A Four-Team Analysis of the Extremely Close AFC East

The AFC East division is currently the tightest division in the NFL. Three teams are tied for the lead, with one only a game behind. Each team's records and rank are as follows:

1. New England Patriots (5-3) .625
2. New York Jets (5-3) .625
3. Buffalo Bills (5-3) .625
4. Miami Dolphins (4-4) .500

Here is an analysis of each team now that we are past halfway through the season.

Miami Dolphins

Miami is definitely the biggest surprise of this NFL season. After only winning once last year, they have shown that, under new leadership, they can win a lot of games.

Quarterback Chad Pennington is leading the Dolphins to victory this year after mediocre success as a New York Jet since the beginning of his nine-year career. He is extremely efficient and always seems to find open receivers.

Miami's running game has done exceedingly well this year. Running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have combined for 700+ rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns.

Miami's defense wasn't very good against the passing game during the first half of the season, but recently, they have picked things up. The Dolphins' run defense is one of the best in the league, allowing only 89.6 rushing yards a game.

Miami doesn't have too many difficult games for the rest of the season, except divisional games, which are crucial if the Dolphins want to win the division.

I think that Miami should be able to pick up some easy wins, as well as some tough divisional ones.

Predictions

10-6 regular season record

First in the AFC East

New York Jets

The Jets picked up Brett Favre out of retirement in the beginning of the season, and, in the process, released Chad Pennington.

Favre is very good at throwing touchdowns, but he also has a big problem throwing interceptions. He has thrown for 15 touchdowns, but has also thrown 12 interceptions. His experience and leadership is invaluable to the Jets, making him a crucial part of the team.

Running back Thomas Jones is a very good runner, with 601 yards and five touchdowns. He averages 4.5 yards per carry, which is a very solid number and shows that he is very consistent.

The Jets' defense is even better against the run than Miami, only allowing 76 rushing yards a game. Their passing defense, however, isn't very good, which is a big weakness for them.

Besides divisional games, the Jets' schedule looks pretty easy, also.

Prediction

9-7 regular season record

Second in AFC East

Earn a wild-card spot

New England Patriots

At the beginning of the season, the Patriots were hoping to finish what they were unable to finish last year and get a perfect season. Those hopes were ended as soon as Tom Brady was injured in the beginning of the season and backup Matt Cassel was forced to take his place.

Cassel has been pretty good this year, but not near as good as Brady would have been. He has thrown for the least amount of total yards this season but is still keeping the Patriots in the running.

Running backs Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk have been splitting carries, and combining for 500+ yards and six touchdowns.

New England's defense is right in the middle in every category, except points, where they are ranked ninth in terms of least points allowed. So, they aren't doing very badly, but they're certainly not doing well.

New England's challenging upcoming games will be a few divisional games, and a game against he Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13, which should be a fun game to watch.

Prediction

9-7 regular season record

Third in AFC East

Don't make playoffs

Buffalo Bills

The Bills are a good passing team and a pretty good rushing team.

Quarterback Trent Edwards is good at throwing for a lot of yards, but he doesn't throw many touchdowns, and he throws almost as many interceptions as touchdowns. He has thrown for six touchdowns and five interceptions.

Running backs Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson have combined for 650+ yards rushing, and Lynch has ran for six touchdowns Jackson has ran for one.

Buffalo's tough games, like everyone else in the division, are divisional games. They should do pretty well, but I don't see them winning as many as the rest of the AFC East.

Prediction

8-8 Regular Season Record

Fourth in AFC EAST

Don't make playoffs

And so there you have it. If anyone disagrees with any of my prediction, please let me know.