian Billick might incur some owner wrath. I wouldn't be surprised to see any, if not all of them, searching for new jobs come the offseason.