AFC Beast:Look Into AFC's Deepest Division and What It Means For The Bills

The Buffalo Bills enter the 2009 season with the longest playoff drought in the NFL—like you didn't know that already. They were swept by the entire AFC East last season and haven't beaten the New England Patriots since opening day in 2003. They witnessed 2007's laughingstock and bitter rival, the Miami Dolphins, turn into division champs right before their eyes.

Will the Bills be playoff bound? Or will Bills fans say "maybe next year" for the 10th straight season? Their success in the cutthroat AFC East ultimately determines their fate in 2009.

Here's a meticulous dissection of the Bills' divisional opponents entering the 2009 season.

Miami Dolphins (11-5, lost first round of playoffs)

As the reigning AFC East Champs, the pressure is on to repeat after a historical turnaround. With Chad Pennington entering his second year as the starter, he's certainly comfortable in an offense that was just good enough last season. Pat White brings an interesting dynamic to the famed Wildcat formation, and Ronnie Brown will look to build on his Pro Bowl season from a year ago.

The one hole that still remains is at wide receiver. Ted Ginn began to come out of his shell last season but still hasn't fully emerged. Mid-rounders Brian Hartline and Patrick Turner need to contribute immediately or defenses will stack eight men in the box.

On defense, Jason Taylor was signed after his catastrophe in Washington. He, along with CFL All-Pro defensive end Cameron Wake and Joey Porter, make for a special pass rush trio. First round pick and cornerback Vontae Davis brings a run-stopping playmaker to the secondary, while Will and Jason Allen need to play off momentum from last season in order to stand tall against the pass.

Meaning to Bills: Chad Pennington has always played well against Buffalo, and last year was no different in their two meetings. The addition of young talent like White, Hartline, and Turner makes the Dolphins' offense more potent. The Bills shouldn't have trouble in coverage against Miami, as their secondary is the deepest part of the team.

Keeping Trent Edwards on his feet in the Dolphins' games will be the Bills' biggest challenge, as Miami boasts three legitimate pass rushers.

New England Patriots (11-5, missed playoffs)

The Patriots not playing in January? Very odd. Last season as a whole was unusual for the class of the AFC East. After Tom Brady went down in Week One, the team rode Matt Cassel's roller coaster until he settled and became an elite quarterback late in the year. Brady's back after a season where his offense set numerous NFL records.

Not tons of changeover in the offseason, but as usual, the Patriots front office did what they needed to do. The addition of Fred Taylor develops an actual running game, and Joey Galloway, although on his last legs, should help take some double teams away from Wes Welker and Randy Moss. Scary.

On defense, veteran leader Mike Vrabel was shipped to Kansas City, but Jerod Mayo has taken full responsibility of the defense and has shined. Vince Wilfork still looms large plugging the run, and athletes like Patrick Chung and Darius Butler revitalize a defense that many said was getting old.

Meaning to Bills: The Bills get the Patriots in Week One, on Monday night, in Foxboro. Ouch. New England won't have any film on the new wrinkles Terrell Owens brings to the Bills' playbook, but that's reaching for a positive in a game that will be extremely tough for the Bills.

The young Patriot corners could be exploited by the Bills' three veteran wideouts, Lee Evans, Owens, and Josh Reed. Wilfork and Ron Brace will immediately test the Bills' revamped offensive line. Oh yeah, I still haven't mentioned Brady, Welker, or Moss.

New York Jets (9-7, missed playoffs)

With the Brett Favre marriage over, the Jets have fallen in love with rookie Mark Sanchez. After New York moved up 12 spots in the draft to nab the USC quarterback, he's believed to be the starter opening weekend. Shonn Greene, Thomas Jones, and Leon Washington formulate a talented running back corps, and Alan Faneca anchors a solid offensive line.

With Laveranues Coles now a Bengal, the Jets' receiving group is lacking. Jerricho Cotchery enters the year as the team's No. 1, and guys like Chansi Stuckey, David Clowney, and Brad Smith will spread out wide.

With Rex Ryan now head coach, the Jets front office made sure his defensively gifted mind could be utilized with talent and competition. Ryan brought Jim Leonhard and Bart Scott with him, and Lito Sheppard leads an underappreciated secondary. Kris Jenkins will dominate inside, and if Vernon Gholston can live up to his draft hype from a season ago, the defense may be a better unit than most think.

Meaning to Bills: Jenkins wreaked havoc on the Bills in 2008. Geoff Hangartner will have a difficult time moving the former Panther around, but the key is to keep Jenkins out of the backfield at any cost. Using an array of blitz packages, the Bills could rattle rookie Mark Sanchez, but their defensive line needs to hold up against the Jets' running backs.

New York's somewhat experienced secondary matches up well enough against the Bills' receivers to put the pressure on Buffalo's running attack.

The AFC East should be one of the deepest, most closely contested divisions in the NFL again in 2009.

Can the Bills break their losing streak against the Pats? Will the Jets have a rough go in 2009? Can the Dolphins maintain the momentum from 2008? How will Tom Brady return? Once all these questions are answered, we'll know if the Buffalo Bills can finally reach the playoffs.

What do you think? Sound off.