The Brutally Honest NFL Preview: AFC East

(Photo by NFL Photos)

The fourth installment of our 2009 NFL Preview. Teams are ranked by projected finish.

1. New York Jets

You’re on crack, you’re on dope, you’re on LSD, you’re high, you’re intoxicated, you’re a homer (I’m not from New York), you’re insane, you’re gay.

Fact is I’m none of these things, but chances are you’re thinking it about me right now because a) this is New England’s division, b) the Dolphins are expected to be as good or better than the Jets, and c) major publications like Sports Illustrated have picked New York to finish no better than third in the AFC East. Lucky for me, I have no credibility and hence nothing to lose in making this prognostication. Allow me to explain.

First, why not the Pats or Fins?

Both New England and Miami play two of the toughest schedules in the NFL. So do the Jets, in a sense, but not near to the degree of toughness as that of the Patriots or Dolphins.

In addition, New England is heavily banking on big performances from a number of question mark players.

Their starting cornerbacks are the ancient Shawn Springs and the underwhelming Leigh Bodden.

Their third wideout is a throwback to another era in the form of Joey Galloway. Hopefully they let him bring his Rascal scooter onto the playing field.

Their starting defensive end, Richard Seymour, is now a member of the Oakland Raiders…kind of.

And no one knows how healthy their quarterback—some guy named Brady—really is.

All of which eliminates the Patriots, in my opinion, from winning this division.

With Miami, the element of surprise is gone.

Teams will prepare for the Dolphins by studying the Wildcat and anticipating Miami’s tricks. This alone should cost them a couple winnable games in the division.

None of which tells you much about the J-E-T-S.

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