Rex Ryan. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Former Jets and Bills coach Rex Ryan lost his fair share of games to the Patriots over the years and, now an analyst for ESPN, he's hopping on the bandwagon with everyone else--panicked over the Pats after a rare 1-2 start to December.
"They're absolutely in trouble," Ryan said. "I've been saying it for weeks now. This is not the same Patriot team, and the reason why is simple: They're older, they're slower, and eventually, you know, Father Time catches up to you. You look at Gronkowski, he's running with a piano on his back, I mean, he's not healthy. And Tom? Some of those throws we showed right there, his feet aren't even set. So that's not the Tom Brady you're used to seeing."
Ryan said the Pats desperately need a first-round bye in the playoffs. They're currently the third seed, with two games left in the regular season.
Part of the problem, according to Ryan, is Bill Belichick's bunch doesn't scare anyone anymore.
"They still got the best coach--their quarterback, he may not be the best," Ryan said. "How about that Pat Mahomes kid, how about this and that? That's the first time we've ever said that. But as a whole group, this team doesn't scare anybody."
Pats will host the 5-9 Bills Sunday.
WBZ NewsRadio's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports