2008 AFC East Preview

AFC East Preview

What used to be the New England Patriots and the rest of the pack has quickly become a quietly competitive division.

Note: Teams listed in predicted order of finish

New England Patriots

The Patriots suffered some key losses in the off-season in CB Asante Samuel and WR Donte Stallworth that will hurt their great depth.  However, the Patriots will continue to find ways to win.

And with the help of a weak schedule where the Patriots play the AFc and NFC West teams, the Patriots could possibly go undefeated again in the regular season.

In the end though, expect the Patriots to clinch the #1 seed in the AFC forcing everyone once again to go through Foxboro if they expect to reach the Superbowl.

Predicted Record: 13-3

Playoffs: Yes

New York Jets

No team had a better off-season than the Jets where they traded and or signed a group of impact players.

Highlighting that group of players is QB Brett Favre who fills the Jets biggest need in a leader, winner and playmaker at the QB position.

This addition of Favre has already resulted in expectations from fans and the media to reach the Superbowl which are unrealistic and unfair.

Other additions include LB Calvin Pace, DT Kris Jenkins, C Damien Woody, G Alan Faneca, and FB Tony Richardson. These additions no question will drastically improve what was an already solid defense but most importantly an offense which truly lacked a QB.

On the strength of their defense and a very good offensive line, I expect the Jets to have a great deal of success in running the ball with Thomas Jones this year.  The ultimate key though will lie with the depth at WR where Laveranues Coles must return to Pro Bowl caliber form.

Predicted Finish:  10-6

Playoffs: Yes

Buffalo Bills

With the additions of DT Marcus Stroud and LB Kawika Mitchell along with the draft selections of CB Leodis McKelvin and WR James Hardy, expect the Bills to be one of the surprise teams of the year in 2008.

Expect QB Trent Edwards to take the next step toward becoming a solid QB in the NFL.  Helping Edwards do so is RB Marshawn Lynch who should be a Pro Bowl back this year along with a group of very exciting receivers in Lee Evans, Roscoe Parrish, Josh Reed, and Hardy.

Predicted Record: 9-7

Playoffs: Yes

Miami Dolphins

Even with the great mind of Bill Parcells now in the front office, the Dolphins will continue to struggle but make progress in 2008.

Parcells has worked the entire off-season to rid the team of players who either did not want to be there or players who he viewed as not hard workers.

Consequently, the Dolphins have a great deal of talented young players who are inexperienced.  This inexperience will lead to a great deal of frustration.

The good news for Dolphins fans is that they had a very good draft and have a person like Parcells who has a proven winning track record in all of his prior positions.

Predicted Record: 4-12

Playoffs: No