AFC East Preview

By: Jake

Last years division champs in the AFC East will have a tough time repeating as they now reside in one of, if not the most competitive division in the NFL. With Tom Brady back with a vengeance, Terrell Owens on the Bills, and the Jets with a seemingly legitimate QB, the ‘Phins will have a very hard time repeating. As it looks right now, the Patriots have to be the favorite despite their less than effective defense and Quarterback returning from a destroyed knee.
The rest of the division is anyone’s guess.

You could say that the Dolphins running game is near unstoppable with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, not to mention the drafting of Pat White to master the Wildcat offense. And the biggest question for this team is “Can Pennington do it again with the awful receivers?” The fact that he was able to do what he did last year with what he had is amazing to me and should be to anyone. In my opinion, I expect nothing more than a 3rd place finish in that division for them.

The Jets have undoubtedly the most exciting addition of any team in this division- Mark Sanchez. Their defense is set with Kris Jenkins anchoring the D-line and Gholston cant get any worse than he was last year. Also the additions of Bart Scott and Calvin Pace at LB will help cure the ills that were the line-backing spots from last year. In summation, the Jets have the potential to upset the Patriots this year but it all depends on how Sanchez adjusts to the NFL game. However, the Jets didn’t exactly make the transition to the NFL any easier on him by providing him with receivers like David Clowney and Chansi Stuckey.

The team very few people are talking about in this division is the Buffalo Bills. They made their biggest splash of the offseason by signing Mr. Malcontent T.O. If, and that’s a big if, T.O. and Lee Evans can Co-exist, the Bills also have an outside chance at winning the division even with Trent Edwards at QB. Their Defense is the part of the team that needs to step up as the offense is set at WR and RB with a serviceable QB at the helms. The Bills will need a big year out of Stroud and Schobel as Mc Kelvin and Mc Gee can only cover for so long before Chad Pennington throws for 300+ yards on them again.

Last, and certainly not least, the Patriots, who are undoubtedly the favorites to get first in the division and last in our hearts. One of the few questions about the 2009 Patriots is one of the biggest in football. Can Tom Brady come back from the devastating injury that ended his season? Although al reports say he’s looking and feeling fine, an injury like that must be taken seriously. The one other thing that could stop the Patriots from winning this division is their Defense. The pick of Mayo last year proved to be one of the best they’ve made in a while as he exploded as a rookie. But other than that, there isn’t much to write home about. Not much going on that makes you fear that defense.
All in all, my predictions for this division this year:

1. New England Patriots (It kills me but I have to)
2. New York Jets (Sanchez has the tools and the run game)
3. Miami Dolphins (I just don’t think Pennington can do it again)
4. Buffalo Bills (Tough luck losers in a strong division)