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| (photo credit: isportsweb.com) |
The
Jets, Dolphins and Bills have all attempted to build teams to combat Brady and
Belichick’s reign, but have failed miserably since the Patriots commandeered
the division in 2003. But each have yet again made moves in an effort to try
and overthrow Brady and Belichick.
New England Patriots
If
you’re talking about the AFC East, you have to start with the Pats. Success in
the east starts with a plan to beat New England. The Patriots seem to be immune
to injuries, free agency and draft mistakes. It’s always next man up in Boston.
The only irreplaceable man seems to be Brady. Julian Edelman goes down, Danny Amendola
steps up. Dion Lewis gets injured, James White comes up big. No other team in
football replaces guys like the Patriots. But for the first time since 2008,
the Patriots face significant time without Brady. Due to a four game suspension
to start the season, the Pats face Miami, Houston and Buffalo in Foxborough,
and the Cardinals on the road. If the Pats, and 3rd year QB Jimmy
Garoppolo, step up to the challenge early in the season, the rest of the
division will struggle upon King Brady’s return. But if they suffer a couple
division losses, it might just be the head start the rest of the division needs
to uproot the stranglehold the Pats have on the East.
Buffalo Bills
There
might not be a more electrifying sideline in football than one that includes
both Ryan brothers. Who cares what actually happens on the field? All I want to
see is a brotherly fistfight over who wants to blitz more, followed by a makeup
donut-eating contest. Every Rex Ryan team seems to have the same makeup. A hard
nosed defense led by a dominant and explosive defensive line, with excellently
manipulated matchup zone schemes, with some playmakers on offense that never
seem to be able to put it together around a lackluster quarterback. Unless the
offense and Tyrod Taylor can improve by leaps and bounds, this team will
continue to struggle to put good games together week in and week out.
New York Jets
I’m
not sure who is the most relieved by the Jets resigning Ryan Fitzpatrick. Head
coach Todd Bowles, Fitzpatrick, wide receiver Brandon Marshall or (now) backup
QB Geno Smith. All have good cases. Bowles comes into his second year in charge
of the Jets with many of the same problems from last year. A game manager at
quarterback needs game changing talent around him to make the offense flow.
While the Jets have some pieces to help Fitzpatrick, like Marshall and the
addition of Matt Forte, no game changing playmakers that can balance out the
difference between Brady and Fitzpatrick. While Bowles is a defensive
mastermind, Brady figures out every defense eventually, and teams need an
offense that can match up with the Patriots yard for yard, minute for minute,
and point for point.
Miami Dolphins
The
Dolphins are the most hit or miss team week in and week out in the AFC East.
They can compete with any team in the NFL on a weekly basis, but look like they
could lose to a good college team other weeks. They have flashes of brilliance
and then weeks of turmoil. QB Ryan Tannehill can be one of the best short and
medium distance passers in football at times. Other times Dolphins fans are
left begging for the return of the wildcat offense. The defense can be stifling
at times and is led by what can be the best defensive line in the NFL (Ndamukong
Suh, Cameron Wake, Jordan Phillips, and Mario Williams), but other times seemed
like they could be bullied in the trenches by some of the local high schools.
When the Dolphins play with passion they look like a wrecking crew reminiscent
of 1972. But most of the time Miami seems to lacks the determination and drive
to win, to prove themselves as a capable football team, which propels them to a
7-9 record years after year.
Division Prediction
11.
New England Patriots
22.
New York Jets
33.
Miami Dolphins
44.
Buffalo Bills
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