3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.
Are Tom Brady and Bill Belichick's best days behind them?
Michael Amato: They certainly appear to be, but that doesn't mean their days of contending for a championship are over. The offense may lack talent, so the Patriots will have to lean on their defense, a unit that does have some impact players and should round into form once Brandon Browner gets on the field and Dominique Easley adapts to the pro game. Even with eight or nine wins, there is a good chance the New England could still win the AFC East this year and get themselves a home playoff game. From there, it wouldn't take much for Brady and Belichick's postseason experience to guide them to a couple of wins and back to a Super Bowl.
Arun Srinivasan: Brady and Belichick's best days are behind them, and that's certainly not an insult. Belichick won a Super Bowl in 1986 as a defensive coordinator with the Giants and became one of sports' all-time great coaches. Brady is one of the best players, ever. However, the Patriots haven't made smart moves at the draft in a long time, save for selecting Chandler Jones. An anemic offensive line has made Brady look decrepit at times, and the 37-year-old isn't firing with the same velocity in years past. After 15 years together Patriots fans should have a fond farewell for the dynamic duo.
Dan Wilkins: As consistent as Brady and Belichick have been for so many years, it does appear as though they're now heading in the wrong direction. The Patriots, oddly, have done little to bolster the offensive side of the ball in recent years, and Brady doesn't have much of a chance as a result. The unit's top receiving target is a tight end in Rob Gronkowski that's had trouble staying healthy, and the state of the offensive line is a significant concern. Brady still has the ability to play, but the Patriots giving him little to no help at this stage in his career is not doing them any favors, and it may be bringing an end to the team's run of success sooner than anticipated.
Did the Bills make the right move by turning to Kyle Orton and benching EJ Manuel?
Srinivasan: The Bills made the correct move. While it could be argued that it was too soon to pull Manuel, the second-year quarterback has been the lone weakness for the Bills thus far. Orton is a reliable veteran who can make the downfield passes that to take advantage of Sammy Watkins' game-breaking speed. If the Bills are in win-now mode - and after trading their 2015 first-rounder for Watkins, they have to be - the 31-year-old Orton is the best man for the job right now. That's all the Bills can ask for.
Wilkins: Absolutely. Many will see it as a desperate move on the part of the coaching staff, but with the Patriots as vulnerable as ever, the Bills have an opportunity to compete this year. With Manuel struggling to make the necessary throws within the offense, a change at quarterback was needed. While Orton won't put the team on his back and light up the stat sheet, he doesn't have to. The offense will continue to be built around the running game, but Orton's ability to make the simple throws will allow the unit to sustain drives and take better care of the football.
Amato: It was the right move for 2014, but not necessarily for the future. Doug Marrone's job is anything but secure with a new owner taking over, so he needs to work some magic this season in order to be retained. Manuel could very well end up being a solid pro, but Marrone simply doesn't have the time to wait for him to develop. With no first-round pick next season and the AFC East very winnable, the time to go for it is now. Orton gives them a better chance to win today with his experience and understanding of pro systems.
Are the 3-1 Dallas Cowboys for real?
Wilkins: Yes. While the defense is still a concern, the Cowboys' now-dominant running game has, and will, continue to mask that issue over the course of the year. No longer is this a team that will find themselves in offensive shootouts on a weekly basis, but rather one that can play the ball-control game that is more conducive to winning games. Tony Romo remains one of the best quarterbacks in the league and, while his stats will be taking a hit, this style of play will also allow him to avoid the kind of costly turnovers he has struggled with in the past. Anything can happen in the unpredictable NFC East, but maintaining this style of play could see the Cowboys back in the playoffs for the first time since 2009.
Amato: They certainly are. Dallas is masking a below average defense by running the ball effectively with DeMarco Murray and controlling the clock. We are already at the quarter mark of the season, and with several winnable games coming up in the next six weeks, the Cowboys could position themselves for a playoff push. For the first time in years, Jason Garrett's team is playing within themselves and as long as they keep that up, anything is possible.
Srinivasan: The Cowboys are atop the NFC East, tied with the Eagles and look like a real playoff contender. Murray has a 156-yard lead in the NFL rushing race. The problem lies with the defense - and to no fault of their own. Dallas' defence has been surprisingly good with Bruce Carter as a particular standout. Yet on a unit littered with replacement-level players, regression to the mean should be a real fear for Cowboys fans. Rod Marinelli has done an excellent job, but it's not been convincing enough just yet. Let's re-visit this question after Week 6.
