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AFC East notebook: Patriots get first glimpse of life without Edelman
Prior to the season, many believed this would be the year for another team to unseat the New England Patriots atop the AFC East. Tom Brady was supposed to serve a four-game suspension and there were question marks in the secondary without Darrelle Revis or Brandon Browner.
Through 10 weeks, that idea has gone by the wayside. The Patriots have a four-game lead in the division and have shown no signs of letting up, but a recent rash of injuries could derail their perfect season.
After losing Dion Lewis to a torn ACL, Julian Edelman went down with a broken foot and is expected to be out for the remainder of the regular season. Edelman has been the Patriots' most consistent receiver and he won't be easy to replace. On Monday night against the Buffalo Bills, the Patriots will get their first look at life without him.
As of now, the Bills look like the Patriots' biggest competition in the AFC East, though they're not about to overtake them. However, Monday night's game has huge implications. The Bills are finally healthy and playing well, with guys like Tyrod Taylor, LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins firing on all cylinders.
As for the Patriots, Danny Amendola played well in Edelman's absence against the Giants on Sunday, but a matchup with Ronald Darby and Stephon Gilmore should prove to be a tougher test. If Brady and the offense struggles to move the ball, it could be a sign of things to come without Edelman on the field. On the flip side, if they don't miss a beat, they'll silence critics saying they won't be able to overcome injuries.
Dolphins begin gauntlet of elite QBs
The Miami Dolphins have somehow clawed their way back into the mix for a playoff spot with a win against the Philadelphia Eagles, moving their record to 4-5. They're one game behind the Bills in the wild-card standings, but their Week 11 matchup kicks off a daunting run of opposing quarterbacks.
Tony Romo is set to return this week to take on the Dolphins, his first game since Week 2. Needless to say, his presence on the field completely changes the look of the 2-7 Cowboys. But it doesn't end there.
In the Dolphins' final seven games, they'll face six top-flight quarterbacks, so to speak. Those quarterbacks would be Romo, Joe Flacco, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, Andrew Luck (if healthy), and Tom Brady. Their easiest matchup comes in the form of Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets, though that's no cake walk, either.
The odds are stacked against the Dolphins with regards to making the postseason, but if they're able to defeat the majority of these "elite" quarterbacks, they'll be viewed as a scary team. It'll take everything Miami has to survive this incredibly tough run.
Jets defense needs to end skid
The Jets got off to a great start in 2015, winning four of their first five games -- largely thanks to their dominant defense. They looked like serious contenders in the AFC, but after dropping three of four, they've fallen to 5-4 and have question marks on both sides of the ball.
Not only has Chris Ivory struggled to run the ball of late, but the defense has seemingly lost its way. Prior to Thursday night's loss to the Bills, the Jets defense had allowed three consecutive 300-yard passers for the first time since 1986.
With Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine and Marcus Gilchrist in the secondary, it's hard to explain how that horrid streak happened. It didn't get much better against the Bills as they allowed 22 points and lost their third game in four weeks.
In order for the Jets to rebound and save their season, the defense will need to step up against the inferior Texans offense. Sunday's game should get the Jets back on track, as their schedule to close out the season looks fairly favorable at this point.
