The AFC East is filled with storylines for the 2008 season. Will the Patriots rebound from their Superbowl defeat and run the table in '08? How far will Brett Favre take the New York Jets? Will Miami again be the worst team in the NFL, or can Bill Parcells turn them around as he has with three other franchises? And how will the young, up-and-coming Bills perform this season? In a division where the winner is already decided in the minds of nearly every analyst out there, this is how I think the AFC East will play out this year...
New England - 16-0
I know, I know. The Patriots couldn't possibly go undefeated in the regular season again right? Wrong. New England returns the main parts of the most prolific offense the NFL has ever seen. The entire offensive line returns, Randy Moss and Wes Welker are back, there are four quality runners in the backfield, and Tom Brady returns to lead another Superbowl run.
The main concern of this years' team is it's secondary. Losing Asante Samuel, Randall Gay, and Eugene Wilson no doubt hurts the team immediately, but Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli have brought in several talented defensive backs through the draft and free agency. John Lynch, Jason Webster, Terrance Wheatley, and Fernando Bryant are more than capable of filling in the holes that were left through free agent departures. First round draft choice Jerard Mayo adds youth and depth at an inside linebacker position that has been filled by old men in their late 30's for years now. He appears to be the real deal as opening day approaches and should be starting alongside Teddy Bruschi as long as Junior Seau doesn't return.
Overall the Patriots have perhaps the easiest schedule in the league. They have 9 games against teams that finished below .500 last year and play only 4 games against playoff teams from a year ago. New England has the talent and ability to go another season at 16-0 and be ready for it to happen.
No losses
New York Jets - 10-6
The New York Jets got their quarterback 17 years late. Brett Favre was one pick away from becoming a Jet when he was drafted nearly two decades ago and now he is under center for a team who has not had a quarterback who could throw downfield for years. Along with Favre, the Jets have also added key free agent additions Alan Faneca, Calvin Pace, Damien Woody, and Tony Richardson. Their offensive line lookes much improved and having Richardson at fullback should help Thomas Jones return to form in '08. The entire offense will be much more effective with Favre under center, rather than the soft throwing Chad Pennington.
Ten wins can usually give a team a playoff berth, but unfortunately for the Jets, they will have to get in with a wildcard berth, as the Patriots should have this division in hand. The Gang Green play 6 games against playoff teams from last year and will have a tough time beating all of them.
6 losses: vs. New England, @ Buffalo, @ San Diego, @ New England, @ Tennessee, vs. Denver
Buffalo - 9-7
The Buffalo Bills have a lot to look forward to with this years team. They have a second year player starting at both quarterback and runningback in Trent Edwards and Marshawn Lynch. The defensive line has been beefed up with the addition of Marcus Stroud. And a slew of yound defensive players will provide big plays and a mammoth amount of energy on the field.
Although the Bills have loads of promising young talent, their overall inexperience on the offensive side of the ball and the conference they play in will make it hard for Buffalo to reach the postseason. Unfortunately for Bills fans, it will be another season of excitement that will end in the Bills missing the playoffs by one or two wins.
7 loses: @ Jacksonville, vs. San Diego, @ New England, vs. Cleveland, @ New York Jets, @ Denver, vs. New England
Miami - 4-12
The odd team out in the division, Miami will be the only team in the AFC East to finish without a winning record. They have an adequate offense with Chad Pennington, Ricky Williams, Ted Ginn Jr., and an injury prone Ronnie Brown carrying the load, but there is no one to throw to and a less than average offensive line infront of Pennington.
The defense will return former Pro-Bowler Joey Porter, Will Allen, Jason Ferguson, and Channing Crowder. However, the rest of the team on the defensive side of the ball is questionable to say the least. With Bill Parcells pulling the strings behind closed doors, expect improvement over last years pitiful 1-15 record, but don't expect any more than 3 or 4 more wins.
12 loses: vs. New York Jets, @ Arizona, @ New England, vs. San Diego, @ Houston, vs. Buffalo, @ Denver, vs. Seattle, vs. Oakland, vs. New England, @ Buffalo, @ New York Jets
I may be making a bold prediction with New England going 16-0, but even with the losses in the secondary, I think they could be better this year than last. Bill Parcells will make the Dolphins into a plus-.500 team again in two more years, and the Bills will make the playoffs next year, but not this one. The Jets will make the playoffs, but not go far.
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3 comments:
The Pats go 13-3 or maybe 14-2, but theres no way they go undefeated. Yes, they are the best team with the weakest schedule, but getting to 16-0 last took some help.
Remember Brady threw an incompletion on 4th and 9 against Baltimore late in the game only to be given another chance by some dubious penalty?
16-0 was great, but the Pats won't do it again this year.
No way they go 16-0. 19-0 sounds more like it =P
That's the spirit tim. And Ryan, personally I agree with you. I think the Pats will lose a game or two along the way. In my preview I predicted the best the teams in the AFC East could possibly do in my mind. However, I do believe you are right.
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