AFC East 2012 Schedule: Breaking Down Season for Jets, Dolphins, Pats and Bills

The 2012 NFL schedule was released in its entirety Tuesday, and with its release, the teams in the AFC East now know the exact path ahead of them if they are to dethrone the New England Patriots as division champions.

That's not going to be an easy feat, given that Patriots were handed an early advantage of sorts in the form of the National Football League's easiest schedule, but that gift is far from the only storyline among the AFC East slate for 2012.

Buffalo Bills (Full Schedule)

2011 Record: 6-10

2012 Opponents' Winning Percentage: .473 (29th)

The Buffalo Bills got off to a hot start in 2011, beginning the season 4-1 before fading late and losing nine of their last 11 contests. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and company may have a shot at getting out of the gate quickly in 2012 if they can get past a tough road-opener against the New York Jets. The Bills follow that up with two winnable games against the Browns and Chiefs before beginning a six-game stretch against teams that played at least .500 ball last year, including two matchups with the Patriots.

However, the Bills have a much better chance at finishing the 2012 season strong if the schedule is any indicator. Four of Buffalo's final five games will be played in the friendly (and, by that time of year, frigid) confines of Ralph Wilson Stadium, and none of those games come against a team that finished better than 8-8 last year.

Miami Dolphins (Full Schedule)

2011 Record: 6-10

2012 Opponents' Winning Percentage: .496 (18th)

The Miami Dolphins lurched to an 0-7 start in 2011 before righting the ship and winning six of their final nine games. The team's "reward" from the National Football League for that up-and-down campaign was the hardest schedule in the AFC East, although, statistically speaking, that's not saying a lot. 

The Dolphins travel to Reliant Stadium to face the Houston Texans in what's sure to be a challenging season-opener on Sept. 9. However, after that, things ease up a bit; with only one other 2011 playoff participant on the schedule before Week 7, it's possible that the team could at least roll into the bye week with a .500 record.

In totality, Dolphins fans should actually be pretty pleased with the 2012 schedule, given that there appears to be no brutal stretch of scheduling. However, the club won't have the easiest go of it in December when they must face the rival Patriots twice and travel to meet the San Francisco 49ers.

In any event, the 2012 schedule certainly seems to leave room for improvement over last season's record, which, if nothing else, may cut down on the number of fans picketing Dolphins' headquarters...some.

New England Patriots (Full Schedule)

2011 Record: 13-3

2012 Opponents' Winning Percentage: .453 (32nd)

As I stated earlier, no team in the NFL has an easier go of it in 2012 (in terms of opponents' winning percentage) than the New England Patriots. Coming on the heels of a trip to Super Bowl XLVI, it makes you wonder what sort of incriminating photographs Bill Belichick keeps tucked in his hoodie.

The Patriots open their 2012 season with a pair of very winnable games against the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals before traveling to meet the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of last year's AFC Championship Game and one of three scheduled appearances for quarterback Tom Brady and the Patriots on Sunday Night Football this season.

New England's schedule also features a Week 5 matchup with the new-look Denver Broncos and a tough back-to-back stretch in December; the Patriots will meet the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers in consecutive nationally televised matchups.

However, unless something truly unforeseen happens, New England's soft schedule certainly seems to pave the way to yet another AFC East title for Bill and the boys.

New York Jets (Full Schedule)

2011 Record: 8-8

2012 Opponents' Winning Percentage: .492 (20th)

No team north of the Mason-Dixon Line has had a more tumultuous offseason than the New York Jets, thanks to the arrival of quarterback Tim Tebow. A fast start in 2012 would be just what Dr. Rex ordered to keep the media at bay and a quarterback controversy from engulfing the team. 

However, the scheduling gods apparently have a flair for the dramatic.

If the Jets are going to get that quick start, it's going to take some rock-solid play to do so. Of the Jets' first seven contests, four come against playoff teams from a season ago, including home games against the 49ers and Texans, plus trips to meet the Pittsburgh Steelers and rival Patriots.

Things open up quite a bit for New York after its Week 8 bye; only one of the Jets' final eight games comes against a playoff team from 2011 (a Thanksgiving tilt with the Pats). Of course, by then, the Jets will probably have changed starting quarterbacks 11 times, Tebow will be running the single-wing formation, Rex Ryan will say that was the plan all along and most Jets fans will have jumped into the East River.

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