AFC East: League's Toughest Division?

Tom Brady is back and healthy, T.O. is in Buffalo, Mark Sanchez is the supposed savior in New York, and Pat White is in Miami looking to make the Wildcat offense even more unpredictable. The AFC East is setting up to be one of the strongest divisions in the NFL this year.

For Dolphins fans everything aforementioned that is not Pat White-related is scary, especially the Tom Brady part. Let's just run down the division and try to predict the future.

New England will be expected to compete from day one. Brady is back and any team with him at the helm is going to win games.

They won 11 games last year with a running back by committee approach and with a half-injured defense. Look for the Patriots to be in the hunt all year.

Buffalo. with the addition of wideout Terrell Owens, is expected to be able to put points on the board, which was the problem down the stretch last year. But T.O. has a history of ruining teams and disappearing when he is needed most.

Marshawn Lynch also continues to stay in trouble and will miss the first three games of the year due to suspension. Having higher expectations is always hard on younger teams, and Buffalo is no exception.

The Bills will start out hot and could be in contention, but the question is whether T.O. can keep from being the T.O. we all know and hate. 

New York traded up to get their franchise quarterback in Mark Sanchez. The question is did they get Ken O'Brien again or Dan Marino?

Not sure yet, even though Sanchez has looked sluggish in rookie camp and struggled to grasp the offense, no one will know what he brings to the table until training camp starts.

The Jets have bigger issues than Sanchez as well. The fact that their top two running backs, Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, are not happy and each want a new deal isn't good. 

I'm not positive how any of this will effect the Jets because Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco proved last season that rookie quarterbacks can win right away. I expect the Jets to hang around but fizzle out when experience starts to count in the win and loss columns. 

Miami looks like a team that can defend its East crown. They have brought in Pat White, Sean Smith, Vontae Davis, Patrick Turner, and Brian Hartline via the draft.

Jason Taylor rejoins the team to add depth to the linebackers and he is a big addition to their pass rush.

It will be a very tough race, but look for the Dolphins to compete with the Bills and Patriots for the crown.

Prediction: Dolphins defend their crown with a victory in Week 17.