Everybody is jumping on the New England bandwagon after they thrashed the Cowboys last Sunday afternoon in Dallas, 48-27. Tom Brady is having a monster year and is on pace to break Peyton Manning’s single season TD passing record of 49.

Brady has more weapons this year than he’s had in any of their three Super Bowl seasons. The additions of wide receivers Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, and Wes Walker to go along with veteran Troy Brown give the Patriots one of the best receiving corps in the league. Add in a solid running game with Laurence Maroney and Sammy Morris and the emergence of Ben Watson as a big-time playmaker at tight end, and the Patriots offense might be the best in the National Football league this year.

The Patriots are averaging 38.33 points a game this year and are on pace to score 613 points this season which would smash the NFL record held by Minnesota. The Vikings scored 556 points in 1998. The Patriots defense has been stellar this year giving up only 92 points. That equates to 15.33 points per game. The Patriots average margin of victory this year is an astonishing 23 points per game.

Everything is wonderful in Patriots land. Their undefeated and they play the winless Dolphins this weekend in Miami. It should be another easy win for the mighty Patriots – WRONG.

Did you ever hear of the trap game? The Patriots are coming off an emotional win last week against a Cowboys team that disrespected them and said that their three world championships are tainted. Bill Belichick better keep his team focused on the Dolphins and not have his team looking ahead to Washington and then the huge showdown with Indianapolis.

Why focus on the the lowly, hapless, and winless Dolphins? The Dolphins always play the Patriots tough in South Florida and somehow the ghosts of the 1972 undefeated Miami team always seem to show up when someone is threatening their perfect season.

 Miami has defeated the Patriots in five of their last seven visits to South Florida, including a 21-0 shutout last season. In its history, New England has traveled to Miami 14 times during the months of September and October and has won just once. 

The Patriots have begun the 2007 season with a 6-0 record, tying the 2004 team for the most consecutive victories to begin a season in franchise history. With a victory this week, the Patriots would be 7-0 for the first time in franchise history.

This weekend’s game in South Florida will be a lot closer than most experts are predicting. Not only am I taking the Phins to cover 17 points but I believe the ghosts of the ’72 Miami team show up at Dolphins Stadium Sunday and create havoc for Tom Brady and company.

After taking out the Patriots Sunday the ghosts can hop on a charter and head up the interstate to Jacksonsville and take care of the last unbeaten team, Indianapolis. The Jaguars host the Colts on Monday night football.  To bad after Monday nights game, the 72 Dolphins won’t be able to crack the champagne and celebrate another year of no team going undefeated. The Colts hearts beat strong like a champion and they dispose of their kid sister (Jaguars) in an easy manner on MNF.

5 Star Pick of the Week (0-2): Cincinnati (-5 1/2) vs New York Jets. 

4 Star Picks of the Week (4-2): Washington (-6 1/2) vs Arizona, Pittsburgh (-3 1/2) @ Denver, and Indianapolis (-2 1/2) @ Jacksonville.

Rest of the week (10-7-2):  Baltimore (-2 1/2) @ Buffalo, Dallas (-9 1/2) vs Minnesota, Houston (+1 1/2) vs Tennessee, Miami (+17) vs New England, New York Giants (-9 1/2) vs San Francisco, Atlanta (+8 1/2) @ New Orleans, Kansas City (+2 1/2) @ Oakland, Tampa Bay (+1 1/2) @ Detroit, Philadelphia (-4 1/2) vs Chicago, St. Louis (+8 1/2) @ Seattle.

These predictions are based on NFL lines posted at 11pm Central Time on Friday October 19th.