By Derek Lofland. With the NFL draft in the archives and most of the free agency signings in the books, it's now time to preview the 2008 NFL divisions. While there are still a couple months until training camps, most of the rosters are complete.
There could be a few minor changes after some June 1 cuts. You could have a Ricky Williams-style retirement on the eve of camp. Brett Favre could decide to un-retire. Shaun Alexander and LaMont Jordan will likely find new teams to render their services to. However, with what we have in place as of today and unless there is a major injury, here is what I see taking place in 2008.
Some people will say it is way too early to start making predictions. My response to that would be that it is always too early to make predictions. How many people are going to hop off the Patriots bandwagon if they go 0-4 in preseason, barring a Tom Brady season ending injury? How many people are going to jump on the Dolphins bandwagon if they go 4-0?
If you think I am starting these too early leave a comment about what you think is going to change for your team between now and the start of the season, that I am not taking into account.
My plan is to focus on one division every week until the eight divisions in the NFL are completed. In my first installment I am starting with the AFC East which was by far the most lopsided division in 2007.
The Patriots won the division by nine games. While 16-0 helped create that lofty margin, the Bills didn’t do much to keep the division competitive, going 7-9 in second place. The Jets and Dolphins finished 4-12 and 1-15, respectively.
Here is how I see the 2008 season playing out in the AFC East.
1 New England Patriots
2007 Record: 16-0
Points Scored: 589 (1st)
Points Allowed: 274 (4th)
Playoff Result: Lost Super Bowl
2008 Strength of Schedule: 99-157 (.387) (32nd in NFL)
Strengths: When a team completes the first 16-0 season in NFL history, there aren't going to be a lot of weaknesses to look at. Bill Belichick has done a great job keeping the Patriots the most dominant team in the NFL since 2001. The strength of the team is their offense, and that offense broke NFL records that many thought were untouchable. Their 589 points scored in a single season demonstrates the ease with which this offense moved the ball.
The Patriots start with Tom Brady and Randy Moss. Tom Brady completed a historic NFL season, in which he won his first MVP award. The future Hall of Famer passed for 4,806 yards, 50 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and had a QB rating of 117.2.
21 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Steve Frith about 1 year ago
Very nice article! Well written and thought out-great points made for each team. I'm looking forward to the rest of the league!
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ZOOP about 1 year ago
Good article, but the Jets ahead of the Bills? C'mon, the injured Bills swept the Jets last year and who is going to play QB. I know you could say that about Buffalo but Edwards will start all 16 regular season games if he stays healthy and will be the starter for the future. Hes the Bills guy ( front office and current coaching staff). The Jets don't seem sure about Clemons who is thier guy, and Pennington is a wreck. As far as the most important position on the field is concerned the Bills have the edge over the Jets and Miami. You gotta like the Bills to go 5-1 in Division play!!! Thats right, the Bills went 4-2 last season against the AFC East and will improve on that number with a better team and the Pats not being allowed to cheat. Pats 12-4, Bills 12-4, Jets 7-9, Fins 6-10.
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Steve Frith about 1 year ago
The Pats, as you put it, weren't allowed to "cheat" last year and managed a 16-0 in the regular season. I don't see the Pats losing 4 games, given their easy schedule.
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Bart Upchurch about 1 year ago
The Bills will win the East. This is a bad article Go BILLS
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Football Maniaxs about 1 year ago
Steve, the Patriots might just lose 4 games for complacency reasons and overconfidence. I'm sure the other 3 teams in the division will show some improvements and can even make the fight for second place entertaining, but even at 12-4 they can easily win the division.
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craig smoker about 1 year ago
right go bills, cheatin ass patriots. we will c this year. hardy,evans,edwards,jackson, also the new d, watch out for my boys. u really gone need somethin this year patriots.
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Ismael Herrera about 1 year ago
Nice Job, it's a good look @ the AFC East.....However I see the Dolphins making the playoffs...Getting Ron Brown back & improving the O-Line as much as they did....W/ Ricky Williams & Samkon Gado all back @ full strength this alone should yield 4 more wins. Then w/ the pieces they added @ LB should provide lots of depth. The DL moves they made will make the most diffrence. These added pieces to the Defense are worth 4 more wins. The Coaching last year was horrible & Coach Cam all by him self lost 2 games last year for sure ( maybe more). New coaching staff will add 2 wins. The QB posistion will work it self out. Sometimes a Manager of the game will do just fine ( IE: Trent Dilfer, Doug Williams, to name a couple) & the Dolphins don't know if they have a QB that can go out & wins games or just manage them. It's way too early to pull the plug on John Beck, McCown will get his shot & Henne is where Beck was last year ( In learning mode) ......My prediction.... Add it up! Dolphins 11-5 Wild card team....U can Bet the House!! ( The Guest House)
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don bills1 leverett about 1 year ago
The road to the playoffs goes through buffalo go bills!!!!!!
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craig england about 1 year ago
The road to Buffalo is closed, the road now leads to Toronto! I can wait for the Toronto Bills to start playing. Buffalo is a sespool. Real credibility will be attached to the franchise once they exist in a world class city. Oh.....and bring Ricky Williams back to town.....he has the bomb chron.
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Bart Upchurch about 1 year ago
There is no DB in the NFL that can cover James Hardy. 2nd year QB Trent Edwards will make the Pro Bowl. CB Leodis Mckelvin is the Gary Payton of football....(The glove) P.S The Patriots can film "deez nuts" Let's Go BUFFALO. P.S.S I hate every team in the NFL except for the Bills
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don bills1 leverett about 1 year ago
Every team can suck it buffalo bills are best team in sports by far and I will b in tampa when they go to the super bowl this year.Go bills lets go buffalo lets go buffalo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Joe Rogers about 1 year ago
Bad. Buffalo swept the Jets last year and have improved greatly since then. The Jets have done NOTHING to improve their QB situation but they miraculously win more games then the Bills? Do you think Faneca, who they overpaid greatly for, will turn their offense? No, not with the addition of Stroud who will keep Faneca busy as Schobel beats them on the outside. With that said shame on you for making such a "prediction" with no actual information. Hell next time just put Miami over the Pats.
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Bart Upchurch about 1 year ago
Ummm...Joe I could not have said it better myself. I can't wait to see Stroud dominate the AFC East
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The Ace Report about 1 year ago
i feel like there will be a lot more parity in the afc east this year compared to years past. the dolphins are rebuilding, yes, but the franchise has been under a complete overhaul t the point that the mindset is a lot tougher. as for the patriots, i think last year was a fluke, to be honest. they will lose at least 4 games this year. they are a fantastic team, without a doubt, but i think an offseason to figure out their offensive tendencies will put a lot of teams in a solid position to challenge new england. addtionally, they've lost a number of key defensive options that will open up the scoring a little more.
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Andrew Browne about 1 year ago
This article was nice and well written with a lot of information. I have learned two things: Bills fans are very sensitve and passionate and people always bag on their town. I think that is unfair. You know that town was built for watching football if the Chicken wing was invented there. (Besides the only thing that makes Miami a world class city is the fact that more people live there from Cuba than America.) I have to agree with the Bills fans though in that they will be better than the Jets. I saw the year the Jets made the Playoffs in '06 as the fluke as opposed to last year being the fluke. The Jets came out of nowhere in 2006 to go 10-6 during Mangini's first year. I think there are more holes than just free agency can fix. Compared to the Bills, who I think quietly, had one of the best off seasons in the NFL, the Jets will not be as good. No one will beat out the Patriots and win the AFC East, but all the teams will be considerably better record wise (except the Patriots who will lose a game or two this year D is not getting any younger) but finish in the same order as last year. Except maybe the Dolphins might edge out the Jets for last place. I think the Jets are going to be that bad. Faneca was given his walking papers by the Steelers who made almost no effort to re-sign him and Jenkins has spent a lot of time hurt recently and has never been nose tackle in a 3-4 before. If Gholston puts his hand on the ground you can run right at him and if he stands up not make him cover a TE which he has not had to do before. Pace had a good year last year, but it was the first good one he had and the Cards waited four years for him to have it. A lot of activity in Free agency does not equate to wins and it usually means the opposite.
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Ray Ali about 1 year ago
Pats-14-2
BILLS!!-11-5
Jets-6-10
Miami-5-12
LET'S GO BUFFALO!
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Jimbob Zelski about 1 year ago
I'm a lifelong Bills fan but I see the author's point. I do see improvement in the Jets org and I definitely think they'll be better than 4-12 in 2008. The free agents they signed are old but they really are good! And they had what looks to be a fantastic draft on paper.
But the author missed the biggest factor in the Bills improvement: our injured guys are coming back this year. Poz was everywhere on the field during the first 3 games. We had 12 guys on IR by the season's end. With our full defensive arsenal back + our 3 big additions (McKelvin, Stroud & Mitchell), this defense will be scary. The problem with the Jets "improvements" is that they haven't been in the system. With the exception of Hardy and the afore mentioned 3 defenders, all our guys know the plays and have had time to gel. 1/3 of the starters on the Jets are new to the team this year? That's not a good free agency... that's desperation and chaos.
I also don't think the author truly realizes how hard our boys were playing nor how close we were. In 2006, we were a completely different 7-9 than 2007. In '06 we were getting regularly beat up. Last year, though, 6 of our losses were by 3 points or less. We were in teh playoff hunt (with scrubs off the street) all the way until the end of the season (week 13 I think it was). With all these guys coming back, the great signings, a maturing offense and a likely easy schedule, the Bills will at least be 8-8. But I'm predicting 9-7. I just think the Jets are going to be too disjointed to reach that record. 7-9 for them as the author predicted.
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Football Maniaxs about 1 year ago
Jimbob, we have been writing about how we're not found of overpaying for free Agents in past articles. That is just what the Jets did this off season.
I agree with all your points but I have a small problem with one of your statements.
You said:
"We had 12 guys on IR by the season's end."
Then you said: "
With the exception of Hardy and the afore mentioned 3 defenders, all our guys know the plays and have had time to gel."
I might have misunderstood your point, but how do players gel on the IR/bench? Knowing the plays is an advantage, but executing them to a good level is another, especially when those players haven't been on the field at the same time.
Please explain. Thanks for your comment. Looking forward to read your reply!
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Jimbob Zelski about 1 year ago
Sorry for the delay. Site wasn't allowing me to log in.
It's a good point, Maniaxs. All I'm saying is that ANY amount of time spent with teammates and coaches -- whether it's training camp, preseason or regular season -- is more than Fanaca, Jenkins, Pace, Franks, Richardson, Gholston have had with NYJ. Woody & Fanaca are vets but we all know that o-line takes time to gel. Franks will probably have the hardest time adjusting. He's going to have to learn that the ball isn't giong to be coming out of the QBs hand at 185 MPH. :) And their defense, as a whole, has been so overhauled, it's going to be a collective deer in headlights for a while. So, we've got new guys. They've got more. How's that?
As for gelling on the bench/IR, I think the only times I ever saw Poz or Edwards move their eyes from the field while they were on the sideline was to look at their playbook or talk to the players. You're right: that's not as good as playing time. But that's nit-picking.
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Football Maniaxs about 1 year ago
Completely understand your clarification and agree with you. Thanks again!
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Johnny Goods about 1 year ago
I'm a Bills fan, so maybe my opinion is a little biased, but you need to realize that during the 2007 season, Buffalo had the hardest schedule and now has the 6th easiest. They were plagued with injuries, with nearly one out of every six players being placed on IR, and four starters suffering season ending injuries before week four. Yet, they still managed to reach their previous season's record of 7-9. Also, the Bills will receive help from returning starting MLB Paul Posluszny, who amassed 26 tackles in the 3 games he played (two of those games at NE and PIT). Assuming starting RB Marshawn Lynch can stay healthy (missed 3 games en route to his 1115 rush yards), I feel the Bills can have one of the top-5 rushing attacks in the league. The Bills still have unresolved issues at quarterback. But overall, I must say this is a well written and thought out article. Good Job.
My Predictions:
Patriots: 12-4
Bills: 9-7
Jets: 5-11
Dolphins: 3-13
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