The American Football Conference Eastern Division is one of
the oldest. Created in 1960 as the AFL
East Division as a counterpart to the AFL Western Division, its modern day residents
include four teams, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and
Buffalo Bills.
The AFC East will be the most fascinating division to watch this year in the NFL. Due to their tumultuous offseason of multiple players signing elsewhere and one player indicted for murder, every remote control couch coach in their cup-holding recliners and upper echelon T.V. pigskin pundits West of the Berkshires and South of Providence believe the Patriots have lost their mojo. The Jets, Bills and Dolphins think they smell blood in the water and are ready to unseat the Pats atop of the AFC East.
Not so fast my little referee. No other team in the NFL deals with negativity and adversity like the Patriots and no other team in the NFL will use that negativity and adversity to their advantage. Brady’s bunch will once again have the rest of the division in the Patriots’ rearview mirror as they make their drive to the Super Bowl. Here is my 2013 AFC East season preview.
The Pats will still employ their “bend but don’t break” defense. However, they will be much more improved than last season. The re-signing of Aqib Talib and the signing of Adrian Wilson are steps to repair the 29th ranked pass defense in the league. Vince Wilfork still anchors the front and look for solid years from Brandon Spikes, Jarod Mayo, Chandler Jones and newcomer Tommy Kelly. Rookie Jamie Collins will have a solid year playing multiple linebacker spots.
The Pats running game was very good last year with the emergence of Stevan Ridley. The Patriots finished seventh in the NFL in rushing and scored more rushing touchdowns than any other team. The Pats running back squad is fuller than a Maine lobster trap with LeGarrette Blount, Brandon Bolden, Vereen and Leon Washington. Look for Blount, Vereen and Washington to make the 53-man roster with Bolden ask to go to the practice squad. The Pats are stacked at running back and anyone of these ball carriers will succeed in their roles.
Now let me get back to Brady and Belichick. B&B are masters at doing more with less. They are both going to the Hall of Fame and they can both be considered the greatest at their respective NFL jobs. B&B will both have to be the best teachers on the schoolyard this year as the Patriots’ offense will see new, fresh faces in Kenbrell Thompkins, Zach Sudfeld, Josh Boyce and to some extent Amendola. The loss of Rob Gronkowski for part of the year hurts but this offense will go as far as Brady can take them. Brady’s greatest asset (and he has several) is that he makes the team around him better. His career is on the back nine but his fire and passion for winning is still on the first tee.
The Fins improved this year flip-flopping their win loss
total. Last year they were 7-9 and this
year they will end up 9-7. Improved, but
still on the beach catching South Florida sun while the other teams will be in
the playoff waters.
Buffalo Bills (6-10)
2013 schedule and projected result
Key Additions: EJ Manuel and Kevin Kolb
Key Losses: Andy Levitre, Ryan Fitzpatrick and George Wilson
Manuel is the Bills future but knee issue that could keep him out of some regular season games has recently slowed him. Kolb also had injury issues this preseason, most recently a potential concussion. This position is in obvious flux and that is not a good thing for any team. Look for the Bills to bring in some veteran help before the regular season begins.
There are playmakers on defense with Jairus Byrd and Mario Williams but the Bills will struggle to reach six wins this season. If Spiller goes down and they do not fix their QB situation, the Bills will be hard pressed to look like a team improving.
The uncertainty at QB cost the Bills some wins this season. However, the Bills will improve. It just will not be this season. They will miss the playoff dance but look for them to be on the guest list in the near future.
Key Losses: Darrelle Revis, LaRon Landry and Bart Scott
Mark Sanchez has never taken that next step to becoming a better QB and I blame that on Ryan. Secondary maniac, Darrelle Revis, is gone, leaving rookie Dee Milliner to fend off the likes of Tom Brady, Andy Dalton, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan Unproven running back, Chris Ivory, attempts to tote the rock while wide receiver Santonio Holmes will play when he wants.
The Jets are at the bottom of the AFC East and the reason is that Rex Ryan is leading this team. The Jets can only improve in the coming seasons and that will only happen when they finally get a new head coach. I gave the Jets zero wins this season and it is just as hard to lose all 16 as it is to win all 16 but something tells me Rex’s boys will have no issue sporting the goose egg.
You can follow me on twitter @TheSoftParade69
Talk football talk cigars talk anything, I know a little about a lot.
Follow @TheNFLInjuryRpt
The AFC East will be the most fascinating division to watch this year in the NFL. Due to their tumultuous offseason of multiple players signing elsewhere and one player indicted for murder, every remote control couch coach in their cup-holding recliners and upper echelon T.V. pigskin pundits West of the Berkshires and South of Providence believe the Patriots have lost their mojo. The Jets, Bills and Dolphins think they smell blood in the water and are ready to unseat the Pats atop of the AFC East.
Not so fast my little referee. No other team in the NFL deals with negativity and adversity like the Patriots and no other team in the NFL will use that negativity and adversity to their advantage. Brady’s bunch will once again have the rest of the division in the Patriots’ rearview mirror as they make their drive to the Super Bowl. Here is my 2013 AFC East season preview.
New England Patriots
(16-0) [Division Champion]
Last Season: 12-4
2013 schedule and projected result
Bills Win
New York Jets Win
Tampa Bay Win
At Atlanta Win
At Cincinnati Win
New Orleans Win
At New York Jets Win
Miami Win
Pittsburgh Win
At CarolinaWin
Denver Win
At Houston Win
Cleveland Win
At Miami Win
At Baltimore Win
Buffalo Win
Patriots will go 16-0 in 2013. There, I said it. It is easy to say that the Patriots will win
this division but you may be thinking I am nuts for picking them to go
undefeated. They already did it once and
know what it takes to do it again.
The Patriots still have two cornerstones of their continued success
in future Hall of Fame coach and quarterback in Bill Belichick and Tom
Brady. This coach-quarterback partnership
is one of the most successful in NFL history.
More on the lords of the rings later.
The Patriots did lose key players this offseason but they
filled those holes with very capable replacements. Football magnet Wes Welker signed with the
Broncos and though they will miss his production and durability, the question
is how much? The Pats filled his role
rather quickly with signing Danny Amendola from the Rams. Danny Woodhead took his game to the Chargers
but the Patriots have a faster, improved pass-catching version of Woodhead in
Shane Vereen.
The offensive line got an added boost with signing Will
Svitek. However, this is still Logan
Mankins’ crew and they will be as nasty and tough as ever. This line will not back down from any defense
and with line coach, Donte Scarneckya, being the best in the business still
running the show; this should be a good year for boys who protect Brady.
The Pats will still employ their “bend but don’t break” defense. However, they will be much more improved than last season. The re-signing of Aqib Talib and the signing of Adrian Wilson are steps to repair the 29th ranked pass defense in the league. Vince Wilfork still anchors the front and look for solid years from Brandon Spikes, Jarod Mayo, Chandler Jones and newcomer Tommy Kelly. Rookie Jamie Collins will have a solid year playing multiple linebacker spots.
The Pats running game was very good last year with the emergence of Stevan Ridley. The Patriots finished seventh in the NFL in rushing and scored more rushing touchdowns than any other team. The Pats running back squad is fuller than a Maine lobster trap with LeGarrette Blount, Brandon Bolden, Vereen and Leon Washington. Look for Blount, Vereen and Washington to make the 53-man roster with Bolden ask to go to the practice squad. The Pats are stacked at running back and anyone of these ball carriers will succeed in their roles.
Now let me get back to Brady and Belichick. B&B are masters at doing more with less. They are both going to the Hall of Fame and they can both be considered the greatest at their respective NFL jobs. B&B will both have to be the best teachers on the schoolyard this year as the Patriots’ offense will see new, fresh faces in Kenbrell Thompkins, Zach Sudfeld, Josh Boyce and to some extent Amendola. The loss of Rob Gronkowski for part of the year hurts but this offense will go as far as Brady can take them. Brady’s greatest asset (and he has several) is that he makes the team around him better. His career is on the back nine but his fire and passion for winning is still on the first tee.
I picked the Patriots to go undefeated with the only potential
roadblock being the Atlanta Falcons. If
the Pats can get passed the feisty southern birds and Matt Ryan and take their undefeated
winning ways into the playoffs, look for Bill Belichick to be spending the
money to change the name of his boat.
Miami Dolphins (9-7)
Last Season: 7-9
2013 schedule and projected result
At Cleveland Win
At Indianapolis Win
Atlanta Loss
At New Orleans Loss
Baltimore Loss
Buffalo Win
At New England Loss
Cincinnati Loss
At Tampa Bay Win
San Diego Win
Carolina Win
At New York Jets Win
At Pittsburgh Loss
New England Loss
At Buffalo Win
New York Jets Win
Key Additions: Mike Wallace, Dannell Ellerbe, Philip
Wheeler, Dustin Keller (Lost to season ending injury) and Dion Jordan
Second year quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, is improving and
the additions of a deep threat in Mike Wallace and a slot specialist in Brandon
Gibson will help one of the worst offenses in 2012. The re-signing of Brian Hartline was a good
move and the signing of tight end Dustin Keller was a better move. However, Keller was lost for the season after
suffering a devastating knee injury during a preseason game. The loss of Keller will hurt the production
of the offense, as defenses will now be able to direct more focus on Wallace.
The Dolphins also let two key offensive players sail out of
South Florida with the departures of tackle Jack Long and running back Reggie
Bush. Both are big losses that will cost
Miami at least one win this season.
The defense was strong last year with a seventh ranked
rushing defense and pass rusher Cameron Wake will cause strong waves for
opposing quarterbacks. Rookie, Dion
Jordon, is the future big fish in Miami’s defensive pond and could be a strong
contributor this year if he can overcome his issues with his surgically
repaired shoulder.
Linebackers Dannell Ellerbe (from Ravens) and Phillip
Wheeler (from Raiders) will add depth, experience and possibly a few sacks in
defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle’s blitz packages.
The Dolphins swim two feet forward then are slammed backed a
foot by the waves. The two more wins I
give them from last year is an indication they are flowing in the right
direction but not fast enough to join the 2013 playoff dance party.
Last Season: 6-10
2013 schedule and projected result
New England Loss
Carolina Win
At New York Jets Win
Baltimore Loss
At Cleveland Loss
Cincinnati Loss
At Miami Loss
At New Orleans Win
Kansas City Win
At Pittsburgh Loss
New York Jets Win
Atlanta Loss
At Tampa Bay Loss
At Jacksonville Win
Miami Loss
At New England Loss
Key Losses: Andy Levitre, Ryan Fitzpatrick and George Wilson
For the Buffalo Bills, running back C.J. Spiller is the one bright
star on the offense. If Spiller can stay
healthy, he has a legitimate chance to reach the coveted 2,000 yards rushing
mark in a single season. Spiller alone
is good for at least three wins this season and could be an offensive player of
the year candidate. Newcomer, Robert
Woods, who was drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft, will provide
immediate help at the wide receiver position.
The Bills let starting quarterback, Ryan Patrick, shuffle on
off to Tennessee while taking a $10 million dollar cap hit. To replace the fiery Irishman, the Bills
brought in oft-injured Kevin Kolb and first round draft choice E.J. Manuel.
Manuel is the Bills future but knee issue that could keep him out of some regular season games has recently slowed him. Kolb also had injury issues this preseason, most recently a potential concussion. This position is in obvious flux and that is not a good thing for any team. Look for the Bills to bring in some veteran help before the regular season begins.
There are playmakers on defense with Jairus Byrd and Mario Williams but the Bills will struggle to reach six wins this season. If Spiller goes down and they do not fix their QB situation, the Bills will be hard pressed to look like a team improving.
The uncertainty at QB cost the Bills some wins this season. However, the Bills will improve. It just will not be this season. They will miss the playoff dance but look for them to be on the guest list in the near future.
New York Jets (0-16)
Last Season: 6-10
2013 schedule and projected result
Tampa Bay Loss
At New England Loss
Buffalo Loss
At Tennessee Loss
At Atlanta Loss
Pittsburgh Loss
New England Loss
At Cincinnati Loss
New Orleans Loss
At Buffalo Loss
At Baltimore Loss
Miami Loss
Oakland Loss
At Carolina Loss
Cleveland Loss
At Miami Loss
Key Additions: Geno Smith, Dee Milliner and Chris Ivory
Key Losses: Darrelle Revis, LaRon Landry and Bart Scott
This will be my shortest analysis of any season prediction I
make this year. The Jets did draft
quarterback Geno Smith and though talented, he is paired with one of the worst
head coaches in recent memory, Rex Ryan.
Ryan lost control of this team a few seasons ago and this no win season
is the result. This will be Rex Ryan's
last year as the Jets head coach and he may never get another head-coaching job
again in the NFL.
Mark Sanchez has never taken that next step to becoming a better QB and I blame that on Ryan. Secondary maniac, Darrelle Revis, is gone, leaving rookie Dee Milliner to fend off the likes of Tom Brady, Andy Dalton, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan Unproven running back, Chris Ivory, attempts to tote the rock while wide receiver Santonio Holmes will play when he wants.
The Jets are at the bottom of the AFC East and the reason is that Rex Ryan is leading this team. The Jets can only improve in the coming seasons and that will only happen when they finally get a new head coach. I gave the Jets zero wins this season and it is just as hard to lose all 16 as it is to win all 16 but something tells me Rex’s boys will have no issue sporting the goose egg.
So there you have it, my 2013 AFC East season preview. It comes full circle with the Patriots going
16-0 and the Jets going 0-16 with the Bills and Dolphins in the middle of the
pack but improving. Like it or hate it, let me know.
Talk football talk cigars talk anything, I know a little about a lot.
Follow @TheNFLInjuryRpt
Looking for fantasy football advice?
