AFC East Week 6 Preview
For teams in the AFC East, it’s been a disappointing beginning to 2012. Only the New England Patriots are above .500 and at 3-2, even they can’t be too pleased with their performance. However the good news is, the East is a division where everybody is still in the hunt. Miami, Buffalo and New York are all 2-3 and all just one game back of the Pats, so with plenty of season left, anything can happen and if somebody figures things out, the division is certainly up for grabs. Here is the slate of games for week six in the AFC East and what we can expect to happen today.
St. Louis Rams at Miami Dolphins
Who will win the ground battle today?
The Phins come into today’s matchup with the Rams with a better ranked rushing and passing attack through the first five games. The Dolphins also have a stout run defense that has allowed just 61 yards per game on the ground and has prevented any back from rushing for 100 yards in a game. That will be crucial for Miami as they go up against one of the more consistent runners in the league in Steven Jackson.
The challenge for Miami will be holding on to the football. Although Miami QB Ryan Tannehill has outyarded Sam Bradford on the season, he’s also thrown more picks with six already this year. However, he should be less likely to make mistakes at home. Since the Rams are 0-2 on the road this year, I like Miami to cover -5 points and get the win.
Buffalo Bills at Arizona Cardinals
This matchup pits the league’s worst offense (Arizona) against the league’s worst defense (Buffalo). Something’s gotta give here and since the Cards are at home this week, where they are 3-0, it will most likely be the Bills defense, which is surrendering almost 450 yards of total offense per game. Despite not having a run game this year, the Cardinals have managed to win four games. Since the Cardinals seem to be the more mentally tough team and the more resilient one, take Zona to cover at home by -4.
Indianapolis Colts at New York Jets
Can the rookie get the better of Sanchez today?
The Jets are facing a lot of problems offensively, mainly at the quarterback position, but really there’s nothing new to see there. However, it has to be a pretty bad situation when rookie Andrew Luck is outperforming you with a squad surrounding him that won two games all of last season. Luck has already won the Colts two games this year coming into today’s matchup with the anemic Jets.
On paper, the teams matchup fairly evenly, with Indy getting a slight edge in the passing game and on defense, but possibly more important in determining this game is the mental state of these teams. New York is unquestionably in turmoil, whereas the Colts are coming off an immeasurable high; a win over the Green Bay Packers. The Jets are three point favorites because of homefield, but when you are 1-2 at your home stadium, that doesn’t mean much. Take the Colts to cover +3 and most likely win outright today.
New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks
The Patriots will bring the league’s top scoring offense to Seattle this week; a place where high-powered offenses often come to die. The Hawks are 2-0 at the noisy nest that is CenturyLink Field, but as we know, Tom Brady and Co. is used to playing and winning in tough environments.
The Patriots have a balanced offensive attack that can score in a multitude of ways, so the game will likely come down to who can control the ball and keep it out of the others’ hands. Seattle has one of the league’s best running games and if they can move the chains and keep Brady’s hands off the ball, they will have a good chance to pull the upset today. However, New England is allowing just 82 yards per game on the ground. All things point to NE in this one, even on the road. Take the Patriots to cover -4 today.
