AFC East

It’s been quite awhile since anyone gave New England much of a run for their money in this division. The Patriots have dominated the AFC East for just over a decade. Is that about to change? I’ve been waiting to see it for years. And I think I’m giving up.

New England Patriots: I’m done betting against Bill Belichick. Whenever I think someone has caught him (Last year’s New York Jets), I’m pitifully and embarrassingly wrong. The Patriots will win the division until they get bored doing so. Or until Tom Brady retires. Neither of which has happened yet.

Buffalo Bills: The other reason it’s easy to pick the Patriots is no other team is quite ready to challenge them. The Bills are better. A solid defense got better with the addition of pass rusher extraordinaire Mario Williams. And the offense has a solid quarterback complemented by Fred Jackson and Stevie Johnson. This team won’t make the playoffs yet, but it is much improved.

New York Jets: Rex Ryan is going to have an interesting challenge on his hands. Coming off two conference championship appearances, New York appeared primed to take over the East last year. But t he Jets imploded. Now Ryan is in a fight for his job with two mediocre-at-best quarterbacks, a mediocre-at-best running back in Shonn Greene and a supporting offensive cast that just isn’t all that impressive. If (when) we get around to writing about coaches on the hot seat, Ryan will be right at the top of the list.

Miami Dolphins: This is a season of new beginnings for Miami. They brought in Joe Philbin to coach and Ryan Tannehill to take over the quarterback position in hopes that he can be the best Dolphin quarterback since Dan Marino. In all honesty, though, the biggest thing Dolphins fans have to look forward to is seeing television shots of Tannehill’s wife. This team has no receivers, not a lot of skill players the rest of the way around, a mediocre defense and, really, a pretty miserable chance to do anything this season. Philbin might be a fine coach but Miami is a couple years away from contending for anything, at best.