Around the NFL: AFC East

Let's break down a division per day, we'll start with the AFC East.

2004 standings:
Patriots 14-2: Super Bowl Champs
NY Jets 10-6: Lost to the Steelers in 2nd round
Bills 9-7: Bledsoe out, Losman in.
Dolphins 4-12: Ricky's back minus about 15 pounds. See what not having the munchies does for you?

My 2005 crystal ball says:

Patriots 11-5: Losing their coordinators will have an impact, and they are due to fall off a bit, but not too far... they're still the cream of the crop in this division.

Jets 9-7: Love their D but I'm not convinced Pennington will be able to bounce back strong from offseason shoulder surgery. Martin had a career year last season, he could be due for a decline. Coles is back but he's not the same WR that left the Jets in 2003. They'll battle for a wild card.

Bills 8-8: Their season hinges on Losman. They have a strong D and running game, but teams are going to make Losman beat them. If he can't keep the heat off the running game they could really struggle.

Dolphins 7-9: They really weren't as bad as their record indicated in 2004. They played alot of close games and if Ricky didn't punk out on them they very well could have won 8 or 9 games in my opinion. If they can get decent production out of former headbanger Gus Frerotte, they could be a darkhorse, they should have a solid D and running game, but I don't see them making the playoffs this year.

Patriots 12-4: Agreed, Patriots are still the cream of this crop, but there simply must be some dropoff with the loss of two coordinators and Teddy Bruschi. It's also just too unbelievable to think that any team could continue to win 13, 14 or 15 games after already having so much success in today's NFL. Nevertheless, all the components are still there to at least take this division. I see Dillon having another big year, Brady continuing to be consistent, the WRs getting the job done every week, and the defense being strong. Possible breakout players: David Terrell and Ben Watson

Jets 10-6: This is a risky pick because the Jets could be really good, or just ok. Their D will be strong. Pennington, I suspect, is fine and will have a nice year where he manages games well and makes good decisions. With their D and running game, he won't be called on to win games so much as not lose them. I think Martin has another great year ahead of him, with only a very slight dropoff from last year. At the end of the day though, I think at least a few games will hinge on Coles's toe. If healthy, I feel confident the Jets will win 10 games. If not, I see a dropoff to at least 8-8 and no chance at playoffs.

Bills 9-7: It's really hard to pick against the Bills with the way they finished the season last year. In the last 4-5 weeks, they looked like maybe the 3rd or 4th scariest team in the AFC. Gone is Bledsoe (and I don't know how bad of a thing that is), and in steps a rookie QB. That fact alone keeps them from the 11 win season I would otherwise predict for them. The D will remain strong, Lee Evans looks to have a good/maybe great year, and almost everyone is picking Willis McGahee to run all over other defenses. With a strong D and running game (helped by having two very legit WRs lined up on every down[Moulds and Evans]), if Losman can just play ok, I think they still squeak out 9 wins.....but this may be too optimistic.

Dolphins 6-10: Agreed that the Dolphins aren't as bad as last year's record indicates. Nevertheless, I think they have a bad QB controversy between two sub-par QBs (sorry Gus). They have a bad RB controversy between a former stud and a future stud. Their WRs (save Chambers) are shaky at best. Their O-line is supposed to be much better, but much better than completely inept still can't be that good. Their Defense and an occasional strong running game against a weaker opponent gets them 6 wins here......that's about it.

You know what will be fun to do?..........come back to this series of threads at the end of the year and see just how wrong or right we all are.

I agree, PSUskinsfan. I love to see predictions at the begininng show up at the end. Maybe Matty can Archeive these threads.

This is going to be a close division, next to the AFC West may be the mos competitve one in the NFL. I simply think that the Pats took a few too many hits this year with coordinators and Bruschi going down.

JETS 12 - 4
Pennington is back and supposedly healthy as an ox with his rotator cuff feeling great. With McCarreins getting the offensive coordinate that he flourished under, Hemmerdinger (sp? [the guy from TN]) and Coles back I can see the running game getting better. They lost LaMont Jordan, but I think Braylock could be a good change of pace back for them. The defense, behind DC and Buffallo was one of my favorites to watch last year, and I like some of their pickups. Herm Edwards has winning on their mind and I see it happening.

10-5 TIE. Buffallo and NE both go 10-5. Buffalo's stellar defense coupled with a strong running game and a decent line win games. Losman comes along but isn't quite yet mature enough to handle the pressure.

The coordinators put NE off to a slow start, the defense recovers from losing two linebackers, and they plug holes. Whoever wins the tie breakers gets the wildcard.

Miami - their record won't dictate how good they are. A little weak on the OLine but improving. Even if he is a nut, Ricky was one of the top backs just a couple years ago, so we'll see what happens with him. If he doesnt see the field the #2 pick is expected to do some big things. I really like their WR situation. CHambers, Booker, and Boston. I really like that trio. McMichael (assuming he stays out of jail) is a great TE. He'll make Ferrote look better than he is. The defense was aging but Saban picked some great picks and is amazing at coaching defensive talent. I'm guessing 6 wins for this club, which is a bit high but they have some talent.

10-5 TIE. Buffallo and NE both go 10-5. Buffalo's stellar defense coupled with a strong running game and a decent line win games. Losman comes along but isn't quite yet mature enough to handle the pressure.

Daseal, there are 16 games in an NFL season, homie.

Pats 11-5: Corey Dillon, Tom Brady, and Deion Branch are still there, so the offense will be fine. The defense takes a step back, but not too far.

NY Jets 10-6: Pennington is looking healthy indeed, but I don't see a deep threat at WR. McCareins is alright in that respect, but I don't like LC's toe situation. I do like CuMart and Blalock at RB. Defense still looks solid, but the loss of Ferguson might make them a bit vulnerable against the run.

Bills 9-7: I like Lee Evans and Eric Moulds at WR, and McGahee is great at RB. Losman will definitely have talent around him. The defense is still one of the best. I think they'd finish 11-5 if they played in the NFC.

Dolphins 5-11: I think they still stink. New coach, new systems. Gus Frerotte at QB, that's just terrible. Horrible offensive line. The RBs are there, but they don't have blockers. The WRs are big and sturdy, but not much in the way of deep threats. Not that they'll have enough time to get deep before Frerotte is sacked anyway. Aging defense; Seau and Zack Thomas are fading. Surtain is gone.

Daseal, there are 16 games in an NFL season, homie.

Maybe he's saying they will tie in one of their games?

That's a helluva crystal ball he's got. ;)

JETS 12 - 4
Pennington is back and supposedly healthy as an ox with his rotator cuff feeling great. With McCarreins getting the offensive coordinate that he flourished under, Hemmerdinger (sp? [the guy from TN]) and Coles back I can see the running game getting better. They lost LaMont Jordan, but I think Braylock could be a good change of pace back for them. The defense, behind DC and Buffallo was one of my favorites to watch last year, and I like some of their pickups. Herm Edwards has winning on their mind and I see it happening.
Pennington sat out of the Preseason opener because his shoulder wasn't ready, and earlier this week listed his shoulder at "90-95%". That's a fairly slow recovery from a surgery that occured on Feb. 8th, which I'd be hesitant to call "healthy as an ox."

Pats 12 -4 More than the Cordinators leaving I believe tha the los of Bruschi and the other LB that retire (don't remember hsi name) on the Defense will hurt them more they're losing leaders of the side that makes them great still dominate the division but I don't see a repeat of SB

NY Jets 9-7 I believe last year was their High point Abraham still hasn't sign and is coming back from surgery Pennington it's injury prone and hasn't had a good offseason just started to trow

Bills 8-8 Great D Good Wr Great RB but I don't see Losman confortable in the offense teams are going to stack the box waiting for Losman 2 beat man alot of close games I preddicted it will depend if they win those

Miami 6 -10 to soo nto predict a comeback Gus playes well in the type of system they are implanting. But the Defense is Old and lost surtain.

whoops, still not used to laptop keyboard. You guys know what I meant!

Pennington is back to doing two a days at camp, they sat him out as a precaution.