Remember the years when the New England Patriots dominated the AFC East by profitable 17 out of 19 division titles, together with 11 in a row (2009-2019)?
Those days are lengthy gone, because the Buffalo Bills have lately dominated the AFC East profitable the division for the final three years.
But in 2023, the AFC East might be a gauntlet because the Jets, Dolphins and Patriots have all made strides this offseason. The Dolphins made the playoffs as a wild card group in 2022 after ending 9-8, whereas the Patriots (8-9) and Jets (7-10) remained in playoff rivalry late into December.
At some level, Aaron Rodgers is predicted to be traded to the Jets after the veteran celebrity quarterback introduced on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he “intends” to play for the membership final month.
Gang Green lately signed former Packers broad receiver Allen Lazard to a four-year deal and ex-Chiefs broad receiver Mecole Hardman to a one-year contract to group up with NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson.
“I feel like when I first got in the league, I was in Houston with Peyton Manning [on the Colts], and Tennessee was rolling and Jacksonville was really good. Then I go to the NFC West and it’s Seattle and San Francisco and Arizona was really good, and then I go to Jacksonville again and it’s the same thing,” Jets coach Robert Saleh stated final week throughout the NFL homeowners’ conferences in Arizona.
“So I think I’m used to being in divisions that are absolute ball-busters, if you will, but it’s fun. It makes it competitive, and you know that if you can survive your division, you can survive anything.”
With the speak of Rodgers becoming a member of the Jets dominating the division chatter, the Dolphins have quietly improved their protection considerably this offseason. Miami traded for six-time Pro Bowler and former Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey to pair with former All-Pro Xavien Howard. The Dolphins additionally added linebackers David Long Jr. and Malik Reed whereas including additional safety in case Tua Tagovailoa suffers one other damage by signing former Jets quarterback Mike White.
The most vital addition the Dolphins in all probability made this offseason is hiring former Broncos coach and longtime defensive assistant Vic Fangio as their defensive coordinator. Miami’s protection took a step again final season, going from fifteenth in whole protection to 18th in 2022.
Last 12 months, the Dolphins lastly snapped their playoff drought and made the playoffs for the primary time since 2016. But coach Mike McDaniel says it’s time for the Dolphins to succeed in the following degree of their development.
“I think our division is one of the… it appears to be building towards potentially being one of the better divisions in football,” McDaniel stated. “I’m cautious within the spring to not go an excessive amount of excessive on paper.
“That being stated, in case your targets in soccer are to not simply get to the playoffs, it’s not the worst factor on the earth to have a really sturdy division. Granted, it nonetheless makes it tougher to get to the playoffs, but when you’ll be able to [win] inside that excellent aggressive division, you might be rather more battle-tested for the video games that basically, actually matter. Because nobody needs to simply — we lived it as soon as and one time was sufficient. Getting to the playoffs is cool, over that.
“You want to win and so playing good teams in the regular season, however on the front end might seem, ‘oh, that’s tough.’ What else would you want if you’re really trying to actually win playoff games? … If you’re trying to win the AFC championship, if trying to win the Super Bowl, all those things, you better be a very good team and battle-tested and our division should help us do that, but it’s going to be stressful.”
The Patriots have additionally made just a few strikes to enhance their offense, which completed twenty sixth within the league final 12 months. New England signed Chiefs wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster to a three-year deal along with tight finish Mike Gesicki and operating again James Robinson.
Much just like the Dolphins, the Patriots largest acquisition was including a coordinator as Bill O’Brien returns to Foxborough because the Patriots offensive coordinator after being beforehand with the group from 2007-2011. O’Brien was the offensive coordinator for Nick Saban and Alabama from 2021-22 after being the Texans head coach from 2014-20. O’Brien shall be anticipated to assist enhance Mac Jones, the Crimson Tide’s beginning QB throughout the 2020 season.
As former wrestler Ric Flair at all times stated, “To be the man, you gotta beat the man,” and the Bills are nonetheless the group to beat within the AFC East. But they should navigate just a few adjustments to their group.
Buffalo defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier will take a 12 months away from teaching. Frazier led the Bills protection to sixth general within the league. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds additionally left the Bills to signal a four-year, $72 million contract with the Bears.
“Not only at the coach level but at the talent level they’ve been able to accrue,” Bills coach Sean McDermott informed NFL Network throughout the annual conferences about his division rivals.
“You look across the division, and … it’s impressive. So, we have to make sure we continue to reinvent ourselves to stay on top of the division.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com