Afc East Preview

[Guest Kingpk]

I did this at WDI, but I think it will go over better here since more actually will read it. Anyone else is welcome to post their thoughts on this, or what ever division their favorite team is in.

 

 

New England: Nice to see Vegas still shunning the Pats even though it cost them big money in Feburary, but that's ok. They have a new home to play in (CMGi Field), but really there's no big losses to this team (not counting Bledsoe & Glenn, who were pretty much non-factors last season). They picked up a few good recievers (2nd round pick Dieon Branch, who impressed coaches during mini-camp and Donald Hayes from Carolina) and picked up a quality TE in Daniel Graham. I think as long as Brady doesn't suffer the "sophmore jinx" and no real big injuries befall the team, they should be right near the top of the division and one of the top 10 teams in the league.

 

Miami: The signing of Ricky Williams helps the offense tenfold. It will give Fiedler someone to take some of the heat off and put some good yards in close. The defense is hurt a little bit by the loss of DBs Mxon and Bromell could hurt but I think their offense will make up somewhat for it. A definite wildcard team.

 

Buffalo: They could be the big question mark this season. With the aquisition of Drew Bledsoe (without giving up much), they get an All-Pro QB that they could build around. He needs a good offensive line though, which the Bills may not have. It's a young team, rebuilding from a salary cap purge, that may suprise people by at least getting to .500. Of course, the worse the Bills do, the happier I am since the Pats have their 1st pick in 2003.

 

Jets: There's nothing much to say here. They were raped by the expansion draft, losing Aaron Glenn, Testaverde stll won't retire, and Curtis Martin is pretty much the only decent offensive player. Will neatly occupy the cellar of the AFC East all season.

 

Final predictions:

 

1. Patriots 12-4 (Win division)

2. Dolphins 11-5 (Wildcard)

3. Bills 8-8

4. Jets 3-13

 

I really wish the Colts were still there, that would make the East the best (and toughest) division in football.

[Guest Human Fly]

I haven't seen the schedules for these teams so I can't predict records but here's how I think it will shake down:

 

1. Miami Dolphins

2. New England Patriots

3. Buffalo Bills

4. New York Jets

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

1. Miami Dolphins

2. New England Patriots

3. Buffalo Bills

4. New York Jets

[Guest Shaved Bear]

1. Miami Dolphins

2. New England Patriots

3. Buffalo Bills

4. New York Jets

agreed

[Guest dreamer420]

i'm hoping this will be miami's year to finally put something together in the playoffs.

 

1. Miami Dolphins

2. Buffalo Bills

3. New England Patriots

4. New York Jets

[Guest Y2BigJ]

I can't belive people are still underestimating the Pats

 

1.Pats

2.Dolphins

3.Bills

4.Jets

[Guest dreamer420]

well who honestly believes that they will slay the mighty dolphins!

[Guest Kingpk]

well who honestly believes that they will slay the mighty dolphins!

We'll see if Ricky Williams can actually make it through a complete season without pulling his hammy.

[Guest Your Olympic Hero1]

Funny, here in Buffalo we're ready for the Super Bowl

[Guest bravesfan]

Even though I like the Pats, I'm pulling for the Bills for a .500 season (and I'm not even a fan!). They've suffered enough already. Give them a Super Bowl ring and let Jim Kelly die smiling

 

1. Pats 12-4

2. Dolphins 11-5

3. Bills 8-8

4. Jets 4-12

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

Some thoughts:

1) Screw the Bills.

2) Hopefully my Dolphins can beat the Jets for the 1st time in forever, or at least 3 seasons

3) Screw the Bills.

 

Predictions:

1) Dolphins

2) Pats

3) Bills

4) Jets

[Guest dreamer420]

2) Hopefully my Dolphins can beat the Jets for the 1st time in forever, or at least 3 seasons

good, another dolphins fan on the board. don't you think it's time the dolphins became champions again.

[Guest Spaceman Spiff]

About damn time. Although, I don't think Fiedler is the QB to do it, regardless of how well Ricky does.

[Guest cartman]

...and for all of you that picked the Pats to win more than 8 games...Go bet on that prediction RIGHT NOW.

 

The over/under on the pats WIN total his year is set at 8...8!!!!!!!

 

Bet the farm on the over, if you have ANY common sense! lol.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Pats

Fins

Jets

Bills

[Guest phoenixrising]

1. New England

2. Miami

3. Buffalo

4. New York Jets

 

Thoughts...

This could be the best division in football. Both New England and Miami should win 10+ games, and Buffalo could also win 10. I think Buffalo could win the division if Drew Bledsoe masters the offense quickly. Ricky Williams, if he's healthy, will give Miami the running back they wish they had when Marino was in town. Fiedler is a decent QB though. I think Tom Brady will be all right - he's been in the league a while, so he knows what to expect. All he has to do is not throw picks. New York got raped by the Texans (just like the Jags and the Ravens). I wouldn't be surprised to see Chad Pennington starting at the end of the year.

[Guest cartman]

why would they start Pennington when they just signed Testy to a long term deal?

[Guest El Hijo Del Lunatic]

Why would they start Pennington when they just signed Testy to a long term deal?

Oh, because for starters, Testaverde's going to be 39 by the end of the year, and that means the Great Pennington Experiment has to start SOME TIME. Secondly, with the salary cap the way it is, long-term contracts mean JACK SHIT right now. My guess is that the Jets didn't sign him to a ridiculous signing bonus, and will end up cutting him in a couple years anyway. Besides, the Jets have enough holes to keep them out of contention for anything, so why not get ready for next year, so they can fill those holes and have the quarterback of the future with a year under his belt.

 

This could be the best division in football.

It's not better than the NFC West, but it's VERY good.

 

We'll see if Ricky Williams can actually make it through a complete season without pulling his hammy.

Hey, 11 games with Ricky Williams is better than 16 with Lamar Smith. Besides, there's nobody that runs a screen better than Ricky, even if he can't handle 20-25 carries a game. Get him touches that way.

 

New York got raped by the Texans.

Yes, they did, but it's not like the Jets didn't bend over and shout 'Throw it in my pooper!'. They were scheduled to pay both corners, what, like $17 million this year? Not worth, especially after the terrible seasons they put in last year. Houston did 'em a favor. Don't make it sound like they didn't.

 

The order of this division is pretty much 'Phins - Pats - Bills - Jets right now. The Bills are still a year away, folks, Bledsoe or no. Their defense needs to gel and mature yet. The only reason that the Dolphins leapfrog the Pats is because all it seemed like they were missing last year was a running game, and I think they found it (also, they upgraded the tackle postions, no? I mean, that was the weak spot on the line last year). So whatever.

 

Of course, that doesn't mean Miami will win a playoff game. >

 

LUNATIC

- Pimpin' ho's and clockin' a grip like my name was Dolemite.

[Guest The Voices In Your Head]

Here's my picks

 

Miami 11-5

New England 10-6 [Wild Card]

Buffalo 7-9

N.Y. Jets 6-10

 

I can see Miami going to the AFC title game [if not the Super Bowl] if Williams can stay healthy.

[Guest y2jailbait]

You all are sooooooooooooooo wrong. How many times have the "almighty dolphins" beaten the Jets in the past 4 seasons?????? 0!!!!!! They will never beat the Jets, Never! and for most of you to say that the Jets will be sellar dwellers, well i see this as wrong as well, as many people talked about the Bills demise in the last ninties and they made the playoffs 3 years in a row.

 

Also, Curtis Martin is the BEST all purpose back in the NFL, no Faulk, no Williams, no James. Curtis can bang in between the tackles, he can acclerate out of the hole, he can blow past you with great speed. He can also get that 1 yard when you really need it. This man can catch out of the backfield as good if not better than anyone in the nfl and is the franchise of the Jets.

 

To say that this man, among great heart players such as Wayne Cherbet, Santana Moss, Kevin Mawie and Lavernes Coles cannot lead the Jets to another playoff is very absurdt. Besides, who says them damn patriots are even gonna get anywhere this season, ya do know that last year was the biggest fluke of a season ive ever seen.

 

Herman Edwards and company will prove all doubters this season as they defeat the Dolphins for the millionth time! and then move on to bigger and better things this season!

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Here's my take:

 

The fins will win 11

The Bills will win 7

The pats will win 6

The Jets will win 4

 

Not going to be a dominant year for the East for a variey of reasons.

 

Watch as the Pats fall to Earth quick and hard.

 

The Jets are going to suck.

 

The Fins are running not walking away with the division.

 

The Bills are great on paper...but still can't stop the run...not good when the three RBs in the division are going to cut you apart all year.

[Guest Kingpk]

The pats will win 6

 

Watch as the Pats fall to Earth quick and hard.

Um, why do you say this? The Pats have pretty much everyone from the Superbowl team (including coaches), and they have even improved in a few places.

[Guest Jerome Drake]

1. Miami(I hope, althought their not my #1 team, I'll be cheering for them during the playoffs, since i doubt my Vikings will make it)

2. Buffalo

3. NE Patroits

4. NY Jets

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

Even with the same team the fact is they over aheived last year.

 

To find themselves back in the playoffs...they'll have to over acheive again.

 

And Brady has to prove he isn't a one year wonder...which I don't think he is...but he will have a harder time with the defenses changing their approach on him every week.

[Guest El Hijo Del Lunatic]

y2jailbait gets the CUTANDPASTE TREATMENT:

You all are sooooooooooooooo wrong. How many times have the "almighty dolphins" beaten the Jets in the past 4 seasons?????? 0!!!!!! They will never beat the Jets, Never! and for most of you to say that the Jets will be sellar dwellers, well i see this as wrong as well, as many people talked about the Bills demise in the last ninties and they made the playoffs 3 years in a row.

Look, the Jets have won games with smoke, mirrors, and Curtis Martin the last two years. They've got an aging quarterback, short wide receivers, questions in their defensive backfield, and a division that keeps getting better around them. Miami solved their problem at running back, Buffalo solved their quarterback problem, New England won the Super Bowl last year. The Jets filled none of the holes they had last year, and in fact, might've created more holes.

 

Also, Curtis Martin is the BEST all purpose back in the NFL, no Faulk, no Williams, no James. Curtis can bang in between the tackles, he can acclerate out of the hole, he can blow past you with great speed. He can also get that 1 yard when you really need it. This man can catch out of the backfield as good if not better than anyone in the nfl and is the franchise of the Jets.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Curtis Martin is definitely a top five back in the NFL, but he is NOT Marshall Faulk. Faulk can bang with the best of them, and he's got wide receiver speed and acceleration. Martin does not have that. NO ONE in the league right now has the talent that Marshall Faulk has. NOBODY. Hell, if I had to rank RB's overall, Martin would be behind Ahman Green, too.

 

To say that this man, among great heart players such as Wayne Cherbet, Santana Moss, Kevin Mawie and Lavernes Coles cannot lead the Jets to another playoff is very absurdt. Besides, who says them damn patriots are even gonna get anywhere this season, ya do know that last year was the biggest fluke of a season ive ever seen.

You're right, all three of those receivers have heart. And not one of them is taller than 6". It's like watching the Knicks; you've got a bunch of guys who are good, but who do the same thing. There isn't a bona fide prototype possession receiver in the bunch. They're just TOO SHORT. And Mawae's the most overrated center in the NFL. He doesn't have the technique to block the bigger DT's. He's certainly not better than Tom Nalen or Bruce Matthews, and might not be better than Tim Ruddy and Jeff Hartings.

 

bps21 SEZ:

The Bills are great on paper...but still can't stop the run...not good when the three RBs in the division are going to cut you apart all year.

Oh, I agree fully. They're going to be a lot more fun to watch this year, though. They've got some weapons. At least this year, they're going to have a chance to win some ballgames. And who knows? London Fletcher might return to form.

 

kingpk SEZ:

Um, why do you say this? The Pats have pretty much everyone from the Superbowl team (including coaches), and they have even improved in a few places.

Yup, but now, they've got everybody gunning for them. A lot of pieces fell into place for them last year, and they've gotta hope the pieces fall into place again. I don't think they're going to be better than the Dolphins this year. I just can't in good conscience do that now that Miami has a top-tier running back. Isn't it amazing, though, that we can talk about the defending Super Bowl champions struggling to make the PLAYOFFS the next year? God bless parity. You've got Pittsburgh and Miami as the only playoff locks in the AFC, IMO. Everything else is a crap shoot.

 

LUNATIC

- Pimpin' ho's and clockin' a grip lie my name was Dolemite.

 

EDIT: Ok, it's all better now.