Bills vs. Jets in AFC East? Chris Berman's Prediction

AUG 13 CIRCLE THE WAGONS Legendary ESPN broadcaster Chris Berman is predicting that the Buffalo Bills will win the AFC East and that their "window is open'' for a Super Bowl.

“People asked last year, 'Is the window closing?'” Berman told The Batavia Daily News. “They said, 'Okay, is Josh Allen still the quarterback? Yes? Well, then the window is wide open.’”

The Bills face stiff competition from the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens (and the rival Jets?), Berman remains optimistic about the Bills' chances.

“They’re tough pillars to knock out of the way," he said . "But the Bills are good enough to do it. I’m optimistic. It’s not cautiously optimistic. They’re going to win the division.”

AUG 11 LAZARD TO EAGLES? To be clear, this is a "media proposal,'' not a team proposal.

But it's floating around out there: The Philadelphia Eagles should add to a wideout room presently topped by AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith by calling the New York Jets on vet Allen Lazard.

We're not sure why the Eagles are listed as a possible landing spot for Lazard by USA Today. ... but if there is any fire beneath the smoke?

We wonder - beyond the cap savings of moving Lazard - what the Jets get out of this "proposal.'' USA Today wants Philly to trade a "late-round pick'' for Lazard. ... But maybe they should ask his buddy Aaron Rodgers ...

Would you rather have Lazard now?

Or a "late-round pick'' for a time when you might no longer even be here?

AUG 10 – RODGERS RAMP UP – The New York Giants played their first preseason game on Thursday, beginning their summer circuit that will end on Aug. 24 against the New York Jets.

While the Jets begin their preseason on Saturday, they’ll do so without quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He’s healthy, nearly a year removed from his Achilles tear, but New York is taking every precaution. However, the Jets generally like to play their starters in the final preseason game.

Recently, head coach Robert Saleh spoke about that possibility.

“We haven’t had final decisions yet at all with regards to the third game,” Saleh said, via SNY. “You guys know me, the third game is usually when we like to play our guys and depending on how today went, how Saturday goes, and next week’s work with the Panthers and the following week with the Giants, I’ll make that decision.”

On whether or not that meant there’s a chance he lets Rodgers play, Saleh was brief, but seemingly open-minded.

“Yeah.”

Last year, Rodgers played well against the Giants, including a moment of trash talk with defensive lineman Jihad Ward. New York will have to wait and see if some exhibition game revenge is in store.

AUG 9 – ROURKE OFF THE BOARD – On Thursday, the New York Giants beat the Detroit Lions 14-3 to win their preseason opener.

In the process, they temporarily lost backup quarterback Drew Lock, who started the exhibition festivities. The quarterback went down with an oblique strain and hip pointer ( per Jordan Raanan ). Missing anything more than a few weeks would be unexpected.

Nevertheless, that left Tommy DeVito and Daniel Jones as the only quarterbacks on the roster, and opened the door for a short-term free agent signing.

Quarterback Nathan Rourke, who was with the Giants earlier in camp, figured to be an option – at least for those of us not up to date on the whereabouts of free agent quarterbacks. As it turns out, Rourke signed with the Atlanta Falcons on Aug. 4.

New York waived Rourke to let him find a better opportunity elsewhere, though the Falcons don’t present as such on paper. With the Giants needing a warm body for practice this week and the upcoming preseason contest, it wouldn’t be too surprising if he made his way back. For now, though, he remains off the board, forcing the Giants to look elsewhere.

AUG 6 – COLOR RUSH CANCELED – The New York Giants are wearing their “Century Red” uniforms for Week 1’s season-opening festivities against the Minnesota Vikings.

It will come at a cost.

Teams are only allowed a certain number of uniforms, and the Giants will be wearing four different jerseys this year.

The beloved white color rush uniforms didn’t make the cut .

It’s unclear whether it’s a one-year hiatus in favor of the 100th anniversary jerseys or a more permanent pivot. But for the 2024 season, New York will go without arguably its best uniform. It was most recently worn in Week 6’s loss against the Buffalo Bills last season.