The greatest option to describe the upcoming competitors within the AFC East? That’s fairly simple.
It’s Buffalo.
Then everybody else.
The Bills have been, and nonetheless are, the very best group within the division heading into the 2022 season. They’re a reputable Super Bowl contender.
The questions largely revolve round everybody else – with the Patriots topping the listing.
Specifically, can Bill Belichick’s group maintain serve and keep above the fray, as soon as once more incomes a ticket to the playoffs?
Or will both the Dolphins, Jets – or each – leapfrog over them within the division?
That’s the place the actual intrigue lies. The battle between the remainder.
So whereas the AFC East doesn’t fairly maintain a candle to the AFC West, with 4 heavyweight contenders primed to duke it out, there are nonetheless loads of compelling storylines to maintain issues attention-grabbing.
At the highest, the Bills, behind MVP candidate Josh Allen, are attempting to interrupt by and eventually get to the Super Bowl towards an much more stacked AFC. Will this be the 12 months?
As for the Patriots, the largest query is whether or not or not Mac Jones can excel in Year 2 with out Josh McDaniels, or anybody remotely resembling an offensive mastermind calling the performs. Moreover, can Jones and the offense make up for a protection that final 12 months couldn’t drive the Bills to punt the final two instances the groups met.
The Dolphins? They assembled an offensive juggernaut below first-year head coach Mike McDaniel, including wideouts Tyreek Hill, Cedrick Wilson Jr., and others, however have they got the appropriate quarterback to reap the benefits of all of the expertise round him? Is Tua Tagovailoa actually the reply?
And lastly, there’s the Jets, who need to make a big transfer and rise out of the AFC East basement.
Quarterback Zach Wilson, who struggled for a lot of final season, is on a mission to justify being taken second total final 12 months.
Whatever the storyline, the division might produce two, presumably three playoff groups.
As ESPN analyst Damien Woody remarked, “there’s no longer any chumps in the division.”
Here’s a better take a look at how the AFC East shapes up.
Buffalo Bills (11-6; misplaced to Kansas City in division spherical)
Impact additions: LB Von Miller, WR Jamison Crowder, plus high draft choose CB Kairr Elam.
Significant losses: G Jon Feliciano, WR Cole Beasley, WR Emmanuel Sanders, DB Levi Wallace.
Outlook: Basically, for the Bills, it’s gotten to the purpose the place it’s Super Bowl or bust.
They’ve been crushed the previous couple of years by the Chiefs within the postseason, however based mostly on final 12 months’s extra time thriller, can cling with anybody due to quarterback Josh Allen.
In phrases of 2022, it’s mainly the identical group with Von Miller added to the combo on protection. Given the Bills’ less-than-lethal move rush, Miller’s presence ought to assist get them over the hurdle.
Offensively, the addition of Jamison Crowder ought to make up for the lack of Cole Beasley. Gabriel Davis actually emerged as a menace final season, so between Davis, Stefon Diggs, Crowder, and tight finish Dawson Knox, Allen has loads of weapons to show defenses each week.
Last season, Allen threw for 4,407 yards, 36 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. In that divisional 42-36 extra time loss to the Chiefs, he went toe-to-toe with Patrick Mahomes, going 27-for-37 for 329 yards and 4 touchdowns, all to Davis.
So it simply looks like a matter of time earlier than the Bills lastly get to play for the championship.
Defensively, with Miller offering the lacking move rush element, the one challenge is how quickly high nook Tre’Davious White, who had knee surgical procedure to restore a torn anterior cruciate ligament, might be prepared.
Kaiir Elam, the group’s first-round draft choose, might very properly be the opening day starter.
The AFC East crown is theirs to lose. And proper now, it’s exhausting to see the Bills dropping their grip.
New England Patriots (10-8; misplaced to Buffalo in wild-card spherical)
Impact additions: WR DeVante Parker, LB Mack Wilson, together with high draft picks OL Cole Strange, DB Marcus Jones, DB Jack Jones.
Significant losses: DB JC Jackson, G Shaq Mason, C/G Ted Karras, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
Outlook: Any notion that the Patriots will enhance on their 10-7 season from final 12 months mainly boils down to 2 largely held beliefs and intangibles.
The first is a blind religion and belief in Bill Belichick, who – whereas making some questionable strikes in recent times – has earned the good thing about doubt due to successful six Super Bowls.
The second revolves round second-year quarterback Mac Jones, who confirmed a ton of promise final 12 months, and the idea he’s destined for stardom.
That’s largely what the Patriots have going for them, as a result of there are severe query marks on each side of the ball.
Where to begin?
The Patriots didn’t precisely exchange play-caller and offensive guru McDaniels. At least, they didn’t give anybody the title of offensive coordinator.
Joe Judge and Matt Patricia, each failed head coaches who’ve by no means run an offense, are actually the quarterbacks coach and offensive line coach, respectively. The approach it seems to be, they’re mainly going to run the offense with Belichick, though an precise play-caller is more likely to emerge through the pre-season.
All eyes might be on how properly they work with Jones, and maneuver what Belichick termed a “streamlined” offense. Kendrick Bourne mentioned it was a “new” offense, with “new” terminology. It would appear the Patriots hope to simplify what was a troublesome offense to study, and put a distinct spin on it.
The addition of Parker ought to assist whereas the Pats are relying on each Nelson Agholor and Jonnu Smith to be a lot better in Year 2. Their working recreation stays sound.
The protection?
Against the league’s higher offenses, most notably Buffalo, the unit didn’t put up a lot of a combat. While that they had a high 10 protection, it’s exhausting to disregard the actual fact they couldn’t drive the Bills to punt in two essential video games.
Moreover, the Patriots didn’t re-sign high nook J.C. Jackson, and mainly modified the face of the protection by not re-signing longtime mainstays Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins whereas additionally transport out Kyle Van Noy. It seems the Patriots are shifting towards a quicker, youthful linebacking corps.
While the Patriots are robust on the security place, it stays to be seen if they’ll subject no less than two strong corners.
Any approach you slice it, the Patriots aren’t precisely loaded with top-end expertise on both aspect of the ball. That didn’t show to be an issue when Tom Brady was below heart.
It stays to be seen if Jones can carry a group to higher heights, and if a 70-year-old Belichick nonetheless has his fastball. Holding their spot within the playoffs largely is dependent upon it.
Miami Dolphins (9-8, third in division)
Impact additions: WR Tyreek Hill, WR Cedrick Wilson, T Terron Armstead, RB Chase Edmonds, RB Raheem Mostert, head coach Mike McDaniel.
Significant losses: G Jesse Davis, head coach Brian Flores.
Outlook: The Fins have come up one win wanting making the playoffs the final two seasons.
Enter new head coach Mike McDaniel. Enter famous person receiver Tyreek Hill.
The Fins’ braintrust is banking on McDaniel, and an enhanced offensive forged to take them to the promised land.
McDaniel is a Kyle Shanahan disciple who ought to inject some life into Tua Tagovailoa and an offense that now contains a scorching receiver trio with Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Cedrick Wilson together with tight finish Mike Gesicki.
As for the protection, it stays to be seen how good that unit might be with out Flores working the present. Defensive coordinator Josh Boyer was stored, in order that helps by way of continuity.
Mostly, this comes all the way down to how good Tagovailoa could be with a loaded forged that additionally improved its working recreation with Edmonds and Mostert, and safety up entrance bringing All-Pro left sort out Terron Armstead aboard.
Given all that, it’s simple to see enchancment, and maybe, lastly getting the playoff monkey off their again.
But then once more, within the closing stretch of their schedule, they must play the 49ers and Chargers back-to-back out on the West Coast, comply with with the Bills on the street, the Packers at residence and Patriots on the street, earlier than closing out towards the Jets at Hard Rock Stadium.
If the Fins are reputable, they’ll have to interrupt higher than even over these last video games.
New York Jets (4-13, final in division)
Impact additions: TE CJ Uzomah, G Laken Tomlinson, DB DJ Reed, together with high draft picks DB Sauce Gardner, WR Garrett Wilson, DE Jermaine Johnson, RB Breece Hall.
Significant losses: WR Jamison Crowder, DE Shaw Lawson, S Marcus Maye.
Outlook: Gang Green actually added lots of items. With a ton of draft capital, together with money, they have been capable of fill loads of areas of want.
So will they stand up off the mat with an enhanced forged, or be the identical outdated Jets?
Much of that is dependent upon Zach Wilson, who was erratic, at greatest, throughout his rookie season.
He accomplished 213 of 383 passes (55.6%) for two,334 yards, with 9 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His 69.7 passer score ranked final amongst qualifiers.
He has a fairly good forged of receivers, with Elijah Moore, Corey Davis, Braxton Berrios and rookie Garrett Wilson, nevertheless it gained’t do a lot good if he can’t hit them with extra regularity. Zach Wilson has nice arm expertise, nevertheless it’s wasted if his wildness continues.
Of course, Buffalo’s Allen was the identical approach early on, and he’s now among the best within the league. It stays to be seen how Wilson seems.
Second-year head coach Robert Saleh put in a brand new protection final season, so with one other 12 months, it ought to run somewhat smoother.
It needs to be famous the Jets must face the Ravens, Browns, Bengals, Steelers, Dolphins, Packers, Broncos, Patriots, and Bills, in that order, to begin the 12 months. Hard to see one win – if that – within the combine through the first half of their 12 months.
Bottom line, the Jets might be higher. But we’re not prepared to tug them out of the AFC East basement simply but.
Source: www.bostonherald.com