2013 AFC East Projections

In their first season under head coach Joe Philbin, the Miami Dolphins went 6-10, but you could see that this team improved as the season went on. After making a splash in free agency by signing former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace and drafting outside linebacker Dion Jordan in the first round of the National Football League Draft, the Dolphins are expected to a be players in the AFC. Last season as a rookie, quarterback Ryan Tannehill made strides as he passed for 3,294 yards as he will look to improve on those numbers.

In 2012, running back Reggie Bush was the Dolphins leading rusher with 986 yards. Bush is now with the Detroit Lions and the load for the Dolphins will be on running back Lamar Miller.

Three out the Dolphins first four games this season are on the road as they will face the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and New Orleans Saints. The Dolphins will need to get off to a decent start to gain some momentum for the long season ahead of them.

Buffalo Bills 5-11

There was a time when the Buffalo Bills were the model of consistency in the NFL as far as being a playoff team. Now they have the longest streak in the NFL without a postseason appearance as it is 13 seasons and counting. The Bills have a new head coach in former Syracuse University head coach Doug Marrone who is attempting to change the culture of football in Western New York.

Marrone drafted a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft as he has attached his wagon to former Florida State University quarterback EJ Manuel. Manuel will also have a pair of rookie wide receivers to throw the football to in Robert Woods and Da’Rick Rogers.

Last season the Bills had the 22nd ranked defense in the NFL as they allowed 362.9 yards per game. Marrone is switching back to the 3-4 defense which to me will hinder defensive end/outside linebacker Mario Williams. Williams signed a lucrative free agent deal last year and the Bills are hoping that he can be a building block to get them back to the playoffs, but he won’t be properly utilized as a stand up defender.

The Bills have their first two games of the regular season at home as they will host the Patriots and Carolina Panthers and if they have any aspirations of improving, they must come out victorious in those contests.

New York Jets 3-13

There was a time when New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan was the talk of New York City as he led the team to consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances in 2010 and 2011. That almost seems as if it were a decade ago. After two seasons of not making the playoffs and the mediocre play of quarterback Mark Sanchez, Jet fans are ready for the blood. Sanchez has seen more downs than ups lately which has alot to do with the Jets lackluster play.

After a 6-10 record in 2012, Jets owner Woody Johnson saw the need to make a change in the team’s front office. Johnson fired general manager Mike Tannenbaum and hired John Idzik as the Jets new general manager. Surprisingly, Idzik decided to retain head coach Rex Ryan. Ryan knows that he is on a short leash as his team prepares for 2013.

This team is trying to start over and get younger which was illustrated in the Jets trading cornerback Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the off-season. The Jets drafted cornerback Dee Miliner in the first round along with defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson as Ryan and Idzik are looking for more impact players on defense. Idzik used the Jets second round pick on quarterback Geno Smith which shows that Sanchez’s days as Jets starting quarterback are indeed numbered.

The Jets open at home against the Bucs followed by a Thursday night contest in Foxboro against the Patriots. A slow start will get the media and fans alike grumbling in New York City and it could mean the end of both Ryan and Sanchez with the Jets.