Prediction for Pats = 9 - 7

Here's a bad sign for the Patriots talent level: They were taking on other teams fringe players this week instead of trading their own guys.

That's a clear sign that the team's talent level is down. Way down.

Two years ago, with Matt Cassel, the Pats went 11-5. Last year they won 10 and lost 6. Without looking at the schedule, we here at The 'Pent don't see how Belichick's boys can be as good as either of the last two years. The 2010 squad is looking at a rough season, one in which they may once again be on the outside looking at the playoffs, same as two years back. And no one, we mean no one, thinks the Patriots are a major threat to win the Lombardi Trophy in Dallas next spring. Oh how things have changed in the last three years.

Not that anyone here is calling for the return of Rod Rust. But Bill Belichick is no longer a young man at 58. And it needs to be said: coaching in the NFL is a young man's game. How much longer will he remain on the sidelines before moving up to the President's/General Manager's job?

Notre Dame to Play for National Title - You Heard It Hear First

Watching this afternoon's games, the big story appears to be the Irish resurgance.

They are toying with a decent Purdue squad. And looking at ND's schedule, it appears that they have a great chance to win out, at least until they go to the Coliseum to face USC on November 27th. Before that, they play basically at home every frigging weekend. In total they only play two ranked teams (preseason); Pitt and USC.

Wow. Coach Brian Kelly may engineer the biggest turnaround in school history. And yes, I read the book about Coach Ara Parseghian's remarkable effort in the early 60s after he came over from Northwestern. But that squad didn't play for a national title.

Just "Wow". Go Irish.