It's Friday, and after a week's hiatus thanks to Independence Day, we're back with another Friday set of Around the AFC East posts.  We're getting close to the start of training camp - it's almost football season! - so feel free to let the venom y'all feel for our AFC East foes flow freely (but civilly).

Today's festivities continue as we speak about the Jets' new inside linebacker star, Davis Harris, with Brian Bassett of The Jets Blog:

    One of the bigger changes that the Jets' defense underwent this off-season (and, really, during parts of last season as well) was the ousting of Jonathan Vilma at MLB.  Second-year man David Harris is his replacement, and has a lot of potential.  Will Harris be an improvement over Vilma in the middle?  Is he a better fit for the Jets' defensive schemes?

    The Jets Blog: Absolutely, Harris is a better fit.  Harris has a much better frame (6-2 242) than Vilma does for the 3-4 and is a tackling machine who excels in run stopping.  Where Vilma excels over Harris is defensing the pass, an area that Harris will need to work hard to improve on.  Overall for the needs of the position, Harris is already an upgrade over Vilma, but "the DH" spent too much time collecting tackles seven yards beyond the line of scrimmage due to the weak run stuffing ahead of him and ended up chasing plays.  With the addition of Kris Jenkins (for now) and Calvin Pace, the Jets have made upgrades (albeit moving from a 4-3 to a 3-4) in stopping the run and Harris should benefit from it, though it might not be noticeable initially in his tackle numbers.  The tackles he does get should certainly be closer to the line of scrimmage on average than last year's.

I really like Davis Harris - about as much as I can like any Jet - and think he's a stud in the making.  But I'm not sold at all on the addition of Kris Jenkins as the Jets' nose tackle (though he's certainly an upgrade over what they had last season); if he flops, which certainly isn't a tough bet to make, the Jets' run defense shouldn't get much better (though, again, it already is better).  My money's on Jenkins either getting injured or being a shadow of his former self (the same fears many have about our very own Marcus Stroud), and when that happens, I certainly hope NYC media don't turn Harris into the scapegoat.  He's a fantastic talent.

One more round of Around the AFC East coming at you later this afternoon (where we talk about the Pats), and we'll recap all of the day's action for you as well.  Stay tuned...

It's Friday, and with the penultimate day of the week, we bring to you another round of Around the AFC East.  We're pleased to be joined once again this morning Brian Bassett, head writer of The Jets Blog, to learn a little more about our green-and-white clad enemies prior to the start of the 2008 season.  Today's topic: second-year cornerback Darrelle Revis.

    In the 2007 draft, the Bills reportedly seriously considered three players with the #12 pick - RB Marshawn Lynch (whom they selected), LB Paul Posluszny (whom they would later draft at #34), and CB Darrelle Revis.  What are your thoughts on Revis' rookie year as a Jet?  With a year under his belt, can he make strides toward becoming one of the league's better corners?

    The Jets Blog: I got the pleasure to interview him briefly on Draft Day this year, which you can watch me gush over him.  Revis earned the nickname "Baby Lockdown" last year from teammate Kerry Rhodes and came on strong towards the end of the season.  Revis was hampered earlier in the season by the fact that he held out of camp for so long while contracts were worked out ... his and last year's holdout LG Pete Kendall's agent were the same.  From Week 1, Revis started and played progressively better as the season went along.  His worst game came against Braylon Edwards who abused him on a TD scoring drive twice, but when you look back at the NE game in Foxboro (blah blah blah bad weather) it's clear that he held his own against Randy Moss and others during the season.  In his first year in the pros, he had 17 Passes Defensed, just one off Asante Samuel's best of 18 in 2007.

All that to say, I think you can expect some good things from Revis this year.  I'd expect him to make more than five interceptions this season (just three last year) and to start to be a player that QBs look to throw away from.

I've got to admit, I was a Darrelle Revis fan heading into last year's draft.  Sure, I was making every attempt to assert myself as a leader on the Patrick Willis bandwagon (a move I don't regret - Fooch understands), but the Bills needed a corner last year, and Revis is ultra-talented.  He's fast, he's explosive with the ball in his hands, he's tough.  With Asante Samuel out of the division, Revis may be on the fast track to claiming the title of "best corner in the AFC East".  That is, unless Leodis McKelvin beats him to the throne first.

We'll be back with Dolphins and Patriots editions of Around the AFC East later on today.

I've had enough talk of Marshawn Lynch for the time being; here to help change the subject are the three fine AFC East bloggers we chat with each week in our fourth installment of "Around the AFC East".  These posts will be coming to you rapid-fire throughout the afternoon; we start now with Brian Bassett from The Jets Blog.

    Describe the disappointment (or lack thereof) that y'all endured as Jets fans in '07 following a playoff berth in '06.  Did you expect the team to fall short of the media's pre-season expectations, or were you just as surprised to see the team fall so far, so fast?

    The Jets Blog: In Week 4 when the Jets lost to the Bills, going 1-3 at that point, I pretty much knew that the season was basically over.  Although fans were disappointed, there was a strong sense that the team wasn't really as good as their 10-6 record from 2006, but that they weren't as bad as the 2007 4-12 record either.  Losing LG Pete Kendall to the front office squabble was the one thing that sent the everything out of equilibrium ... the offense couldn't protect the QB, or run to the left side, so the offense stays on the field less, the defense is on the field more, exposing their weaknesses to the run, and the team made some valiant runs, but could rarely put four good quarters together.

For all of that, there was a strong sense that if the team could address and upgrade some key starting positions in the off-season (LG, RT, DE/OLB, CB, ILB, WR) they would be in a much better place to contend in 2008.  To that end, the team brought in Alan Faneca arguably the best free agent and the most needed fit at LG, Damien Woody who might not be great but is better than what they had in Anthony Clement at RT, Calvin Pace as the versatile DE/OLB to help stop the run and create some pressure  along with pure  pass rusher Vernon Gholston and Dustin Keller as a pass-catcher (though tagged as a TE) who will play the H-Back / Flex role, used to create mismatches of nickel corners or linebackers.  Also, the team will gain the services of a seventh rounder from last year WR Chansi Stuckey who was sidelined with an injury in 2007, but will likely play in the slot for the Jets come September.  Although they didn't address everything, the team is vastly upgraded and ready to contend in 2008.

It's hard for me to bite on the fact that it was Pete Kendall who sent the Jets' season into a tailspin (no pun intended) last season, because I think the issues far exceeded the left guard position.  I thought the Jets made a mistake handing the reigns to Kellen Clemens.  Yes, the move made sense in terms of future prospects of their organization, and they didn't really have any choice in the matter, but I still think Pennington is and will always be a better pro quarterback than Clemens.  I always worried about playing Chad, because he was efficient, and for a time, he had Buffalo's number.  I don't have those same fears facing Clemens.

Back with the Pats and Dolphins soon.

We're back with Part Two of today's Around the AFC East feature, in which we interview - and are subsequently interviewed by - our most heated rivals' bloggers.  Joining us now is Brian Bassett of The Jets Blog, who is here to discuss the Jets' new big man anchoring their 3-4 defense:

    You've spoken about Alan Faneca and Tony Richardson as important off-season additions for the Jets (and I'm not disputing that), but I thought by far their most interesting import was NT Kris Jenkins.  Can Jenkins stay healthy enough to play your defense's most important position for the foreseeable future?  Do you see him having an impact?

    The Jets Blog: The contract that the team put in place with Jenkins has many incentive bonuses and one specifically where he is weighed over 10 times a year to make sure that he's no higher than 360 pounds.  Jenkins has responded well to the incentive and has been keeping his weight where the team wants him, and he's noted how much better he feels and how he feels it will extend his career.  Anything can happen, but at least the Jets have put the right motivators in place, and Jenkins has responded.

As far as his impact, he's the type of player that the team has needed, even before they switched to the 3-4, and over the past two years has proven even more so.  Job Gruden gave Eric Mangini a "big hug" when he saw him shortly after the trade, saying he was so relieved to have Jenkins out of his division.  Jenkins will free up Kenyon Coleman and Shaun Ellis, allowing them to contain the run better, along with the inside backers.  This team has struggled against the run, and as of this year, there will be no excuse.

I'm not convinced.  Jenkins is ultra-talented - in fact, he might be the most talented defensive tackle in the league - but he hasn't played like it in a few years.  Maybe a team swap will serve as sufficient motivation, maybe not.  Jenkins got a huge new contract for pretty average defensive tackle work, so that motivation may be removed.  I'm not comfortable with him in the division, but I doubt Turk Schonert is having sleepless nights, either.  Jenkins is a bit of a gamble by the Jets, but he is certainly an upgrade over Dewayne Robertson.

One more installment of Around the AFC East coming this afternoon, as we'll talk with MaPatsFan of Pats Pulpit.

Week Two of our newest feature, "Around the AFC East", is in the books.  I hope all of you are enjoying our weekly interviews with three outstanding "enemy" bloggers in Matty I (The Phinsider), MaPatsFan (Pats Pulpit) and Brian Bassett (The Jets Blog).  The purpose of these interviews is not just to learn a bit more about the Buffalo Bills' biggest rivals; we're hoping to keep the chemicals of football pumping through your veins in these boring off-season days, as well.

Today, we discussed quarterback controversies in New York and Miami and the Patriots' rushing attack - feel free to continue those discussions in their respective posts.  Here's what went on at the rest of the excellent blogs involved:

Over at The Phinsider:

  I discuss the most overrated and underrated Bills players, from a national media perspective.
  MaPatsFan breaks down the massive changes the Pats went through at the CB position.
  Bassett talks about the Jets' stable of (read: logjam at) running backs.

Over at Pats Pulpit:

   I talk favorite and least favorite Bills draft picks, with emphasis on Xavier Omon.
   Matty I talks about the departure of Cam Cameron and the new regime in Miami.
   Bassett continues the coaching discussion by talking about Year 3 of Eric Mangini's reign.

Over at The Jets Blog:

   I attempt to answer questions about Jason Peters' future as a Bill, now that he's looking for more money.
   Matty I believes that a switch back to the 3-4 defense will do LB Joey Porter some good.
   MaPatsFan discusses the possibility of second year S Brandon Meriweather playing some cornerback.

We're always open to suggestions, so if you have any to offer about this feature - and what could make it better or more useful to y'all - we'd love to hear them.  We'd also love to hear suggestions for questions you'd like to see asked of each blogger next week - so if you have any questions for Matty I, MaPatsFan or Bassett, let's hear 'em.

It's Friday, and that means we're back with another tour of the AFC East.  Each week, we'll be talking to bloggers covering the Buffalo Bills' fiercest rivals - their divisional opponents.  Today we'll break down the interviews into three posts - one for each team - and we'll now discuss the New York Jets with Brian Bassett from The Jets Blog:

   I'm not a fan of them (see: Losman vs. Edwards), but maybe it'll help to hear about a different quarterback controversy.  Clemens vs. Pennington: who starts, who sits, and how permanent is the opening day starter?

   The Jets Blog: As ridiculous as it might sound, the offense looks to be much less reliant on QB this year.  Word on the street is that the team will be moving more into power running and a vertical downfield offense and thus away from the West Coast that the team has run over the past two years - as evidenced by the addition of Bill Callahan as the line coach, the body shop at running back, Tony Richardson as a legit blocking back and upgrading the line with Alan Faneca and Damien Woody all during this past off-season.  If they do try to throw downfield more, Pennington is in some serious trouble.  I see Clemens as the opening day starter and that he'll get a long look during the 2008 campaign.  The organization invested a second rounder two years ago in Clemens and he seems to fit the offense that the team is moving to better.

I hate to break it to Jets fans, but a power run, vertical downfield offense doesn't disguise the errors of QB play.  We're only too aware of how Steve Fairchild's "power run, vertical downfield" offense couldn't prevent the downfall of J.P. Losman nor the struggles of Trent Edwards.  It's not about the offense in this league, folks - it's about your quarterback being able to execute that offense, whatever the attack may be.

The Jets and their fans are in for a harsh reality if they're expecting their new offense to mask the deficiencies of their two quarterbacks.  If I were a Jets fan (and I'm glad I'm not), I'd be pulling for Pennington to start - they have a team heavily laden with veterans, and Pennington has proven he can win.  If they gamble with Clemens, they'd better be prepared to lose.  A lot.

We've got one more installment of Around the AFC East coming later on this afternoon, as we discuss the Dolphins.

Teams may be willing to deal up for Mendenhall (AP Photo)

Even though I wrote a while back that the odds are against the Buffalo Bills making a trade on draft day to move back, I think it might still be wise to discuss some scenarios in which they may entertain the idea. You should still keep in mind that trades might be a little tougher to come by this year, as the time between first round picks has been reduced from 15 minutes to 10 minutes. While that doesn't sound like a big deal, you must also remember that this is the first year of the rules change and teams might have a hard time adjusting the way they operate. You would also be wise not to forget the 2006 draft, when the Bills could have easily traded down and still gotten Donte Whitner (they even had an offer on the table) and decided not to. If the guy they like (Malcolm Kelly?) is available at #11 they will most likely take him and not trade down.

With all of that said however, lets look at some situations in which the Bills might trade down:

Enticing O-Linemen: There are several players that teams might want to move up to get, and the main reason is because they won't make it past the four teams directly behind the Bills. Denver, Carolina, Chicago, and Detroit, respectively pick after the Bills and all four have needs along the offensive line. Most of the top O-line prospects should still be on the board at 11. Ryan Clady (Boise State), Chris Williams (Vanderbilt), Jeff Otah (Pittsburgh) , Gosder Cherilus (Boston College) and Branden Albert (Virginia) could all be available when the Bills pick. Teams like Seattle, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh could be looking to jump ahead of the pack to get their hands on the cream of the crop, also keep in mind that Detroit could be looking to get in front of those others so they can snag their guy.

Moving for Mendenhall?: The other player that could entice teams to move up is Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall is easily the second best running back in the draft; some even say the best. Carolina, Chicago and Detroit will all give him a long look and it is highly doubtful that Mendenhall is on the board after pick #15. Oregon's Jonathan Stewart has undergone surgery on his big toe that will sideline him right up to training camp. If everything goes well he should be ready for the start of the season. Some teams may back off of him however due to the injury and this could force some teams to make getting Mendenhall a priority. Philadelphia, Arizona, and maybe even Dallas or Tampa Bay could all look to move up and grab him. Again, Detroit could look to jump up also.

Defensive Options: The last scenario involves defense, namely pass rushers. If Denver doesn't pick O-line they most certainly will pick a player for their defense, and teams like the Vikings and Texans have had their eyes on defenders such as Phillip Merling (Clemson) and Derrick Harvey (Florida) for quite some time now. Teams like San Francisco or Jacksonville might want to move up in front of Denver to grab an elite pass rusher. Draft Tek did a simulation detailing this very scenario, and ran a mock to show how things could shake out.

Overall I think that if the Bills want to trade out of the #11 pick, they will have ample opportunities, and potential partners to do so. The question is, will the Bills risk missing out on the guy they want (presumably Malcolm Kelly) by trading down and obtaining more picks? Given the Bills' conservative nature and their history (Whitner), I just don't see it happening. If you have any trade thoughts, feel free to leave them in the comments section, but keep in mind the trusty draft trade chart.

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Buffalo Bills (6-6) vs Miami Dolphins (0-12)
December 9, 2007 @ Ralph Wilson Stadium
1:00 PM ET, CBS
BUF Injury Report :: MIA Injury Report :: The Phinsider

One week at a time. It's a mantra that the Bills overlooked a bit a month ago, when they escaped Miami by the skin of their teeth with a 13-10 win over the Dolphins. Truth be told, that is a game that the Bills should not have won - it took 11 fourth-quarter points to pull out that win. Miami had the Bills' number that day; that can't happen again tomorrow.

The situation has not changed much: the Bills enter this game at .500, just as they did a month ago (they were 4-4 at that time), and the Dolphins remain winless. But there has been change: these two teams feature rookie quarterbacks leading banged up teams. With a win, the Bills have a chance to sneak closer to a playoff birth; they also have a shot at finishing above .500 in the AFC East, with sweeps over both Miami and the New York Jets. Here's what Buffalo has to do to win a game that, by all accounts, they should easily control:

Offense: Grind, Wear and Tear
Part of the reason that the Bills struggled so mightily in Miami was, simply put, that Miami imposed their will on them. Miami's offense was able to run very effectively early, leading to a controlled passing game, plenty of first downs, and an almost comfortable lead early. That, folks, is exactly what you can expect to see the Bills try to do offensively tomorrow.

Miami's defense is aging and has struggled to stop the run (they're ranked last in the NFL surrendering 150 rushing yards per game), so expect to see heavy doses of Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. Lynch, if he does end up playing, will likely be eased back into action and used in conjunction with Jackson throughout the game; this could go a long way toward making this Buffalo's most productive rushing effort this season. That will take a lot of pressure off of Trent Edwards and especially Steve Fairchild, who can properly calculate when to take shots down the field with Edwards. It's the ideal offense of Dick Jauron, and there's a chance the Bills can execute it very well this week. It may not, however, allow the team to start quickly - something they need to do to avoid yet another early deficit.

Players to Watch: QB Trent Edwards, RB Fred Jackson, WR Josh Reed

Defense: Keep Making Plays
Jesse Chatman - who racked up 124 rushing yards and was very effective in the November meeting between these two teams - is questionable, but likely out for this game, meaning that journeyman Samkon Gado would be next in line to start. He and Lorenzo Booker would see some time in the backfield; with neither of those two likely to establish much of a running threat (the Bills are coming off of a game in which they limited Clinton Portis to 50 yards), the focus then becomes stopping quarterback John Beck and his favorite target, Ted Ginn.

The Bills were able to beat the Redskins last week by forcing some timely turnovers, putting the offense in position to methodically bring the team back from a 16-5 deficit. Playing in front of a home crowd against the league's worst team which features a rookie quarterback, that absolutely has to continue to happen. The Bills need to force the issue by blitzing Beck, jumping routes and making plays. That's how they'll rattle Beck and keep the Dolphins' score minimized; it's also how they'll put Edwards and the offense in position to finally help them out. Expect Perry Fewell to dial up exactly that game plan - this is Beck's fourth start, and while there are parts of his game that have been impressive, Miami has not scored an offensive touchdown while he's started.

Players to Watch: DT Larry Tripplett, LB Angelo Crowell, CB Terrence McGee

Special Teams: Keep It Neutral
Let's face the music, folks: Buffalo's special teams isn't quite what it has been in recent seasons. The unit has been hammered by injuries and inconsistency from its new players; they have, however, done a fairly solid job of limiting the success of its opponents. That's a tribute to the excellent coaching of Bobby April. April will have his hands full this week with Ginn, however - the rookie is the NFL's fourth-leading punt returner (Roscoe Parrish is first), and he remains one of Miami's few big-play threats. The rookie absolutely needs to be contained on returns - the Dolphins can't be afforded any freebies.

Don't expect to see a lot of Roscoe Parrish in this game. If you do, then Cam Cameron deserves to be bashed; it was Parrish, if you recall, that set up Buffalo's game-winning field goal in Miami with an excellent punt return. Speaking of excellent field goals, keep an eye on Rian Lindell as well. Buffalo has trouble scoring touchdowns (obviously), so Lindell has been the main point-scorer in recent weeks. He's like our Michael Jordan, to an extent. It's likely he'll be a big factor once again in the point-scoring department for the Bills.

Players to Watch: K Rian Lindell, PR Roscoe Parrish, WR Sam Aiken

The Phinsider: SB Nation's Miami Dolphins blog

It's that time of the week again - the time of week where we really start talking about Buffalo's upcoming opponent. Who better to discuss the Dolphins with than Matty I from The Phinsider? Matty has been kind enough to grace us with his presence many, many times before today, so we've all seen just how knowledgeable he is in regards to his Dolphins.

Feel free to not show Mr. Phinsider any mercy, however - Miami does, in fact, still lead the all-time series between these two teams by 16 games (49-33-1). So his team may be 0-12, but there's no sympathy from us. Respect, absolutely; sympathy, absolutely not.

Nonetheless, we're glad to have him talk about the recent failings of his Dolphins, and about their matchup with our Bills in just about 51 hours' time. Without further ado, here's Matty's responses to my questions (which appear in bold):

The switch has been made, for better or for worse. What's your quick take on John Beck's play thus far?

TP: First and foremost, the switch is certainly for the better when looking at the long-term success of this franchise. And despite his struggles last week, I've been pretty satisfied with John's play so far. He's played 2 games in absolutely terrible conditions in the most hostile of environments and didn't play too bad. He's shown that he has the arm strength to succeed at this level and his underneath accuracy has been impressive. But what has really impressed me about John this year is his poise in the pocket and quick release. He's the kind of quarterback who will hang in the pocket as long as he can and deliver an accurate ball even when he's under fire and knows he's going to take a shot. And it's those kinds of things that I look for when trying to evaluate a rookie quarterback. Now does he need to improve in certain areas? Of course. And seeing how he bounces back from last week's performance will tell me a lot about his mental toughness. But I'm not ready to say he is or isn't the QB of the future for this team right now, nor will I be able to say that once this season is over. Seven starts with a terrible team that lacks any true #1 receiver and lacks a running game is simply not enough to form any strong opinion one way or the other.

I know he's out, but I have to ask: yay or nay to Ricky Williams? Would he have made an impact this year? Is he a Dolphin next year, factoring in Cam Cameron's willingness to let him join the team so quickly?

TP: Well I do think he would have made some kind of impact if he was still around this year. Considering the Dolphins are down to possibly having to start a running back who wasn't even on the team at the start of the season, it's crazy not to think Ricky wouldn't have made some impact. After all, he is Ricky Williams and that name alone means defenses can't simply forget all about Miami's running game. But the only 6 carries of the year for Ricky were in terrible conditions where even Willie Parker looked like a bad running back. So I don't put much stock into his 15 yards rushing that game. On one run, in fact, Ricky showed that old explosiveness and power that we were used to seeing back in his "glory days."

Now next year is going to be an interesting case. For one, it's no guarantee Cam Cameron is still coaching this team. And if he isn't, then all bets are off on what the future holds for Ricky. If Cam is back, though, I'd bet that Williams will at least be with this team into training camp and the preseason. It's obviously going to be impossible now to try and trade him and it doesn't make any sense to just cut him when he'd make a very low risk, high reward type of backup to Ronnie Brown, who by the way is coming back from an ACL team (so he's an unknown as well in terms of what we can expect). So if I had to guess right now, I'd say Ricky is a Miami Dolphin in 2008.

Keith Traylor called this Dolphins team the worst he's ever played for. Is there a silver lining in this storm cloud of a season?

TP: Of course there is a silver lining. In this league, there's always something to look forward to. For the Dolphins, despite this dreadful season they are going through, they are allowing John Beck a chance to gain some valuable experience. Because of the season ending injuries to 4 different safeties, we are getting a chance to see if Jason Allen will ever be able to contribute. Because of Zach Thomas' injury, we are able to evaluate if Channing Crowder will be the guy who takes over that middle linebacker spot once Zach calls it quits. Ted Ginn Jr. has shown some great flashes and thanks to the trade of Chris Chambers, Teddy is really getting a chance to evolve as a receiver and is growing each week in that regard. And rookie Samson Satele has shown that he has what it takes to be a very good/great center in this league, starting since day one and really playing well.

Of course, the other benefit to sucking this bad is the #1 overall pick. That's the most exciting silver lining there is for a team like the Dolphins. And that's not because of who they can select with the pick. But rather, it's the potential trade the Dolphins could work out for a team who wants the #1 pick badly. That could mean an additional 1st round picks, 2nd round picks, or 2009 draft picks. And that's really how to rebuild a team that is this inept. Get as many good players as you can in the draft.

Most coaches get a pass in their first year on the job. If the Dolphins go 0-16, does Cam Cameron deserve that pass? Even if Miami does win a game, do you want him back next season?

TP: This has been a hot topic on my site and most other Dolphin-related sites. And you'll find that most Dolphin fans fall into one of two categories: the "one more year" group and the "fire Cam" group. I, personally, still do not know what Miami should do. There's still a quarter of the season remaining, so anything could happen. And to put the blame on Cam if this team does go 0-16 isn't really fair, either. You need to consider the injuries and the overall lack of talent on this team when trying to figure out how a team could go 0-16. But that also doesn't mean Cam doesn't deserve some of the blame. In my opinion, there's no way this team is that bad enough to go winless.

So do I want him back? Here's what I'll say right now. The only way I do not want him back is if the Dolphins know they can get a proven head coach. That means it would have to be somebody like Bill Cowher or Marty Schottenheimer. No retread coaches. No college coaches. No coordinators. If you can't get that proven, successful NFL head coach, then you keep Cameron and hope that the stability in having the same coach/philosophy/system brings more success in 2008 than it did in 2007. But just making a change for the sake of change is a bad idea. There has to be a top NFL coach ready to sign on the dotted line in order for the Dolphins to fire Cam.

What, in your very knowledgeable opinion, has been the biggest factor in Miami losing so many close games? Is it youth, not knowing how to win, bad luck, a combination of those, or something else?

TP: It's probably a combination of many things. Youth and inexperience, especially at the quarterback position, has played a key role in losing 6 games by 3 points. Bad luck has certainly played a big role as well. In the loss to the Texans, the Kris Brown made 3 field goals of 54 yards or over, including a 57-yarder with no time left to win the game for Houston. The defense not making critical stops has also proven very costly in those 3 point losses. And that's especially true for the first three losses by 3 points, where the Dolphins allowed the opposing offense to convert on 54% of their third downs. The inability to stop the run has also proven to be an absolute killer. And I can't forget coaching. Cam is a rookie head coach and he's made some rookie head coaching mistakes. He's misused timeouts, made bad decisions on when to kick a FG, when to punt, and when to go for it. Some of his offensive play calling has been suspect. And when you combine all of that mess, you come away with an 0-12 record with half of those games being by just 3 points.

Once again, we'd like to thank Matty I for stopping by to discuss his Dolphins. For continued excellent coverage of the Fish, be sure to stop by The Phinsider for coverage leading up to the game.

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Buffalo Bills (5-4) vs New England Patriots (9-0)
November 18, 2007 @ Ralph Wilson Stadium
8:15 PM ET, NBC
BUF Injury Report :: NE Injury Report :: Pats Pulpit

Opportunities like this don't come around very often. The Buffalo Bills, winners of four straight, will be placed next to the ultimate measuring stick tomorrow night when they take on the undefeated, division-dwelling, and historically dominating New England Patriots. Despite a bleak outlook for the young Bills, especially given the probable loss of RB Marshawn Lynch, this steadfastly remains an opportunity for Buffalo. They're getting the Patriots exactly where they want them - prime time in front what is sure to be a raucous Ralph Wilson Stadium crowd.

In this case, the Bills are playing the "wounded animal" role, in which they're not close to full strength but still scary as hell in terms of their scrappiness and home-field advantage. This team has what it takes to, at a very minimum, lay the lumber the Pats and keep this game entertaining. Here's how the wounded animal can do more and win the game:

Offense: It's On You, J.P.
Make no mistake about it: with Lynch out, the only way the Bills are going to be able to score enough to stay with the Patriots is to make plays through the air. Oh, the Bills will run, to be sure - but Anthony Thomas' involvement (as well as Dwayne Wright's and possibly Fred Jackson's) will purely be a function of eating clock and keeping New England's defense honest. But the potential outcome of this game rests largely on the right shoulder of starting quarterback J.P. Losman.

Losman's list of musts in this game is tri-fold: don't turn the ball over, avoid three-and-outs, and score touchdowns down close. Sounds simple, but it's not going to be. Buffalo's offense must avoid giving Tom Brady any freebies, and that includes three-and-outs, which are essentially equivalent to turnovers for the Patriots. Sustaining drives will be important, as well - and when the Bills get a drive that takes them deep into Pats territory, they have to put it in the paint. If that doesn't happen, the game will get out of control quickly.

Players to Watch: QB J.P. Losman, WR Josh Reed, TE Robert Royal

Defense: Hang On Tight
That isn't a plea to hang in there as the Pats score at will - I literally mean hang on tight, as in tackle. The Pats' skill position players are guys who thrive on making plays after they get the ball in their hands - and they do it well, which is why Brady is having such a successful year. Players of particular importance to tackle: WR Wes Welker and RB Laurence Maroney. We could talk about Randy Moss, but he's going to do what he's going to do. If Welker and Maroney both have big days, however, it means the Pats are controlling the flow of the game and thus the scoreboard. If Buffalo can wrap them up early, however, they have a chance to get off the field early on a few possessions.

We can spout off normal things like "pressure Brady", "double Moss", etc., but it's not going to help the team win this game. They just, plain and simple, have to make plays. "Plays" can range from touchdowns to tipped passes, but they need to be there. You can't just wrap up and hope for the best - in order to allow Buffalo to control the game, the defense needs to be a catalyst. Perry Fewell will have his unit ready, but will it be enough?

Players to Watch: DT John McCargo, LB Angelo Crowell, CB Jabari Greer

Special Teams: Swing the Momentum
When the Bills nearly upset the Dallas Cowboys on a fateful Monday Night in October, it was Buffalo's special teams that played a large part in keeping the Bills alive during that contest. Terrence McGee's kick return was the obvious big play, but Brian Moorman also had a solid night punting the ball, and Buffalo's coverage was superb. Yet it was a recovered onside kick by the Cowboys that ultimately led to the Bills' downfall. The Bills need to play as well on special teams as they did against Dallas - just for a full 60 minutes this time.

For what it's worth, I don't expect to see a lot of Terrence McGee and especially Roscoe Parrish in this one. Bill Belichick is far from an idiot - he's going to make Buffalo's offense beat him without the help of the league's elite return tandem. Look for the Pats to pooch their kickoffs to Buffalo's up men, and for any (few and far between) Patriots punts to sail safely out of bounds. If (and it's a likely if) that happens, the Bills will need to find alternate means to making plays on this unit.

Players to Watch: CB Ashton Youboty, S John Wendling, LB Coy Wire