Question: Which AFC East team...

[PatsBoy12]

With all of the improvements and the general idea that the Dolphins and Jets both addressed big needs (albeit not all of the biggest) this offseason, who do you all believe will be the Patriots most formidable AFC East foes? I know that everyone here and abroad is crowning NE prematurely as the winners of the AFC East, and while I don't disagree, I know that one of the other teams is going to rise up to give NE a hard time. I just wanted to know who you all think that team will be?

The Dolphins have always been a good matchup, barring 2007, of course. The Jets have a revamped D that should be tough and a running game that should give a lot of teams headaches. However, they have an underachieving QB and an unproven one competing for a job with no real threat at receiver for the winner of the job to throw to. The Dolphins still have questions at QB, assuming Pennington isn't the lock, but they have an improved D and should have a strong running game. Does Buffalo even belong in the discussion?

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

I don't think the Jets improved. They are weaker on offense, but improved on defense. So far Sanchez is struggling to hit wide open receivers. It is only OTAs, but players who struggle in OTAs are more likely to struggle come the season than players who look like studs in OTAs will continue to look like a stud in the season. I can see the Jets as a 6-10 or 7-9 team as Sanchez becomes ready for the NFL.

I think the Dolphins will be the Pats' toughest competition, but they were a lucky 11-5 team last year and could take a step back this year and go 9-7 or 8-8 just as easily as they could have 10 or more wins.

The Bills are an enigma to me. Every year you expect them to take that next step and every year they disapoint. I have no idea where they are going to fall. The loss of Lynch for the first four games is huge especially in the division race since they have both New England and Miami (both on the road) in that stretch.

Assuming Brady is healthy, the Pats should win this division fairly comfortably. Then again, you would never had guessed that the Dolphins would win the division in 2008 at this point last year.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

I feel the same way about the Bills, Rob. I picked them t be a playoff team before the season started last year and, after looking like a genius for the first part of the season, I looked like an idiot for the second half. They seem to pull the chair out from under people each season. I'm going into this season not expecting much from them, but of course you know what that means . . .

 

[Sicilian]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

Not only that, but the Bills always seem to start hot and fizzle as the year goes on (weren't they 4-0 to start last year?). That, to me, is usually the sign of a lack of adjustments on the part of the head coach, or a general organizational philosophy that doesn't provide good depth. Both of those things are still there for the Bills, so I don't see anything changing.

Miami is interesting, but again, I don't feel like they've improved at all. And when you look at bad teams that came out of nowhere to be playoff teams, they generally come back to earth a bit the next year. Hell, even the 2001 Super Bowl winning Patriots (who were a surprise story for sure) came back 9-7 the next year and missed the playoffs.

By default, that leaves the Jets. Their defense has plenty of talent, and Rex is a good defensive coach from what we can see. With a rookie QB, I can't even begin to predict their record, as I could easily see them going anywhere from 4-12 to 12-4, depending on how the defense gels and Sanchez comes along.

One thing is for sure though. All of our divisional opponents have adopted a physical, punishing mentality. I don't think we'll have trouble winning our division, but the games are either going to be close, or at the very least make the guys sore the next day.

 

[Peekaboo]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

The Jets, with both QB's being inexperienced, are going to struggle. The Dolphins, meh, the Wildcat isn't going to fool anybody this season. The Bills, I do have to agree, disappoint every year. Like the Jets with Favre last season, we have a playmaker in Owens that could provide the kick in the pants we need to get over the hump. Trent Edwards is being given the freedom this year to be able to change the play at the LOS at will so we'll see how that turns out. Our Monday Night opener will be very interesting to say the least.

 

[dhamz]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

This is a total toss up at the moment.

The Dolphins won the division last year but as others have pointed out, teams that overachieve tend to take a step back the next year. Also, Chad Pennington's ability to be healthy all year was a big factor in their success. I'm not sure that happens again based on his history.

The Jets weaknesses last year as they went up in flames were a coach who had totally lost the team and their QB. There are rookies at both spots. Who knows how that will play out.

The Bills could easily have a winning record and contend for the playoffs or could easily be in chaos by mid Semptember when TO doesn't get enough perfectly thrown balls sent in his direction by Edwards.

Someone out of those 3 is probably going to be a good team, maybe more than 1 of them but I wouldn't know who to bet on at this point.

 

[37Harrison]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

The Bills: As mentioned in previous posts, they start strong but then fizzle out. I think Owens is a great addition for this team in the first half of the season. However, when they start to lose and Edwards looks to Evans more than Owens, I think the wheels fall off once again but with resounding THUD! The finish last in the AFCE.

The Dolphins: With the emergence of Porter in that D and the return of Taylor, I hope our O-line performs better than it has the past couple of years. While Pennington may be an "underachieving" QB physically, I think his smarts more than make up for it. With one year under his belt in that system I think he becomes more dangerous. Not to mention his best games have come against the Pats. The Brown/Williams duo may be the best duo in the AFCE (Morris is proven but not a stud, Maroney hasn't shown anything yet, and Taylor while great in Jax is unproven in NE). Really no WR's to speak of but I think they give the Pats the toughest challenge.

The Jests: Gawd I hate this team!!! Unfortunately they won't finish in last as the Bills are going to monumentally explode but I am wishing for it really hard. Their GM sucks, their coach suck's, the city sucks, their fans REALLY suck, and I hate em'! Stupid Jests!

 

[fair catch fryar]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

No one. Inter-division opponents will always be considered tough games(most of the time), but I don't think the Jets, Dolphins, or Bills will seriously compete for the AFC East title this year. If TB is healthy and this team performs at their expected level they should go 14-2 or 13-3 and win the division by 2-3 games. As far as guessing which one will have a chance at a Wildcard is tough. I don't think anyone has really taken a step back and the Jets and Buffalo have added some upgrades.

 

[BionicPatriot]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

I think the Jets will be decent because of their defense, but I think they're going tos truggle a lot on offense.

The Dolphins won the division on a tie breaker last year, without Tom brady around. With the wild cat known, there goes the one or 2 games they stole because of it. Add to the fact Pennington has NEVER put together consecutive good, healthy productive seasons, Brady is back, etc. I think the Dolphins will be the best well see, but not good enough.

Bills have the talent to compete, but when will they put it altogether? I'm like everyone else here, they need to show me before I believe. I hope they don't

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

Good play on defense for the most part wins games regularly in the NFL and I think the Jets have what appears at least on paper to have a very formidable defense especially with a great defensive mind in HC Ryan who will help the D.

Question is with the Jets on offense - If the offense and Sanchez can put up just enough points I think the Jets can win 10 games so therefore they are the 2nd best in this division - if the Jets can obtain Boldin or Edwards then they could be a totally dangerous team and could vie for the division if the Pats falter.

 

[evans555]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

The Bills: As mentioned in previous posts, they start strong but then fizzle out. I think Owens is a great addition for this team in the first half of the season. However, when they start to lose and Edwards looks to Evans more than Owens, I think the wheels fall off once again but with resounding THUD! The finish last in the AFCE.

The Dolphins: With the emergence of Porter in that D and the return of Taylor, I hope our O-line performs better than it has the past couple of years. While Pennington may be an "underachieving" QB physically, I think his smarts more than make up for it. With one year under his belt in that system I think he becomes more dangerous. Not to mention his best games have come against the Pats. The Brown/Williams duo may be the best duo in the AFCE (Morris is proven but not a stud, Maroney hasn't shown anything yet, and Taylor while great in Jax is unproven in NE). Really no WR's to speak of but I think they give the Pats the toughest challenge.

The Jests: Gawd I hate this team!!! Unfortunately they won't finish in last as the Bills are going to monumentally explode but I am wishing for it really hard. Their GM sucks, their coach suck's, the city sucks, their fans REALLY suck, and I hate em'! Stupid Jests!

While I will admit the Bills are very streaky this statement is WRONG

Yes last yr. the Bills started hot but look at 2007 they started 1-4 and finished 6-5

In 06 they started 2-5 and finished 5-4 so once again WRONG

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

I think Miami could put up a fight, but the Jets will be stronger competition. Buffalo will continue to suck.

 

[Ring 6]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

While Favre had a lot to do with the Jets collapse, he also had a lot to with them being 8-3. Replacing him with a rookie probably eliminates the collapse from relying on the QB who chokes, but also precludes getting to a position to collapse. I don't know where all this 'improvement' in Jet D is coming from? Rex Ryan inherited a defense, system and philosophy and PLAYERS in Bmore. I cant imagine why people think he is the reason for the defense he was handed??? Bart Scott and Lito Shepard may be overpaid, but they aren't what dominant defenses are made of. They were pieces of good defenses, but in no way the keys to those defenses.
Miami had a favorable schedule, some close wins and a nice run, but its back to Earth.
Beefalo has a decimated OL surrounding a mediocre core. Nothing on that team strikes me as much better than medioce. They seem to have developed a culture where mdiocrity is expected.
I see all 3 competing for the 8-8 2nd place finish, and would guess that one of the 3 will have a disastrous year with 4 wins or less.
This will be one of those seasons where we are way out in front and are looking at seedings very early. I say that not from arrogance about the Pats (which would be justified anyway) but from a real honest analysis that none of these teams are above average, and are more likely to sink than rise.

 

[Ring 6]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

While I will admit the Bills are very streaky this statement is WRONG

Yes last yr. the Bills started hot but look at 2007 they started 1-4 and finished 6-5

In 06 they started 2-5 and finished 5-4 so once again WRONG

Does it really matter what order 7-9 occurs in?

 

[feldspar]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

The Bills haven't really matched up well against the Patriots in recent memory, to say the least. That's not to say that the Dolphins or Jets are better than the Bills...I don't think they are. The Bills just look like they've forgotten everything they've ever known when faced with the Pats. The matchup has been one-sided and pathetic, really. You never know when somebody could wake up and that changes. But the coaching has been hurting the Bills for years.

The Dolphins are hugely overrated because of their turnaround last year. They aren't nearly as good as people give them credit as being. The Jets defense is pretty good, but their offense will be one-dimensional this year, and their running game won't be nearly good enough to make up for what will be an experiment of a passing game with a lower-tier core of receivers (if nothing changes).

I think that the Bills will be better than the Jets and Dolphins, but if you are talking about a head-to-head matchup, the Bills might be the team least likely to beat the Patriots when they play each other from an historical perspective. The Pats just have the Bills' number.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

1.) Patriots
- Best in the division, and it shouldn't be all that close

2.) Jets (Unless the QB slot really, really blows)
- Defense should be solid, but the QB and WR positions..... not so much

3.) Dolphins
- Likely to take a step back because they weren't very good last year

4.) Bills
- Post concussion QB with a bad offensive line: we may all be playing Taps for Edwards' season early in the year

 

[supafly]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

1.) Patriots
- Best in the division, and it shouldn't be all that close

2.) Jets (Unless the QB slot really, really blows)
- Defense should be solid, but the QB and WR positions..... not so much

3.) Dolphins
- Likely to take a step back because they weren't very good last year

4.) Bills
- Post concussion QB with a bad offensive line: we may all be playing Taps for Edwards' season early in the year

I like the sounds of this assessment.

Let's go Pats

 

[PatsBoy12]

Re: Question: Which AFC East team . . .

1.) Patriots
- Best in the division, and it shouldn't be all that close

2.) Jets (Unless the QB slot really, really blows)
- Defense should be solid, but the QB and WR positions..... not so much

3.) Dolphins
- Likely to take a step back because they weren't very good last year

4.) Bills
- Post concussion QB with a bad offensive line: we may all be playing Taps for Edwards' season early in the year

Interesting take on things . . . also very accurate.

 

[APatrioticVirginian]

With all of the improvements and the general idea that the Dolphins and Jets both addressed big needs (albeit not all of the biggest) this offseason, who do you all believe will be the Patriots most formidable AFC East foes? I know that everyone here and abroad is crowning NE prematurely as the winners of the AFC East, and while I don't disagree, I know that one of the other teams is going to rise up to give NE a hard time. I just wanted to know who you all think that team will be?

The Dolphins have always been a good matchup, barring 2007, of course. The Jets have a revamped D that should be tough and a running game that should give a lot of teams headaches. However, they have an underachieving QB and an unproven one competing for a job with no real threat at receiver for the winner of the job to throw to. The Dolphins still have questions at QB, assuming Pennington isn't the lock, but they have an improved D and should have a strong running game. Does Buffalo even belong in the discussion?

No one belongs in the discussion besides the Pats.

 

[Nestapats]

I also don't think they're strong enough to compete with us. The only way i think those teams can beat us is with their passing game. (we could be in for 38-34 games )
- Bills don't have a LT, but a pretty good WR corps. I'm not sold on edwards, so they're not dangerous IMO.
- Jets do not have a QB, so it stops basically there. They do not own a WR either so...
- The phins on paper o not have a very strong WR corps either, but they've proven to be the most difficult for the Pats Defense. QB is good, LT is Good.

Therefore i believe the Dolphins are the only team that could possibly beat us, IF they can stop our unstoppable passing attack