Easy Q&A

1. What's wrong with the Miami Dolphins?
As usual, the Dolphins can't get anything out of the quarterback position. It seemed like Trent Green was at least going to be a competent caretaker of the offense until he got his eggs scrambled again. Now we're left to see if Cleo Lemon is more than just a funny name. At least until John Beck is ready to step in and prove that he was worth skipping Quinn for. On defense, their secondary is cover your eyes bad. Zach Thomas has concussion problems. On the bright side, Jason Taylor is still a force and Matt Roth is coming into his own at DE.

2. What's wrong with Larry Johnson?
Herm Edwards. He ran Larry into the ground last year and is employing a stone-age offensive game plan that allows defenses to crowd the line of scrimmage without any fear of being burned by a big play. That, and the Chiefs' offensive line isn't what it used to be. Carl Petersen let the Chiefs get really old along the line without drafting suitable replacements. They better hope Brodie Croyle is the real deal (so far, nothing indicates that this is the case) or they're going to be bad for a while.

3. What's wrong with the AFC West?
Coaching. Norv Turner and Herm Edwards replaced Marty and Dick. Shanahan remains the same but so far, Jay Cutler hasn't been the star QB he was hyped up to be. The Broncos might have been better off letting Cutler learn from the bench a little more while Jake Plummer continued to lead them into the playoffs. The Raiders, on the other hand, made the giant leap forward by exchanging Art Shell for Lane Kiffin.

4. How do you beat the Patriots?
There is a way, despite what we've seen so far. Jam the receivers at the line of scrimmage, hit them hard if/when they catch the ball. Make them pay for going over the middle and double up on Moss. Then you have to disguise your coverages to confuse Brady. You CAN'T just rush four against that line like Cleveland did all game. You have to take a page out of the New England playbook and bring pressure from all angles. I think what the Bills did defensively against the Cowboys for 3 1/2 quarters would work against the Pats. Throw unorthodox looks at them. And stop the run. I didn't say it was easy.

5. Why did the Bills lose that game to the Cowboys?
Coaching. Dick Jauron made quite a few blunders throughout the game. Throwing on 3rd and seven when going conservative and running the ball would have ensured an easy field goal in the fourth quarter. Calling a prevent defense late in the game and then somehow letting the Cowboys having the sideline was another egregious gaffe. Buffalo's been close in every game except the game against the Pats. But they're losing the close ones because Jauron is making one or two game altering coaching mistakes every game.