Sorry, but it has come to all this. The Patriots have had a spectacularly wonderful and fulfilling post-Tom existence. They've won 10 games. But 10 wins, which generally speaking is usually enough to ensure postseason participation, isn't enough to pass AFC muster in the year 2008. Shockingly, 11 might not even get the job done. Who'da thunk it? Thanks to the astonishing resurgence of the Dolphins - All hail to the Tuna! - the field is cluttered at the top with quality teams, and the Patriots are on the wrong side of all the relevant tiebreakers. Win, they must. And then the rooting and the praying begin.
We all expect the Patriots to take care of business in Buffalo today. If they don't, there is no point in us having this little chat, is there? I admit to being excessively yahooey in my analysis following the slaughter/annihilation of the disgraceful Cardinals, who, their fineable sloth notwithstanding, will be involved in Roger Goodell's tournament, regardless. They have One-And-Done inscribed on their cheesy foreheads, yes, but that will be faint satisfaction to you all should the New England Patriots become the first team since the institution of the 12-team, two wild-card playoffs to go 11-5 without being invited to the dance.
Back to the Bills. I somewhat regret using such anticipatory words as "destroy" and "trashing" in reference to today's game in Buffalo. True, the Bills have gone in the wrong general direction after a 4-0, 5-1 start. They had lost seven of eight as they took the field for an expected pounding in Denver last Sunday. But a funny thing happened to the Broncos on their way to the AFC West clinching. Despite an early 13-0 lead and despite racking up 532 yards of total offense (yup, no misprint, that), the Broncos could not close the deal. The Bills, with nothing tangible to play for (unless you count their jobs and that of the coach), kept plugging away and plugging away, and when it was all over the Bills had 30 points and the Broncos had 23, which is why only stupid people bet.
