Monday, August 30, 2010

AFC East Preview

With the regular season 10 days away, the upcoming NFL season is looking like a promising one for many NFL teams. The AFC East is looking like a division with promise. Starting with the Buffalo Bills, they have nothing to look forward to. For the fans in upstate New York, it will be another disappointing season. The Bills moves this offseason consisted of hiring Chan Gailey as head coach, and drafting RB C.J. Spiller with the ninth overall pick. The Bills haven't upgraded the wide receiver position or the quarterback position, two weak points on their offense. The Bills are also looking at matchups against the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings, in addition to playing their division. This will be a lost season.

The Miami Dolphins may be the most overrated team in the NFL right now. They've upgraded their wide receiver position by acquiring WR Brandon Marshall and they have rising QB Chad Henne. They also signed LB Karlos Dansby, who has been an overrated linebacker. The Dolphins will be right where they were last season, around 8-8 or 9-7. Road games against the Packers and Vikings will certainly be losses, and they also play road games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens. They will go 7-9 this season.

The New York Jets are another overrated team, as they have gone into this season with a lot of hype. The Jets did advance to the AFC Championship Game last year, so there is hope. Acquiring RB LaDainian Tomlinson doesn't do anything at all because they already have RB Shonn Greene. Their defense is certainly going to be top notch with Rex Ryan running it. The only question mark on that team is whether QB Mark Sanchez will improve. He hasn't shown anything in the preseason, so that is cause for concern. The defense will lift them to victory sometimes, leading to an 11-5 record and the division title.

The New England Patriots are the defending AFC East champions, but had an embarrassing loss in the first round at home to the Ravens. They still have QB Tom Brady, WR Randy Moss, and WR Wes Welker, who may not be 100%. However, their defense will be cause for concern. They didn't do well last season, leading to some bad losses. They addressed that by drafting CB Devin McCourty, but that isn't the complete solution. As long as they have a healthy Brady however, the Patriots will contend. I expect them to also be 11-5, but losses to the Jets will leave the Jets as division winners.