AFC East Teams Reload For 2009

The AFC East will have a far different look to it this year with several new additions to each team. 

The "Sanchez Era" in New York puts an end to the one year reign of Brett Favre. Matt Cassel is gone after doing an admirable job of keeping Tom Brady's seat warm in New England. Terrell Owens is looking to prove that he is not a clubhouse cancer in Buffalo, and the Wildcat looks to get even wilder in Miami. 

With all this firepower in the AFC East, its champion will be lucky to get out with a halfway decent record. Even with teams like Miami, New York and Buffalo improving themselves via free agency and the Draft, they will still not be able to catch up to the Patriots and their major acquisition this offseason—a healthy Tom Brady.

With Brady back in the fold, the Patriots instantly become the favorites again in the AFC East. Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Ben Watson and Lawrence Maroney are all still there for Brady, but now add Joey Galloway and Fred Taylor and you've taken even more pressure off of the quarterback who is returning from major knee surgery.

Even with all these weapons on offense though, the AFC East is not going to be a cakewalk. The Patriots will have to scratch and claw their way to the playoffs.

While the Jets might be a year or two away from competing now that they have a rookie quarterback and a rookie coach, they will certainly not be a team to take lightly.

Moreover, Buffalo's offense might be a close second to New England with Terrell Owens, Lee Evans and Marshawn Lynch. However, the T.O. effect might limit Buffalo's potential.

Finally, Miami is a very dangerous team coming into 2009. They have improved their defense by adding Vontae Davis in the draft, signing safety Gibril Wilson and possibly re-signing "Prodigal Son" Jason Taylor.

Miami also improved their offense with the addition of Pat White via the draft. He could add yet another wrinkle in the Wildcat offense that gave New England and many other teams fits last year. The Dolphins pose the most significant roadblock to the Patriots re-gaining the AFC East title this year.

Despite the new challenges in the AFC East in 2009, I still see New England returning to glory.

There is no signing or draft pick that can account for a healthy Tom Brady—he just makes such a difference for his team when he is on the field. The other AFC East teams might steal a game or two from the Patriots in 2009, but that's it. 

I see the Patriots going about 12-4 or 13-3 and edging out Miami to be AFC East Champions.