AFC EAST PROJECTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Dolphins
2. Patriots
3. Jets
4. Bills
MIAMI: YEAR THREE OF THE PARCELLS PLAN
For the last two seasons the Dolphins offense has been run by the Wildcat offense. This may be a season that the Dolphins run a traditional offense and it leads them to a division title.
The trade for Brandon Marshall has given the Dolphins a deep threat at receiver. Yes, Marshall did have problems with the coaching staff, but I don’t think the Dolphins will tolerate that behavior… especially those in the front office.
Running back Ricky Williams rushed for 1,121 yards and 11 touchdowns as part of the fourth best rushing team in the NFL. Williams has returned to the form that he had before getting injured and abruptly retiring to smoke weed to discover himself. Williams should eclipse the 10,000 yard rushing mark this season.
The cornerstone of the Dolphins offense is offensive Jake Long. In his two seasons in Miami, Long has given up 6.5 sacks total.
I am taking a huge risk with picking the Dolphins to finish first in the AFC East. I think that the Dolphins have an opportunity to win the division because hey… I need a surprise team and I willing to put it out there.
The Dolphins first two games are on the road against the Bills and Vikings. Their home opener is against the Jets on Sunday Night in Week 3. Their next four games are against the Patriots
In Week 11, the Bears come to Miami. Hmmm…. What is significant about Bears at Miami? What happened 25 years ago? Big play one Big Play two
Three of the Dolphins final four games are against the AFC East. Two of those three AFC East games are on the road.
This will be a daunting task, but Bill Parcells has his mark on this team.
NEW ENGLAND: STILL RUN BY BELICHICK AND BRADY
The Patriots clearly were the best team of the 2000s winning the AFC East seven times, winning four AFC Titles, and winning three Super Bowls. They only posted a losing season once in this decade, 2000; Belichick’s first season as head coach.
The key to the Patriots success was the play of Tom Brady. In his first season after the knee injury, Brady threw for 4,398 yards and 28 touchdowns.
The receiving corps is one of the best in the NFL with 2009 reception leader Wes Welker and touchdown catch leader Randy Moss.
For the first time in the Brady-Bellichick era, the Patriots lost a home playoff game. Will it send the Patriots into f-you mode or send them into a spiral?
I am concerned about the Patriots because they have the lack of a running game and their patchwork secondary. Also, there has been grumbling from Randy Moss about his future with the Patriots.
Winning the AFC East in 2010 will not be easy as the Jets and Dolphins have reloaded. The season opens at home against the Bengals followed by three straight against the AFC East.
After the bye week the schedule gets difficult as five of their next six are against teams with all-pro including the MVP matchup between Favre and Brady in Foxboro on Halloween afternoon. The stretch concludes with the ever important Brady vs. Manning game in Week 11. The Patriots travel to Detroit for Thanksgiving followed by a Monday Night home game against the Jets.
Week 15 is another quarterback battle against the Packers. The season concludes at home against the Dolphins.
The schedule is difficult. A second place finish is a minimum for this team. Even though I think the Patriots will finish second, I would not be surprised if they finish first because of the pairing of Brady and Bellichick.
NEW YORK: LOOKING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL…
Jet Head Coach Rex Ryan made a brash guarantee.
Not as memorable as Joe Namath’s Guarantee before Super Bowl III.
Matt Sanchez is entering his second season as the Jets quarterback. There are concerns that he has regressed some. He does have two receivers that have the capability to go deep in Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards.
The leagues number one running game will suffer due to the loss of Thomas Jones. The signing of LaDamien Tomlinson gives the Jets depth at the position, but does he have any left?
Darrel Revis finally ended his holdout before the start of the regular season. As one of the best corners in the league, Revis backs up his statement as “The Island” with his play. He was part of a passing defense that gave up under 200 yards per game. In this day and age of the pass happy NFL, that is almost unheard of.
Looking at the Jets schedule, it is going to be tough for them to make the playoffs. Getting into a hole early is possible with home games against the Ravens and the Patriots and an early showdown on Sunday Night in Week 3. Brett Favre returns to New York on Monday Night in Week 5.
After the bye week, the Packers visit the Big Apple. Week 11-15 will be a key stretch for the Jets as they face teams that could be in playoff positioning.
Last season was the closest the Jets got to appearing in their first Super Bowl since January 1969. The New York Jets have a habit of this: almost every decade they threaten to appear in the Super Bowl and then fall due to the hype that surrounds them.
Maybe Rex Ryan needs to re-position his crystal ball away from viewing the television screen while his players are playing Madden…
BUFFALO: CIRCLING THE WAGONS? MORE LIKE CIRCLING THE DRAIN
Most of us remember the Bills last playoff appearance…
It has been almost 15 years since the last time Ralph Wilson Stadium hosted a playoff game. There is something about watching one of those games in a lake effect snowstorm as Jim Kelly threw precision passes to Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas cutting his way on the frozen Astroturf.
Oh… and I haven’t forgotten Buffalo Special Teams led by Steve Tasker.
Any chance of the Bills returning to those days?
Not anytime soon.
The Bills have a couple of pieces they can build around.
Rookie running back C.J. Spiller and first year safety Jarius Byrd are players that the Bills can build around to bring the team back to respectability. Byrd picked off nine passes as a rookie.
Buffalo’s schedule begins with a brutal stretch playing the Dolphins, road games against the Packers and Patriots, and home games against the Jets and Jaguars before the bye week. Week 11-13 has tough stretch with games at Cincinnati, a home game against the Steelers, and a visit to Minneapolis to play Brett Favre the Vikings. The Bills close out the season with three games against the AFC East.
Bills fans, all I can say is this:
Pray.
And one more thing…
From the great Tim Russert: “Go Bills.”
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