AFC East preview

Before the arrival of Rex Ryan the AFC east was a little quieter. Not many players or coaches stirred the pot as the Patriots would often walk away with the division title. Now Rex Ryan has been giving energy and assembling a team to contest the Patriots for the division title, last year only coming two divisional games short. With all eyes fixed on the Jets and Patriots, do not be surprised if one of them falls off their high horses and the Dolphins or Bills creep up.

The Miami Dolphins are a team that should at least be entertaining to watch this year. If Chad Henne can lower his TD to INT ratio then maybe they can win a few more games as well. The Dolphins finished last year with a 7-9 record, but went only 2-4 in the division. They have added Reggie Bush to their plethora of running backs; perhaps Bush will flourish more if the Dolphins continue to run the wild cat. Overall I do not see much potential in the Dolphins this year, Henne needs to find 6’4” Brandon Marshall more than three times in the end zone this year otherwise the Dolphins will be the bottom feeder in the AFC east, which is where I have them finishing with a 3-13 record.

The Buffalo Bills are my “dark horse” in the AFC east. I do not have the Bills going to the playoffs or winning the division. (I’m not that crazy) I do think the Bills can do some damage this year with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback and Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller in the backfield. What really sets apart the Bills from the Dolphins is the defense. The Bills have a strong line backing corps with Nick Barnett leading the way and if Shawne Merriman can be half of what he used to be, they could cause some real problems for opposing offenses. The Bills also drafted Marcell Dareus out of Alabama at the defensive tackle position who will also give offensive lines headaches. Fitzpatrick will continue to lead the team, Spiller is more familiar with the offense after his rookie season, and the Bills defense will keep them in most games. Look for the Bills to hover around .500; I have them at 8-8.

As mentioned earlier Rex Ryan is yet again ready to lead the Jets this season with his bold predictions and sailors mouth. Guaranteeing a Super Bowl win is almost not surprising since that is what we expect from Ryan. What we can also expect from the Jets this year is a good year that will lead them to the playoffs. The Jets have the players needed to make a super bowl run. Mark Sanchez is not great but he plays well and can manage a game well. Resigning Santonio Holmes and acquiring veterans Derrick Mason and 6’5” Plaxico Burress will only help make Sanchez’s job a lot easier. The Jets backfield is one of the tops in the league depth wise; they have LaDanian Tomlinson, Joe McKnight, and Shonn Greene. Between the well rounded offense the their attacking defense, the Jets will once again challenge the Patriots for the division title but will once again fall just short going 12-4 and advancing to the playoffs with the fifth seed.

First thing I thought of when I heard Ochocinco signed with the Patriots was Moss in 2007, I know the numbers will not be that big, but I do think that there is potential for Brady and Ochocinco to become one of the top QB-WR connections this coming season. Even if not Ochocinco can be a threat along the sidelines and deep middle of the field which is why Wes Welker is licking his chops right now, Welker also had an outstanding year in 2007 thanks to Moss opening up the flats and short middle of the field. By week four the Patriots no doubt will be making opposing defenses look helpless. As Dan Patrick pointed out on his radio show, if anyone else signed Albert Haynesworth than they would have been criticized. But not the Patriots, because somehow they seem to always make it work with “troubled” players. The system, coach and work ethic that the Patriots are known for account for most of it, and the fact that they are not afraid to cut or not pay anyone, except Tom Brady of course. Remember Ty Law? Played cornerback and helped the Patriots win a Super Bowl, he wanted more money and the Patriots said see ya! Law has not done anything as big since and the Patriots have continued to do just well defensively without him. That is why the Patriots will win the AFC east again this year, they have a great system and great players to put into it. And the competiveness to get playing time is off the charts, they currently have nineteen defensive linemen on their roster, 19! And if Haynesworth was not enough of an addition to fuel the competiveness, they also signed Shaun Ellis, and you know he will bring it against the Jets. Patriots will sneak by the Jets, win the division, and go 13-3.

Over the next few weeks I will be posting previews of the other seven NFL divisions. I hope that you will enjoy reading them and give me feedback from time to time. Let me know what you think about my previews, leave comments below or on my twitter, @thelawonsports.