There has been talk since week two that the New England Patriots are good enough to go 16-0. It heated up more this past week since the Pats knocked off the Cowboys last Sunday. So could it happen? Could the New England Patriots go undefeated and break the 1972 Miami Dolphins record for a perfect season. The answer to that is NO. The Pats could lose their first game in a few weeks when they play the Colts. Indy is flying under the radar this year and is enjoying the spotlight being on their arc-rivals. Instead of media focusing on them the Colts must be enjoying not being asked if they could go 16-0 or repeat as champs. The Colts are good enough to knock off New England in a few weeks. If they don’t then I still don’t believe that New England will go perfect for the year. The Patriots could have the AFC east wrapped up by week 11 or 12. Then they have back-to-back games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh. If they win them they will have the home field for the playoffs. Look for Bill Belichick to rest his starters for the last three weeks of the season. Belichick cares more about championships then he does records. Would you risk Tom Brady, and a few others starters, on a bunch of meaningless games at the end of the season. Face it, as great as it is going for New England this year this team is still just one injured quarterback away from becoming an average team. I think that the Miami Dolphins have a better chance of going 0-16 than the Patriots do of going 16-0.

With that being said here is my six-pack for this week. Remember, I like my beer straight up. The 16oz Icehouse make the best six packs. So my picks don’t include the points. New England will destroy Miami this afternoon. Don’t listen to all that talk that you heard this week about how the Dolphins always play the Pats tough at home. Miami has no defense. Their starting quarterback is Cleo Lemon, and his best weapon Chris Chambers was traded this past week. I smell a shutout. Look for the Patriots to send the Dolphins off to London with a bloody nose.

A tale of two quarterbacks; The Cardinals are down to their third string quarterback-Tim Rattay. He was just signed two weeks ago. Today, he goes up against a Redskins team that should still be angry for giving away another game. Washington is 3-2, but could easily be 5-0. They didn’t lose to the Giants and Packers. They lost to themselves. They won’t lose today. The Redskins at home are the pick. Atlanta is going to start Bryon Leftwich this afternoon. Another quarterback who was signed late, but did anyone really think Joey Harrington would last the season? Atlanta is coming off a short week and still licking it wounds from the Giants. They go in New Orleans who beat Seattle last week. The Saints need this game if they have any chance of getting back into the race. New Orleans at home is the pick.

I have three road warriors picks this week. I like Indy over Jacksonville on Monday night. On Sunday night I’ll take Pittsburgh over Denver in Mile Hiigh. My upset of the week is the Bucs over Lions in Detroit. Tampa Bay running game is still hurting, but I love Jeff Garcia’s mobility. I love the Buc’s defense too. This should make for an interesting game. Detroit’s head coach Rod Marinelli was the Bucs defensive line coach for ten years. Think he knows their personnel?

So much for upsets. Last week I went 1-5. I am 21-13 for the season. Speaking of upsets here are my final thoughts on the upset of the season that could have been. My beloved Buffalo Bills against the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago on Monday Night Football. (No I didn’t take the bridge.) It was a great game, but the Cowboys deserved to win. My Bills didn’t seal the deal in the end. They let the Cowboys hang around. When you do that you get bit in the end, and the Bills did. Still, I thought that the Bills were going to lose by 20. Instead they lost by only one, and I am happy for Wade Phillips. He is a great coach and an even better man. Everyone knew how much he wanted that game after being fired seven years ago. The team game him the game ball. Wade showed a lot of class at the post game press conference. He could have bad mouth the Bills. Instead he thanked them. Wade said that he would not be where he is today if it was not for Ralph Wilson giving him a chance all those years ago. He would not have his dream job as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Something he wanted back when he started coaching at a Texas high school. Still, the Bills should have never fired him. Phillips should be celebrating his tenth year as Bills coach instead of his first season as the Cowboys.

Also, Happy Birthday to Ralph Wilson jr. Last Wednesday he turned 89 years young. Just when you think you have seen it all that Monday night game came along. Sure a victory would have been a nice, but I guess it was just not meant to be. Still, thank you for bringing football to this area all those years ago. As one of the original owners of the AFL. Fall in Upstate New York would not be the same without football. Yes, even with the heartbreak. Because there has been more good times at One Bills Drive instead of bad. Like the last two times Dallas came here. I was at both those games. In which those underdog Bills teams pulled the upset. So it is my fault that they lost this time. I’ll take the blame as my gift to you. So thank you Mr. Wilson for everything you do on and off the field. Just ask Kevin Everett. All that money that you have donated to the Miami Project sure paid off for him. This past week we heard that he took a few steps with the help of a walker. The news just keeps getting better. As I wrote after week one losing a football game on a last second field goal is not the end of the world…enjoy the games everyone.

Begin humming the Mission Impossible theme now. Good morning Mr. Belichick. Voice on tape is Robert Kraft. This man Eric Mangini, Belichick takes out a picture from an envelope, is a traitor to our organization. As you know he has left our club and is now working for one of our chief rivals. He must be taken down at all costs. And we already know that this can’t be done in just one encounter. We understand that there will be many battles with this man, and his group, in the future. At least two per season, and one of them will be this week. Our success depends on having the upper hand. Your mission Bill if you choose to accept it is to not only win the first contest this Sunday, but also figure out a way to get the upper hand for future encounters. As always if any of your members of your staff are caught or killed we will deny any knowledge of you actions to this man, Belichick takes another picture out of an envelope, Commissioner Roger Goodell. This tape will sel####estruct in five seconds. Good luck Bill. Tape burns up. Hum the end of the theme the loudest now.

 I guess it is just me, but when I heard about the whole Bill Belichick spying story I thought of an episode of Mission Impossible. You know the one with Peter Graves. Not the terrible movies with Tom Cruise. Because doesn’t this whole getting caught video taping signals story sound like a spy mission. My reaction to this was Big Deal.

 This has been going on for years. The late great George Allen use to buy up the top floor of hotels so his staff could watch other teams practice. At old Veterans stadium there were holes in the walls so members of the Eagles’ staff could spy on the opposition. Raiders owner Al Davis went so far as to bug the visitors locker room to learn what adjustments they were going to make at half-time. (No doubt inspired by Richard Nixon and Watergate.) How many coachs do you see on the sidelines that cover their mouths while calling plays. So that their lips can't be read.  So is it any surprise that technology has caught up with the NFL spy ring.

 When Belichick apologized this past week it sounded more like I’m sorry that I got caught instead of I’m sorry for what I did. The truth is that Belichick’s game plan failed. He thought that he could use the old hide in plain sight philosophy. What is the old saying among thieves? If you are a fugitive then pretend to be a blind man and sell pencils in front of the police station. The cops will look everywhere but there. In front of their own house, or in their own backyard.

 Spies have been using cameras in the stands for years. And with all the camera on the sidelines these days who can blame Belichick for taking a chance. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying Belichick was right, but I don’t blame him either. The NFL has become a win at all costs, what have you done for me lately, league. There is too much money involved. Way too much! What is a sport to us is a business to them. A big $$$ business. There really is no such thing as rebuilding years. Instead it is called a plan, and if your plan does not work in a few years then your out. And yes, this does go for a coach who has even brought a team a couple of world championships. Just look at the hot seat Mike Shanahan has been on the last few years.

 JOE’S SIX PACK-My six best bets for the day. Sorry, no points given or taken. I like my beer straight up. I like the Chargers tonight on the road in Boston. They have revenge in their hearts. If they only win one game all season this is the one they want. I also like the two teams that had ten days off, but they are on the road, Indy and New Orleans. I will also take Dallas on the road and Denver at home. Since it looks like I am a road warrior this week my upset of the week is my beloved Buffalo Bills over the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Hey, I will never go against my Bills. Besides after the week the Bills had who knows. They might bring a victory back home for Kevin Everett. Stranger things have happened. Like me! After not writing a blog for over a year I wrote two in one week. Enjoy the games!