Biggest Threat in the AFC East?

[Kid~Brady]

So, this year the AFC East's teams have reloaded and changed alot.

The Jets and that freakshow added Tebow and Rexy lost 100 pounds.
The Dolphins added Ocho-nevermind and drafted a rookie QB that may be the starter.
Interesting enough, the Bills signed Mario Williams and grabbed Mark Anderson from us. I think they are actually pretty good, depending on how Fitzy plays.

Honestly, I think on paper, the Bills are the #2 team in the AFC and can actually pose a sizable threat to the Patriots this year. I think they have a better chance than the Jets anyways.

Your thoughts?

 

[BTTA]

Injuries. 10 chars

 

[Pujo]

Miami is a non-starter.

On paper, the Bills look like they might be the better team over the Jets, but they always find a way to under-deliver. I'd say just like the Pats are the best team in the AFC East until someone knocks them off, the Jets are the second best team until someone does something about it. Maybe Buff can do it, but I wouldn't bet any serious money on that.

My predictions:
Pats: 15-1
Jets: 10-6
Bills: 8-8
Fins: 5-11

 

[PlainOldEd]

Miami is a non-starter.

On paper, the Bills look like they might be the better team over the Jets, but they always find a way to under-deliver. I'd say just like the Pats are the best team in the AFC East until someone knocks them off, the Jets are the second best team until someone does something about it. Maybe Buff can do it, but I wouldn't bet any serious money on that.

My predictions:
Pats: 15-1
Jets: 10-6
Bills: 8-8
Fins: 5-11

So you think the Jets made a 25% improvement over last year?

I can't argue that until someone does something about it they are the #2 team in the AFCE, but I think 10-6 may be a stretch. And I wouldn't be at all surprised if Buffalo does do something about it this year....

 

[Deus Irae]

To me, it depends first on how the Jets bounce back. If Sanchez finally improves enough to get out of the bottom tier of QBs, and Greene shows himself to be a decent overall RB, and the ORT isn't a turnstile, and the WRs can make plays, the Jets could not only stay as the #2 team in the division, but could be a legitimate playoff team. If those things don't happen, they could get passed by the Bills.

 

[Pujo]

So you think the Jets made a 25% improvement over last year?

I can't argue that until someone does something about it they are the #2 team in the AFCE, but I think 10-6 may be a stretch. And I wouldn't be at all surprised if Buffalo does do something about it this year....

Two games would only require a 12.5% improvement (2/16 = 1/8 = 0.125).

Their biggest improvement was probably replacing Schottenheimer with Sparano at OC. Not sure if that's worth two games, but a two game swing is very possible even without improvements (they have an easy schedule this year, too, playing the AFC South and the NFC West). The real question with them is whether last year's slide was indicative of the walls caving in, or if it was just a temporary setback. If it was the former, they could do worse than 10-6, or even 8-8, but I have no idea what last year was for them.

 

[PlainOldEd]

Two games would only require a 12.5% improvement (2/16 = 1/8 = 0.125).

Their biggest improvement was probably replacing Schottenheimer with Sparano at OC. Not sure if that's worth two games, but a two game swing is very possible even without improvements (they have an easy schedule this year, too, playing the AFC South and the NFC West). The real question with them is whether last year's slide was indicative of the walls caving in, or if it was just a temporary setback. If it was the former, they could do worse than 10-6, or even 8-8, but I have no idea what last year was for them.

I meant a 25% improvement in wins. Last year they had 8 wins, to get to 10 they would need to improve on 8 wins by 25%.

 

[Pujo]

I meant a 25% improvement in wins. Last year they had 8 wins, to get to 10 they would need to improve on 8 wins by 25%.

That's not a very useful way of looking at it. If a team only had one win, going to two wins would be a 100% improvement - it sounds like a lot, but isn't. Hell, that's more of an improvement than a team with 9 wins going to 16 wins the next season. But yeah, if you want to look at it that way, a 25% improvement for the Jets is certainly possible.

 

[sly24]

All depends on injuries but right now my predictions are:

1. Patriots
2. Bills
3. Jets
4. Dolphins

 

[PatsDeb]

We have seen the biggest threat in the AFC East, and it be us.

 

[Ivan]

No one..................

 

[Rob0729]

Although I expect the Pats to wrap up the division with at least 2-3 games left in the season, I think the Bills are the biggest threat. I just think they were probably the biggest threat last year before injuries decimated them. They have gotten better and they the only team other than the Pats who definitely have gotten better.

I still think the Jets will be as bad or worse than last year. Other than the Cowboys, they lost to every winning team they faced. And they should have won against the Cowboys if Romo didn't have one of his patented fourth quarter meltdown. Jets fans are talking about how Sparano is going to improve Sanchez, but when has Sparano ever developed a QB or called a successful passing offense? I mean even in Dallas when he was calling plays, he was limited to running plays and Todd Haley called the passing plays and developed Romo.

I gave my projections earlier this week, but I will give again:

Pats 13-3
Bills 10-6
Jets 7-9
Dolphins 5-11

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Buffalo is injuries don't hit them again...the Jets if their locker room gets together .... Miami if the other 2 teams get into an airplane accident.

I still see it as

New England 12-4 (2nd seed)
Buffalo 10-6 (Wildcard)
NY Jets 10-6 (loser for 2nd due to tiebreaker with Bills)
Miami 4-12

 

[TruthSeeker]

That's not a very useful way of looking at it. If a team only had one win, going to two wins would be a 100% improvement - it sounds like a lot, but isn't. Hell, that's more of an improvement than a team with 9 wins going to 16 wins the next season. But yeah, if you want to look at it that way, a 25% improvement for the Jets is certainly possible.

You may not consider it useful, but it's the way percentages are used day in and day out in all sorts of subjects (profits up 235%!).

 

[peterforpats]

Buffalo is injuries don't hit them again...the Jets if their locker room gets together .... Miami if the other 2 teams get into an airplane accident.

I still see it as

New England 12-4 (2nd seed)
Buffalo 10-6 (Wildcard)
NY Jets 10-6 (loser for 2nd due to tiebreaker with Bills)
Miami 4-12

i think everyone has the order correct, but i do believe the dolphins will surprise and be better than advertised(i am adding this so i can crow later!!!)

 

[crew1954]

That's not a very useful way of looking at it. If a team only had one win, going to two wins would be a 100% improvement - it sounds like a lot, but isn't. Hell, that's more of an improvement than a team with 9 wins going to 16 wins the next season. But yeah, if you want to look at it that way, a 25% improvement for the Jets is certainly possible.

Well they not only have to win 2 more they have to lose 2 less, if that makes sense.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

The biggest threat to win the Division this season will be determined by:

Whether the Bills can put all the new pieces together in one year. Might Happen.

Whether the Dolphins benefit from some sort of Divine Intervention. More likely than the Sanchez scenario (see below).

Whether Sanchez proves me and others wrong and turns into a Franchise Quarterback, ignoring Tebowmania and getting support from a Sparano ground game. Not holding my breath on that one.

Whether Brady and this Pats team can go to the well one more time. Most Likely.

Injuries. Random.

 

[wistahpatsfan]

There is no threat when you go 16-0 BABY!

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Brady's arm falling off from deep bombs?

 

[1960Pats]

You may not consider it useful, but it's the way percentages are used day in and day out in all sorts of subjects (profits up 235%!).

My favorite use of a percentage is when a businessman, say, an NFL owner, is expecting to have a 10% increase, but instead gets a 5% increase and calls it a 5% loss.