Not sure if this was posted. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=reese_floyd&id=2917930 The AFC East has been one of the toughest in the NFL in recent years. This season, the Jets and Patriots should be playoff teams, with New England shaping up as a possible Super Bowl contender. Miami and Buffalo suffered some big offseason losses. How they rebound is key to their playoff potential. Buffalo Bills: Offensive line Buffalo was forced to overhaul its roster in the offseason, especially in areas such as the offensive line, running backs, linebackers and secondary. It is difficult to successfully replace a large number of players, but I would have to think the Bills are hoping the highest success rate will be on the offensive line and at running back. A strong running game will take pressure off the quarterback, receivers and defense. Buffalo's offensive line is going to feel the heat this season because its play will greatly impact the team's record. Miami Dolphins: Trent Green Miami has experienced a turbulent offseason with the acquisition of QB Trent Green and the uncertainty surrounding Daunte Culpepper. LB Joey Porter was an excellent addition, but his arrival is balanced by the losses of DE Kevin Carter, TE Randy McMichael and WR Wes Welker. The Dolphins have a very mature and effective defense, and if Green ends up being the quarterback, they have the potential to be mature on offense. But it is hard for a team with this much experience to be so uncertain about the quarterback position. If Culpepper is gone or injured, Green has to be the person feeling the heat because it would be unfair to play a rookie quarterback, considering the age of this team. New England Patriots: Randy Moss The Patriots have made valid attempts to answer every question on the roster. They have a great combination of experience and youth, led by Tom Brady, one of the best quarterbacks in the league. The biggest changes on the roster have taken place at the wide receiver position. The key acquisition has been Randy Moss. Moss is feeling the heat to meet all the expectations. New York Jets: Thomas Jones The Jets need to build on their strong 2006 season. Anything less than a playoff appearance will probably be considered a step backward. The Jets showed marked improvement on defense, and QB Chad Pennington returned to health. An area they must improve is rushing the ball, which would help the defense and the passing game. Running back Thomas Jones must be feeling the heat because significant improvement in the running game will get them over the hump.
Funny , everyone has the Pats pegged as SB favourites , so I guess the heat is under their ass , we have nothing to prove and no shoulder to look over as such.
Some people will say we have to prove last year wasn't the result of an easy schedule. Note: I am not one of said people
the only thing we have to prove is that we can beat NE at home opening day. if anyone thinks mangini and the jets are thinking about one iota more that this, you dont know mangini. mangini eats and breaths NOTHING but the next game on the calendar. last season was a million years ago, and the 2nd game of the upcoming season is a million years away. NE. at home. opening day. thats it.
Call me crazy, but I think the Jets win it fairly easily this yr. Bills and Fins just ain't that good, and I think for the first time in a long time, the Pats will be .500 or lower.
How could it not be? Ha ha. Even the biggest Jets darksider should be optimistic for the 2007 season.
you do crack me up with your post's. i think you deliberately make these assnine post's to be the forum clown. i mean, you can't possibly believe most of the crap you write, can you????
The brilliance in which Bill bellicheck adjusts and scemes against opponents offenses is and never has been nothing short of genius/brilliant..... this in and of itself makes them a > than .500 team right off the bat... are you thinkin things out?hmy: :breakdance:
The heat is spread around pretty evenly this year. Pats for the first time have resorted to a heavy trade/free agency infusion to try to get over the top. They've used both trades and free agents in the past, witness Roosevelt Colvin and Corey Dillon, however their approach has never been so Yankee-ishly desperate in the past. By far the favorites in the division, as they've been the last 5 years, however their grip on power has started to slip. Jets had a way over the top bounce-back from the 2005 debacle and now face a lot of pressure to at least repeat their 10-6 wildcard showing. The players are a bit better than what they had going into last season however the schedule is also and there are a lot of questions on the line of scrimage at this point. The Bills have turned into the perennial rebuilding team in the AFC East. It seems like every other season they are coming off a fast finish and then flop at the start of the season. Lots of young talent here and lots of holes that need to be filled. Survey says this isn't the year yet. The Fins are on the verge of a total collapse. The excellent defense is aging, particularly in the linebackers after the defensive backs fell out last season. The defensive line is a year away from a similar dropout. The offense is still in it's post-Marino funk and Cam Cameron is probably not the answer at head coach. Fans in Miami are viewing the coming season with a sense of dread because they know the Fins have been on top for too long and things tend to reach a tipping point (Raiders) and then go over the edge. Two of the last three season have gone that way and 2007 would be the final straw.
As much as I'd like to guess and hope that the Pasts are showing signs of wayward maneuvers and straying from their philosophy, you have to assume that they will do what they have done in the past... take new pieces and fit them into the old puzzle. Bastards.
Anyone who is optimistic hasn't been paying attention the last 40 years. A realist will tell you that we are taking a step back in 2007. Expect 8-8.
