AFC East rankings: Are the Bills the worst team in the division?
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| Image from Patriots.com |
1. New England Patriots: The Patriots were able to go 12-4 last year and there is reason to believe that this year’s team will be even better. Last year the team was riddled with injuries, on defense Wilfork, Mayo and Kelly were knocked out early in the season. The offense also had Gronkowski out for half the season, Vereen suffered a wrist injury in the first game, and Amendola had a groin injury he seemed to be nursing all season long. With the exception of Kelly being gone all of those players seem to be ready for the season opener. Though they lost Talib to free agency they gained Revis and Browner to their secondary and the undrafted free agent Malcolm Butler has surprised everyone with a strong preseason. With such a strong secondary the defense looks like it could be elite this year.
Thompkins and Dobson also have another year in the system under their belt and could improve from their rookie year. The Pats also grabbed Lafell in free agency and traded for a receiving tight end in Tim Wright. The only question mark the Patriots have is their offensive line. With Logan Mankins now a Buccaneer it is unclear who will be playing where on the offensive line and there will likely be some untested players protecting Brady this year. If the offensive line holds the Patriots could be a dominant force in the NFL.
Projected Season Record: 13-3
But I love their defensive front. Coples, Wilkerson, and Richardson are going to give opposing quarterbacks headaches this season. If those guys can get to the quarterback it will give Geno a chance to help them win games. In 2013 their offense ranked 25th in yards per game. I believe that stat will improve but given their defensive secondary problems they will surrender more points.
Projected Season Record: 8-8
Projected Season Record: 8-8
3. Miami Dolphins: After being ranked 26th in total points for the 2013 season Miami decided to draft with their offense in mind grabbing OT Ju'Wuan James and receiver Jarvis Landry with their first two picks in the draft. They also went and paid former Bronco Knowshon Moreno to be their tailback. Though Moreno struggled in training camp he may have played well enough in preseason to be ahead of Lamar Miller in the depth chart.
A big defect for the Phins this year will be their run defense. According to Chris Perkins at the Sun Sentinel:
I just don't see Moreno or any other new offensive weapons adding enough scoring power to help Miami win more games than lose them. Also, with their poor run defense opposing teams should easily move the ball.
Projected Season Record: 7-9
4. Buffalo Bills: Like most years Buffalo will fall to the bottom of the AFC East pile. One silver lining to this team is their receiving corps. Imagine what most teams could do with Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, Mike Williams, and Marquise Goodwin on the field. Unfortunately the Buffalo franchise bet the farm on former Seminole EJ Manuel and there is reason to doubt him. Manuel only played 10 games last season and played so poorly in their preseason game against Tampa that Bills fans booed the team. They do have some talented runningbacks with Spiller, Jackson, and Bryce Brown ready for the opener which could relieve some pressure off Manuel.
In 2013 their defense ranked 13th in points allowed and made some moves to address their defense signing cornerback Corey Graham and some generic middle linebacker named Brandon Spikes. They also lost starting safety Jairus Byrd to free agency and recently signed Kyle Orton to back up Manuel. My bold prediction is that Manuel will once again find himself injured for a handful of games and Orton will come in and put up some good stats. The Bills will have themselves a quarterback controversy by December.
Projected Season Record: 5-11
How would you rank the AFC East? Let us know in the comments section below.
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A big defect for the Phins this year will be their run defense. According to Chris Perkins at the Sun Sentinel:
the Dolphins, once one of the league's best against the run, finished 24th in the NFL in rushing defense at 124.9 yards per game...The Dolphins only made one change among their front seven (tackle Earl Mitchell replaces tackle Paul Soliai) and they're playing the same 4-3 scheme they played last season. You could argue they're practically the same run defense from last year.
I just don't see Moreno or any other new offensive weapons adding enough scoring power to help Miami win more games than lose them. Also, with their poor run defense opposing teams should easily move the ball.
Projected Season Record: 7-9
4. Buffalo Bills: Like most years Buffalo will fall to the bottom of the AFC East pile. One silver lining to this team is their receiving corps. Imagine what most teams could do with Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, Mike Williams, and Marquise Goodwin on the field. Unfortunately the Buffalo franchise bet the farm on former Seminole EJ Manuel and there is reason to doubt him. Manuel only played 10 games last season and played so poorly in their preseason game against Tampa that Bills fans booed the team. They do have some talented runningbacks with Spiller, Jackson, and Bryce Brown ready for the opener which could relieve some pressure off Manuel.
In 2013 their defense ranked 13th in points allowed and made some moves to address their defense signing cornerback Corey Graham and some generic middle linebacker named Brandon Spikes. They also lost starting safety Jairus Byrd to free agency and recently signed Kyle Orton to back up Manuel. My bold prediction is that Manuel will once again find himself injured for a handful of games and Orton will come in and put up some good stats. The Bills will have themselves a quarterback controversy by December.
Projected Season Record: 5-11
How would you rank the AFC East? Let us know in the comments section below.
Follow me on Twitter @PatriotsFan1057
Read more of my work here
