Welcome to Season 8, Episode 9 of the Unconventional Preview, a serious-yet-lighthearted, nostalgia-tinted look at the Patriots’ weekly matchup.
Now, I’m not one of those salty folks who will attempt to discredit the Patriots’ 8-0 start by pointing out that their schedule has mostly been teams in disarray, teams limited in talent, and the Jets (who, as usual, are all of the above) through the season’s first half.
You can play only who the league’s schedule mavens tell you to. And I’m a believer that the AFC East, which the Patriots have won for 10 straight seasons and are working on an 11th, isn’t so much a traditionally terrible division as one that is annually overwhelmed by the greatest dynasty in professional football history.