Week 3 Wrapup

Week 3 has come and gone, leaving us a slightly clearer picture in the AFC East. The New England Patriots were able to keep on rolling, the New York Jets were able to get their first win on the board, and the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins are still trying to find the stairway out of the cold, dark AFC East basement.

The Jets were able to get their first win of 2007 by defeating the Dolphins, 31-28. QB Chad Pennington silenced his critics with a gutsy performance that, while not exactly the best statistical performance (15 for 22, 124 yards, 2 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD, 0 INTs), was more than enough to show that he is back from the week 1 ankle injury. RB Thomas Jones had a big day for Gang Green, carrying the ball 25 times for 110 yards. Its performances like these that the Jets will need if they want to work their way into the playoff hunt in the AFC.

For Miami, the 4th quarter comeback from a 31-13 deficit fell just short. Ronnie Brown led the Dolphins with 23 carries for 112 yards and 2 TDs, plus 6 catches for another 99 yards and 1 TD. This game showed why he was taken so highly in the draft and hopefully its a sign of things to come. Chris Chambers added 6 catches for 101 yards for Miami, who dropped to 0-3 on the year.

The Patriots continue to be the big story in the NFL this season, and chapter 3 was a blowout 38-7 winover the struggling Buffalo Bills. The Pats had stellar performances from QB Tom Brady (4 touchdown passes), RB Laurence Maroney (19 carries, 103 yards), WR Randy Moss (5 catches for 115 yards and 2 TDs) and WR/PR Wes Welker (6 catches for 69 yards, 3 punt returns for 72 yards). The offense appears to be firing on all cylinders, and the biggest challenge they may face over the next few weeks could be keeping focused.

The Buffalo Bills season has been thoroughly disappointing thus far, unless you own the medical supply company the team is using. The Bills lost two more starters yesterday, QB J.P. Losman and LB Paul Posluszny (yes, I had to spell check that one). Backup QB Trent Edwards did look pretty good in relief, leading the Bills to their only scoring drive of the game. Rookie RB Marshawn Lynch was one of the lone bright spot for the Bills, as he had 74 yards on 20 carries, plus a touchdown. All-World punter Brian Moorman also had a solid day, including one rocket of a punt that went from the back line of his own end zone to the Patriots 24 yard line. All in all this game was a microcosm of the Bills season; too many injuries and not enough talent to fill the holes.

So after 3 weeks of play, we have the Patriots atop the division at 3-0 (2-0 in division), the Jets at 1-2 (1-1) and the Bills (0-3, 0-1) and Dolphins (0-3, 0-1) bringing up the rear.