The second NFL division I'll be previewing is the AFC East. Let's not waste any time and get after it!
Buffalo: If you read my overall season preview, you know that I have Buffalo winning the Super Bowl this year. I genuinely believe the Bills are primed to take the title, I'm not just saying this to have some sort of controversial view by not choosing Kansas City or Tampa Bay. This team is talented across the board, save for maybe their running game, and they're not listed as the top team in the league or their conference, which reduces the pressure levels just enough that I think they get over the hump. Eat your heart out, Jim Kelly.
Record Prediction: 14-3, 1st in the AFC East
Offense: Josh Allen took a BIG leap last year, and I think that continues this year. The continuity of Brian Daboll staying on as OC when he could've gotten a head coaching gig elsewhere is huge for this team. The pickup of Emmanuel Sanders, who has been criminally underrated his whole career, is a game changing move in my mind. The only, and I mean only thing that can hold back this offense is the running game.
Devin Singletary and Zack Moss, pending Moss' improved health situation, really need to step it up along with the offensive line. Now, I'm not saying they need to be elite, or even close to it, but if the Bills can have a running game that is considered a credible threat (which is was anything but last year), the league may as well hand the Lombardi trophy over to the team right now.
Defense: The Bills defense is good, not great. Good enough to win a Super Bowl (see KC's defense from 2019 as an example), but nothing to write home about. Each position is filled by someone who could be considered solid, to upper echelon among their peers. What I'll be looking out for is if Ed Oliver can step up and live up to his high draft status.
This unit should have plenty of leads to play with, and even if they give up the lead, they can feel comfortable that a couple stops, or a timely turnover can give their offense all they need to lock things up. Plus, much like my thoughts on Emmanuel Sanders, I feel like Micah Hyde is a criminally underrated Free Safety. The man just knows how to make plays, but doesn't get the publicity since he's in Buffalo.
*** X-factor: will the suppliers of folding tables be able to keep up with the demand in Buffalo this season... only time will tell.
Miami: Miami is one of my surprise teams this year. Yes, I know that news came out that Xavien Howard wants to be traded... but there's no way the Dolphins do that, right? Not after they've seen how good Minkah Fitzpatrick has been for Pittsburgh after they traded him away. Assuming the best, this defense is top-10 worthy in my mind, the questions just come from the offensive side of the ball.
Record Prediction: 12-5, 2nd in the AFC East
Offense: The biggest question mark for Miami this year is Tua Tagovailoa (thanks for the spelling Google), and his development as the team's QB. Last year was really, and I mean really weird with how the Dolphins handled Tua, benching him in 4th quarters in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick when Tua was underwhelming at best. Was the team making a push for the playoffs? Sure. But does this come with a ton of mixed messages for everyone in the organization? Abso-freakin-lutely. This team needs to know that Tua is their starter for better or for worse, and he needs it too for his own confidence.
I admit that I was scratching my head at Miami's decision to draft Jaylen Waddle over an offensive lineman with their first-round pick this year. Don't get me wrong, I understand the connection between Waddle and Tua through their time at Alabama, but I would believe the best thing for a young QB is giving them maximum levels of protection. Especially if they aren't known as a runner. That said, everything I'm hearing about the offensive line sounds good, and like they could do a lot to help Tua's game smooth out, but man I can't help but feeling like Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater would have been massive for them.
Even without the addition of Parker, Miami's skill group is way better than credited in the national media. Myles Gaskin and Malcolm Brown make for a really solid duo in the backfield, DeVante Parker is probably the best Wide Receiver most people don't know enough about, and Mike Gesicki is going to have a breakout season mark my words. If Will Fuller can stay healthy... which he probably won't... dynamic won't be a strong enough word to describe Miami's offensive weapons.
Defense: Confession time: I really don't know many players on Miami's defense. I know Xavien Howard and I'm somewhat familiar with Byron Jones but I admit that's it. I want to dive deep into them, but I don't feel like I can. All I know is that Brian Flores is a damn good head coach and his specialty is defense. Any time I've watched Miami they look like a top-tier defense, I just couldn't pick these guys out of a lineup with a gun to my head. Maybe that's a good thing? Maybe that creates a lack of ego for them. Who knows. All I really know is that when a big play is needed, the Dolphins defense is more than capable of making it.
New England: Does anyone really know what to expect up in Foxboro this year? I sure as hell don't. Is Cam Newton going to play the full season? Will Mac Jones take over as starter? Will the offense look better from a piss poor 2020? How's the defense shaping up? So many questions, so little time.
Record Prediction: 8-9, 3rd in the AFC East
Offense: Of all the uncertainty teams could have on offense this season, New England has to have the highest level. Who's going to be their starting QB? Cam Newton and Mac Jones are complete opposites of each other, and the playbook will need to reflect the starters skillset. How can Josh McDaniels pull off creating two different offenses without confusing everyone? I'm really curious to see how this plays out.
The Patriots spent a ton of money upgrading their offensive skill positions this offseason. Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith all came over from other teams. There are still concerns with each player, and Meyers and Agholor have had up and down careers to date, and Hunter Henry can't seem to stay healthy for an entire season. That said, whoever starts at QB should have much better options to work with compared to what New England was trotting out last year.
All I'll say about the offensive line is Google Trent Brown's ridiculous tattoo... just do it, you won't be disappointed.
Defense: All hail the return of Dont'a Hightower! With Hightower, along with several other players sitting out on the COVID exempt list last year, New England's defense really struggled. Now that he's back, along with Kyle Van Noy returning from one year in Miami, Stephon Gillmore still around (for now), and Bill Bellicheck knowing how to get the most out of players limited in talent, the Patriots defense should be back to their normal ways this season. I don't expect a top tier performance from them, but enough improvement that people will be able to say their defense won them a couple games.
New York: The Jets seem... talented this year? Man that sounds weird to say. I'm actually really impressed with the Jets offseason moves, both in the draft and free agency. I will say I wonder how Zach Wilson will handle the bright lights of New York, as well as Robert Saleh. New York seems like a rough place to have a rookie QB and head coach at the same time. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised... or maybe the Jets will keep being the Jets.
Record Prediction: 4-13, 4th in the AFC East
Offense: As I already said, I don't know what to expect from Zach Wilson in New York. Coming from BYU where he never really faced top tier talent in his opposition, as well as an underwhelming career up until a breakthrough last year, there's more questions than answers with Wilson. Personally, I think the Jets should've taken Trey Lance or Justin Fields over him, but Jets gonna Jets.
One thing that should help Wilson out is New York's offensive line. After letting Sam Darnold spend multiple years getting thrown around like a rag doll, the Jets front office finally woke up and realized that protecting their QB is pretty damn important. They already had Mekhi Becton from last year, and added Morgan Moses in free agency and Alijah Vera-Tucker through the draft. This should go a long way to keep Wilson's jersey clean throughout the season.
Oh hey, the wide receivers look pretty good too! Before I touch on them I'll just quickly say I'm iffy on the running back situation, I'll just have to see how that plays out. Ok, back to WRs. Corey Davis has been mercurial throughout his career, but capable of breaking out and having monster games. I'm really hoping that nobody picks up Denzel Mims in any of my fantasy leagues because he look GOOD last season despite all the issues the team was having. Let's no forget Jamison Crowder either, the living personification of a chain mover. There's a lot to like here.
Defense: Much like Miami, I don't know much about New York's defense. Unlike the Dolphins, I don't know much because who would really want to know anyone on that unit with how bad they were last year? CJ Mosley was out for the year, and I know it will be huge for him to come back and settle things down. Is Sheldon Rankins any good? I've heard his name a bunch, but really don't know much about him. Not to mention that anyone could come up to me and say they play in the Jets secondary and I would believe them. As much as I think the offense will need help due to Wilson's youth, the Jets hiring a strong defensive mind in Robert Saleh is going to be a big x-factor this year. Especially when they have to go up against Josh Allen twice.
***X-factor: Hopefully Zach Wilson's mom can stay out of the headlines and not cause anymore distractions. We get it, you're Mormon, your son is Mormon, you're going to think that any young woman who find him cute is a harlot. Keep it to yourself and let your son focus on his game.
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