Sometimes things happen in sports you just can’t explain … like how the New England Patriots are 2-0 to start the new NFL season. The Pats survived a missed field goal in week one to knock off the Cardinals in Arizona. And then yesterday they survived a missed field goal of their own late in the fourth quarter to hold on and top the Dolphins 31-24. Of course the big story of that game was the one surrounding back up turned starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo … a brilliant first half suddenly ended on a hard hit to his right shoulder. Third stringer rookie Jacoby Brissett took over … was not terrible by any means but still the momentum swung to the Dolphins and when Stephen Gostkowski missed a chip shot field goal that would have sealed the win late the Fish had a shot. But a pick in the end zone with nine seconds left finally secured the victory.
Two wins … neither of them at all pretty but two wins none the less … and people who were saying they would be lucky to go 2-2 during Tom Brady’s suspension have their two victories. Now with a short week before Thursday night’s home date with Houston you have to wonder is Brissett ready, and who will his backup be? Gonna be three very interesting days in Foxboro.
I think it is fair to say the biggest series of the American League East season begins tonight in the Baltimore. The Red Sox and the Orioles start a four game set, which with all due respect to the Blue Jays and the Yankees should go a long way toward deciding the division winner. It certainly is a must series for the O’s. The Sox are in the drivers seat … a three game lead on the Birds after their sweep of the Yankees this weekend at Fenway … the hottest hitter on the planet in Hanley Ramirez … and Boston has played very well this season at Camden Yards. It is there for the taking … let’s see if they can nail this thing down.
Week three in the local football picks and I did okay … 12-3 in Free Press Forecast … 13-3 on the overall high school weekend.
In the NFL I am a less than great 9-6 with the Eagles on my side tonight taking on the Bears in Chicago.