Madden NFL 16 Player Ratings: AFC East Division Revealed

Any whispers of the AFC East being more competitive this next season are lost on Madden 16 creators—at least with regard to who's boss in the division.

EA Sports' video game franchise released its overall team ratings for the AFC East on Monday, and the reigning Super Bowl champion New England Patriots are the best by a long shot. New England garnered a 91 overall rating—a full 10 points ahead of the Miami Dolphins.     

Rank	Team	Rating	Notable Stars (Overall Rating)
1	New England Patriots	91	TE Rob Gronkowski (99), QB Tom Brady (97); FS Devin McCourty (94), ROLB Dont’a Hightower (93)
2	Miami Dolphins	81	QB Ryan Tannehill (85), TE Jordan Cameron (84); DT Ndamukong Suh (96), DE Cameron Wake (94)
3	Buffalo Bills	79	RB LeSean McCoy (88), TE Charles Clay (86); DT Marcell Dareus (94), CB Stephon Gilmore (86)
4	New York Jets	76	WR Brandon Marshall (89), WR Eric Decker (86), CB Darrelle Revis (97), DE Muhammad Wilkerson (96)

The Patriots deserve to be rewarded to such a degree in virtual reality, considering they've won 12 of the past 14 division titles, including the last six under head coach Bill Belichick. Their 2015 outlook is a bit cloudier than usual, though, because of the four-game suspension quarterback Tom Brady is facing.

Brady is rightly rated 97 overall in Madden 16 as a truly elite signal-caller. The rating for his presumptive successor in Jimmy Garoppolo isn't readily available through EA Sports, but New England needs a high level of play from the second-year QB to keep its dreams of a Super Bowl repeat on course.

Given the real-life roster upgrades Miami made, it's a bit of a surprise to see the team at just 81 overall.

Ndamukong Suh joins Cameron Wake to form a ferocious front four on defense. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill's supporting cast improved with tight end Jordan Cameron coming aboard along with first-round receiver DeVante Parker, prized trade pickup Kenny Stills and even veteran wideout Greg Jennings.

Pressure is on for the Dolphins to make a big move in 2015. Coach Joe Philbin may be on the hot seat if he can't guide Miami to the playoffs. At least Tannehill gives his team the clear-cut best option other than Brady at the most important position.

A lot of intermixing has gone on in this division during the offseason. Cameron's arrival in Miami was followed by Charles Clay signing an offer sheet with the Buffalo Bills, whose already elite defense ought to be even more formidable under coach Rex Ryan.

But as was the case during Ryan's tenure with the New York Jets, his team remains unsettled under center. A training camp QB battle is underway between Matt Cassel, Tyrod Taylor and EJ Manuel, whose mean Madden rating of just over 73 is far below the standard of the teams above the Bills.

ESPN's Mike Rodak had quite a discouraging update to pass along from a recent Buffalo practice regarding Cassel and Manuel:

The Jets stuck with a defensive-minded coach in Todd Bowles to lead the team after Ryan's departure and have welcomed back superstar cornerback Darrelle Revis after he hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in New England. Rookie first-round pick Leonard Williams is also highly rated at 80 overall, slated to start on the defensive line.

Strong as the defense looks on paper, the onus is on Geno Smith (76 overall rating) to step up and be the franchise passer New York hopes he can be. Smith showed improvement toward the end of last season, and the Journal Inquirer's Connor Hughes weighed in on a promising start to camp:

"I just think I've been improving overall," said Smith, per ESPN.com's Rich Cimini. "Going into my third year, I'm definitely a different player than when I came in. I'm definitely a different guy."

The story by Cimini also mentioned an ESPN survey that polled NFL insiders and named Smith the worst player at his position for the second year in a row. Smith has laughed off the poll, and he can take solace in the fact that none of the Bills' competing quarterbacks have better Madden ratings. 

But Smith had better assert himself because journeyman and ex-Bills starter Ryan Fitzpatrick (78 overall) will take the reins if Smith can't.

The big gap that gives New England such an edge comes in the form of Brady. His absence to start the 2015 campaign could well open up chances for the Pats' rivals if their QB production exceeds mostly modest Madden ratings.