NFL Preview and Predictions - AFC East

A series of reviews, predictions and ramblings on what to expect in the upcoming NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE season. As always, don't hold me to these.

AFC East

NY Jets
Head Coach Rex Ryan and the Jets have talked a big game all off-season and now they get to prove it. The Jets will have a target on their back all season even though last year they finished 8-8, but did go to the AFC Championship game. They return most of those pieces including quarterback Mark Sanchez who going into his third year will have a better idea of what it takes to win. Behind him will be running back Shonne Greene and LaDanian Tomlinson. Tomlinson joins the Jets after a Hall of Fame career with the Chargers. Tomlinson wasn't effective last season with the Chargers, but being the highly competitive person that he is, he won't want to remembered like that. The defense is going to be attacking as it was last year. If corner back Darrel Revis can settle his contract the defense will be better, but even without him they will be pretty good. Led by linebacker Bart Scott and ends Jason Taylor and Vernon Gholston the Jets will cause problems for offenses. Although they might not win the Super Bowl, no one will be surprised if they are in Dallas in February.


Miami Dolphins
Flying under the radar in the AFC is the Miami Dolphins. Underrated at almost every position they are an after thought in a very tough division. Quarterback Chad Henne has been given the reigns. He still has the two headed monster in the backfield at his disposal - Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. Both backs have had problems in the past - Brown with injuries and Williams with his off the field concerns. Neither is looked at as an elite back, but both are capable of 1000 yard seasons. To give Henne more targets the Dolphins acquired temperamental wide receiver Brandon Marshall from the Broncos. Henne has to be accurate but can easily be a productive QB in this system. The defense has gone through a little makeover as well. All-Pro end Jason Taylor has moved on again, but he won't be missed too much with Karlos Dansby joining and Yeremiah Bell at safety. The Dolphins will make the jump and look for them to be a wild card team this season.


New England Patriots
These aren't your dad's Patriots. These also aren't the same Patriots that won Super Bowls earlier in the decade. Although Tom Brady is still here, he has been working with less and less talent around him every season. This year, he has been working without two of his standout offensive lineman. Logan Mankins and Nick Kaczur have both missed significant time. Mankins in a contract dispute (which has just been resolved) and Kaczur with a back injury and is not expected back for a long time. That doesn't bode well for keeping Brady upright or giving space to the aging Fred Taylor at running back. The Patriots have gone on the cheap for wide receivers as well. The defense is led by Jared Mayo and patchwork defensive backfield after they let Asante Samuel walk in free agency. Coach Bill Belichek has been labeled a genius, but this team will give him a real test. Don't believe the Patriots hype.


Buffalo Bills
The rebuilding process in underway in Buffalo - and I'm not talking about rebuilding after the fires in Cheektowaga. Quarterback Trent Edwards starts the season as the number one QB, but will be looking over his shoulder all season to see if new coach Chan Gailey will pull him for Ryan Fitzpatrick or Brian Brohm or Levi Brown. Not a good situation. The running back position looked deep at the start of training camp, but injuries to Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch have left rookie CJ Spiller as the lone tailback. Spiller looked exciting in the two pre-season games so far. The wide receiver group is thin with talent. Lee Evans returns as the number one wide receiver, but after that, there isn't much to write home about. The defense will be the strong point of the team, especially the defensive backs. Jarius Byrd, Donte Whitner and Terrence McGee are just as good as any backfield in the league. The Bills are in deep trouble this season. They play in a good division and don't have the talent to challenge the contenders this season or maybe even next.