Don´t Bet on The AFC East Being Anything But Entertaining

How good is the AFC East? 

Last season’s divisional champions improved their offensive line, re-signed one of the best players in franchise history, drafted well and did not lose a single impact player from last year’s team.  And they probably aren’t this season’s favorites.

After both the Patriots and Dolphins finished with identical 11-5 records last season, Miami edged New England for the divisional crown on the strength of their head-to-head wins.  This year, with Tom Brady back on the field, the Patriots are the pre-season favorites to win the division and reclaim the AFC East crown.

Each team in the division looks improved heading into camp, but the Pats are the team to beat.  Despite winning a more-than-admirable 11 games last year, the team missed Tom Brady.  Matt Cassel surprised the league with his play, but a healthy Brady will be one of the top-three quarterbacks in the league.  The offense needed a big-play threat, and the first time Brady hooks up with Randy Moss for a 40-yard bomb all of New England will breathe a sigh of relief. 

Despite losing outside linebacker Mike Vrabel, the Patriots’ defensive unit has also improved.  Rookie of the year Jerod Mayo will have one more  off-season under his belt and the addition of Shawn Springs will bolster the defensive backfield.

After the Patriots, uncertainty plagues the division.  Miami surprised everyone but head coach Tony Sparano’s mother by winning the division last year and can hardly be bet on to defend their title.  But the Dolphins have shown that they have what it takes to make the playoffs, and they’ve only improved since the end of the season.

The Dolphins have established a rhythm-based passing attack perfect for quarterback Chad Pennington.  Pennington has never had the arm-strength needed for a big-play passing attack, but he is accurate and a veteran with over 85 starts under his belt.  The additions of center Jake Grove and guard Joe Berger via free agency only make the offensive line stronger, and many pundits believe that drafting West Virginia wide receiver Pat White makes the offense more dynamic.

The Jets could finish at the top of the division or at the bottom, and no one would be surprised.  New York’s top rookies have invigorated Jets fans throughout Jersey, but their success remains to be seen.

First year head coach Rex Ryan brings an exciting new defensive scheme to the Meadowlands and rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez has been hailed as the next Joe Namath in some circles.  Jets games will be exciting this year, but relying on a new head coach and a rookie quarterback hardly ever leads to success.  Couple that with a below-average offensive line and a lack of play-making wide receivers to bail Sanchez out and the Jets will struggle.

Perhaps the biggest unknown in this kooky AFC East lies in Orchard Park, N.Y.  The wings are hot in Buffalo, but so is the gossip surrounding the Bills.  The team made one of the biggest off-season splashes by signing extremely talented knuckle-head Terrell Owens, who has been known to catch a few footballs from time to time, in the hopes of catching up to New England.

Heading into week five of the 2008 season, Buffalo was the surprise of the league.  They were 4-0 after wins over Seattle, Oakland, Jacksonville and St. Louis.  But things just weren’t the same after quarterback Trent Edwards suffered a concussion, and the team limped to a 7-9 record at season’s end.  Marshawn Lynch is still a fearsome runner, and if Edwards can cut-down on turnovers the Bills will finish around .500.  But in the AFC East, that won’t be enough.

Always one of the toughest divisions in the league, the AFC East will provide plenty of entertainment this season.  The defending champions upgraded their roster, the cellar-dwellers signed one of the top receivers in the game, and both New England and New York will be playing with different quarterbacks than in 2008.  Get your popcorn ready.