Faceoff: Charging out of the pack? Browns; AFC East?
CBSSports.com pro football writers Pete Prisco and Clark Judge face off weekly throughout the season.
| Pete Prisco | Clark Judge |
| Which team not leading its division winds up winning it? | |
 I'll go with the Colts. They are getting it back in gear. It took them five games, but they looked like the team I expected last week against the Ravens. They made plays down the field in the passing game and the pass rush was turned loose because they had the lead. Robert Mathis had three sacks because he was able to play in pass-rush mode. That's what the Colts want to do: Jump on you early and then turn the speed on defense loose. The early injuries on the offensive line really disrupted the rhythm of the offense. Now that they're getting guys back, Manning looks more comfortable. When he's comfortable, the Colts can beat anybody. They have a tough three-game stretch coming up. If they can get through that with two victories, I think they have a chance to win the division, especially if one of those victories is against the Titans at their place. |  San Diego. The Chargers are one of the most puzzling clubs I've witnessed in years, but the team I saw annihilate New England is the team I expect to start showing up on Sundays. There is too much talent on the Chargers' roster for the Bolts to languish at .500. Plus, they've been down this road before. They were here a year ago and took off -- not stopping until they reached the conference championship game -- and I can see that happening again. Another reason I'll take them is the rest of the division. It's weak. Denver is in first, but not for long with that defense. The Broncos allow too many yards and surrender too many points for Jay Cutler to play catch up every week. But there's a second problem: The Broncos must play San Diego again ... in San Diego. Uh-oh. |
| Are Derek Anderson and the Browns back? | |
| Not yet. They did look good against the Giants on Monday night, but let's hold off on saying they're back. I think that was more of a good team getting caught in a Monday night ambush. The Browns did play better, but one game does not erase the rest of their season, even if Braylon Edwards says it did. As for Anderson, he looked sharp. It was his best game since midway through last season. He was decisive in his reads and he put the ball in the right spots. But I have to see it more than once. He's been good in one of five games. That's a .200 batting average. That puts you on the bench if it stays that way. I will say he might have saved his job with that performance. One game can be an aberration. Two is a pattern. Let's see him and this team do it again. We'll know more about them after Sunday's game at Washington. Win there, and they're back. |  I'm not ready to say that. So they looked good the past one-and-a-half games. Big deal. They were horrible the first three-and-a-half. Nevertheless, I will say the club I watched Monday night was closer to what we envisioned, and maybe, just maybe, it's because they're getting players like Donte' Stallworth and Ryan Tucker back. Remember, they had a raft of injuries in preseason, including Braylon Edwards and Anderson, so these guys could be just coming around. Plus, a defense that, until now, has been flat absolutely dominated the Giants -- particularly with the pass rush -- and they rolled up over 450 yards without Kellen Winslow. All of that is good. But I still want to see them against Washington before clearing the Browns for takeoff. |
| How do you see the AFC East shaking out? | |
 I like the Bills. I just don't think the Patriots scare down the field anymore in the passing game, mainly because Matt Cassel can't get the ball down the field. That makes it much easier to defend them, especially since the running game isn't much right now. Teams can squat on the short routes. The Jets? I'm still not buying. In fact, I think they lose this week in Oakland. Yes, I wrote that. Aside from their victory over the Cardinals, have they really looked all that good? The Dolphins are a year away, even if they are playing good football. I'll go with the Bills. I think their defense is much improved and as long as Trent Edwards is healthy they will be good on offense. Losing Tom Brady is way too much for the Patriots to overcome and the Bills are the young, hungry team. Youth will prevail. |  It looks like a two-team race, with New England not one of the two. I thought the Pats could hang in there and be a factor, but not after watching them wilt in San Diego. Without Tom Brady, they're ordinary at best. That leaves it to Buffalo and the New York Jets, with Miami a year away. The Bills are solid almost everywhere, and last week's bye should help left tackle Jason Peters catch up and quarterback Trent Edwards get well. I liked this club from the start, and I like it more now that New England is beginning to fade. I don't completely trust the Jets but believe they'll push the Bills to the finish. Yeah, I know, they have talent in most of the right places, but the scale tips when it comes to special teams. Go ahead and laugh. Buffalo is second to none, just ask Seattle. The Bills win the division. |
