10/05 — As this Jets bye weekend officially comes to a close this evening, the Cincinnati Bengals did Eric Mangini a favor today. When the third-year head coach opens up his Monday morning meeting tomorrow, he doesn’t have to talk about how dangerous the Bengals are because his players will already know for themselves.

The Bengals, now 0-5, just went into Dallas and scared the living daylights out of the ‘Pokes. Sure, they dropped a 31-22 decision and remain winless, but they’re still playing hard for Marvin Lewis.

New York’s AFC representative moved closer to the division lead today. The Bills became the second AFC East team (Miami being the other) to go out to the desert and get absolutely destroyed by the Cardinals.

A week after getting ripped apart by the Jets, the Cards returned home and thrashed the previously unbeaten Bills. Quarterback Trent Edwards lasted just three plays and was lost to a concussion in the first quarter, but the Buffalo defense was manhandled throughout in a romp. The final was 41-17 and that count was accurate in describing the romp. Under Ken Whisenhunt, the Cards are now 8-2 at home. They're a different team in 'Zona.

But unfortunately for the Green & White, both the Patriots and the Dolphins scored wins following byes. The Tom Brady-less Pats went out west and topped the 49ers by a 30-21 score and the Dolphins, staying hot as a poker, limited the Chargers to 202 total yards in a 17-10 home triumph.

That opening-day win in South Florida is looking a bit better, huh? I have no idea what to make of this league or more specifically this division at the moment. Please feel free to share you thoughts here as you know this blog is all about your participation.

But let’s look take a closer look at the AFC East as we've reached the second quarter.

Buffalo: They need a bye in the worst way and they have it before a huge Oct. 19 contest vs. the Chargers. J.P. Losman is no Trent Edwards, so let’s monitor Edwards’ status closely. But make no mistake, the Bills would have lost with anybody at quarterback today because their defense, minus No. 1 corner Terrence McGee, was a rotating door. But the 4-1 Bills are off to a great start and we’re going to find out if they’re here to stay in their next four games: vs. San Diego, @ Miami, vs. New York Jets, @ New England.

New England: Before we write the Pats off, let’s remember they’re 3-1 and only a half game behind the Bills. But they’ve got a gauntlet (minus one) coming up: @ San Diego, vs. Denver, vs. St. Louis, @ Indianapolis. The Chargers are going to be desperate, the Broncos can score and the Colts still have their star quarterback, so all three will be difficult challenges.

Miami: Hats off to the Dolphins. I didn’t see this coming and if any of you did, let’s go to Vegas and start making some bucks. Bill Parcells, Chad Pennington, Ronnie Brown and the rest of the 2-2 'Fins have this for their second quarter: @Houston, vs. Baltimore, vs. Buffalo, @ Denver.

Jets: NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth just told a nationally televised audience that he doesn’t know if there is a great team out there. I don’t agree with him often, but he’s right. The Jets are 2-2 and you have to love their schedule coming up — vs. Cincinnati, @ Oakland, vs. Kansas City, @ Buffalo.