John’s Well-Educated Guesses: Week 14

It’s always been my dream to start a blog series that would go until the end of the season.  This is one blog in that series, and I will answer for my predictions next week.  

Disclaimer: My takes are almost always correct.  So buckle up- buckaroo.

Another AFC East tilt this week.  (Did I mention I hate all these divisional games at the end of the season??)  Everybody already has eyes on the Pittsburgh game.  Let’s be sure we don’t fall into that trap.  The Pats can clinch the AFC East with this win, although it already feels like a foregone conclusion.  

The Dolphins always give us fits in South Florida.  I can understand how we can’t play in Denver with the air.  Kansas City is tough with all the noise.  Miami is in that same conversation, I just don’t know why.  Brady just seems to get rattled, and when he starts ducking linemen that aren’t there, you know the result won’t be good.  Can we also talk about how we just played Miami two weeks ago??  I hate these schedule makers.

Anyway, the Dolphins blew out the Broncos last week.  Beyond that they have been pretty listless.  At the root of it, they are a team that doesn’t have the quarterback.  I don’t think they will be much of a threat until they do.  The main difference this week is that Jay Cutler is back.  Is anyone afraid of that guy?

I’m only afraid of the Dolphin defense in that they always seem to cause injuries.  I feel like I’m going to be looking back at this game from the playoffs.  Maybe it’s a good think Gronk isn’t playing.

Here we go, onto the predictions.  Well educated as that are:

Prediction:  Brady throws no picks – Not the most bold prediction normally, but Tommy is normally good for an interception in Miami.  I say he gets it back on track in this game.

Prediction:  Lots of laundry – I expect the penalties to uptick.  It was a problem earlier this season that has not bit the Patriots for a while.  After the AFC North bloodbath and Gronk’s sumo splash, I anticipate the league will want to take back control.  Lets say there will be over 15 accepted penalties.

Prediction:   Pats win the AFC East without playing – I think this is going to be anticlimactic.  The Bills will lose on Sunday clinching the division for the Pats.  Maybe we get a chance to rest some guys.

Prediction:  Pats win 35-17 – On to Pittsburgh and the #1 seed.