2013 AFC East Predictions
Try as I might to avoid it, there is only one place to start in the traditionally Patriot dominated AFC East this season, and that is with the very same, and now reeling, New England Patriots.
That is a sentence I never thought I would be saying at the end of the 2012 season, but a lot has changed since Bill Belichick’s team were dumped out of the playoffs by the eventual Super Bowl Champions, the Baltimore Ravens.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS – 2012: 12-4, EAST CHAMPIONS, LOST IN AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
It was a case of the same old story for the Pats in 2012, with an offensively explosive, threatening team failing to go all the way once again; Brady’s brilliance couldn’t lift them past the Flacco-inspired Ravens, and another year was done. Since then, New England has gone mad. Firstly, Wes Welker was allowed to join Peyton Manning in Denver for a relatively small contract; which infuriated many Pats fans, but worse was to come. Aaron Hernandez’s arrest for suspected First Degree Murder came as a massive shock to everyone who follows the NFL and has thrown a colossal spanner in Belichick’s works. Coupling this with the injury issues of Rob Gronkowski and the loss of Welker, Brandon Lloyd and Deion Branch, will deprive Tom Brady and the Pats of their best receiving targets for the foreseeable future. Big questions hang over New England this year: who will catch Tom Brady’s passes? Can the defense improve? Will Gronk ever stay off the operating table long enough to score 10 TD’s again? Um, Tebow? Can the fans trust in Bill? This season will be Belichick’s greatest test for many seasons, and reaching the Playoffs would be an achievement.
MIAMI DOLPHINS – 2012: 7-9
With the rookie QB Ryan Tannehill taking the reins in Miami, many could have expected a rough season for the Phins, but while 7-9 isn’t the greatest slate, there were real signs of progress and promise for Joe Philbin’s outfit. Now though, there is a weight of expectation hanging over Miami after owner Stephen Ross opened his wallet and splashed out on a large number of notable players in a ‘win now’ binge taking them very close to the salary cap limit. Mike Wallace, Dannell Ellerbe, Philip Wheeler and Dustin Keller have all joined the team for substantial pay checks, and Ross will be looking for instant returns. The most exciting element of the Dolphins team this year could be the defensive line, with Cameron Wake, Jared Odrick, Dion Jordan, Paul Soliai and Randy Starks being part of a potentially devastating unit. With the Patriots seemingly on the way down, now is the time for Miami and its new bevy of highly paid stars to rise up and become the kings of the AFC East.
BUFFALO BILLS – 2012: 6-10
The Bills are undoubtedly one of the league’s biggest conundrums. With explosive talent like Fred Jackson, CJ Spiller, Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus and Stevie Johnson on their team, you would have thought that there was something decent going on in Buffalo, but they are one of those sides, including last season, who just can’t put it all together. Of course the QB position could be the issue. With Ryan Fitzpatrick gone, there should be hope, but apparently rookie 1st round draft pick EJ Manuel is impressing more than Kevin Kolb in camp… ouch. No pressure then EJ, but there’s some talent in this team that you can work with. Even though, after losing your best interior lineman in the summer, you might be running around a lot, probably trying to get away from Cameron Wake. This season will probably be another ‘rebuilding year’ for the Bills, and I wonder how long the fans will accept their team being also-rans… I wonder how long the league will accept the ‘Buffalo Bills’ as such. Are the ‘Toronto Bills’ only around the corner?
NEW YORK JETS – 2012: 6-10
I’ll give some credit to Rex Ryan, getting that shambles of a New York Jets roster to 6-10 last year was a thoroughly decent effort. But now the Tebow media storm has moved on to Boston, the Jets have had time to take stock and rebuild. So what did they do? Oh, upset the applecart by drafting a big-time QB to unsettle Mark Sanchez even further. Do Gang Green never learn? By trading away Darrelle Revis, they have weakened their previous strength and have not used the cap space to make their weaknesses better. Although Dee Milliner shows promise and could become a good tandem with Antonio Cromartie at corner, it’s not Revis Island. By the way, they let their top TE go in Dustin Keller too. I just can’t see an improvement in the Jets’ fortunes this year, maybe it’s time for the top man to fall on his sword.
ROUNDUP AND PREDICTION
This division could well be staking a claim for the worst division in football if the Patriots slip and the ‘operation moneypump’ in Miami doesn’t pay dividends. I can see two scenarios, a) The Pats somehow keep their level up thanks to Tom Terrific and beat down the upstarts in Miami to be the only team to make it to the playoffs from the AFC East. OR b) Miami steps up and matches the Pats toe to toe to finish the year in a tight fight for the division at 10-6. The second scenario seems the most likely, but Bill Belichick has won with rag-tag bunches before, and Tom Brady is certainly not that. There are good young players on both sides of the ball in New England, and if Gronk is healthy, teams will still struggle to contain them.
