2015 AFC East Projections

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X-New England Patriots 12-4

The New England Patriots will enter the 2015 National Football League season as the defending Super Bowl Champions, but they won’t have the feel of a defending champ. The Patriots were decimated in free agency and now that the little thing that was hanging over the head of quarterback Tom Brady (Deflategate) has finally been settled, it’s business as usual in Foxboro. But under head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots have been among the best as far as being able to roll with the punches and adjust which should once again be the case this year.

Tom Brady

New England can now rejoice that Brady’s four-game suspension has been overturned being that he has meant so much to the Patriots offense during his 15-year NFL career as he is a leader and a motivator. And we could see a Brady this year that is even more determined and motivated to prove people wrong.

Last year under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, the Patriots used an array short passes to offset their struggles in the running game, but they cannot afford to go the well in that manner once more. Last season the Patriots leading rusher was running back Jonas Gray with just 417 yards which won’t cut it in 2015. And as the Patriots attempt to run the football this year, it will be Gray splitting carries with running back LeGarrette Blount.

Rob Gronkowski

But the Patriots offense still goes as Brady goes, and he is locked in when he has tight end Rob Gronkowski available. Gronkowski was healthy last season which made the Patriots offense go due to the fact that he is such a matchup nightmare for opponents and he’ll look to once again make his presence known in the red zone which is “Gronkowski country”.

It’s safe to categorize the Patriots defense a “no-name defense” as they are 11 interchangeable men that fly to the football and they all have good football instincts. Last year the Patriots and Belichick were blessed with having one of the best secondaries in the National Football League as they had cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner along with free safety Devin McCourty. Revis left as a free agent to go back to the New York Jets while Browner is now with New Orleans Saints. But the Patriots and Belichick are hopeful that cornerback Malcolm Butler is ready to become a big time contributor for them. Butler became an overnight sensation when he intercepted Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson to seal the Patriots victory in Super Bowl 49 this past February, but he did that in the shadow of Revis and Browner.

And the Patriots “no-name” moniker is plastered all over their defensive line as well where there aren’t any stars. Longtime Patriots nose tackle Vince WIlfork left as a free agent to join the Houston Texans which leaves a void on the defensive line that will be difficult for rookie defensive tackle Malcolm Brown to fill. The Pats still have Dominique Easley at defensive tackle while Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich are two of the most underrated defensive ends in the National Football League.

The Patriots know that they will be getting everyone’s best effort in 2015 which is the result of them being the defending Super Bowl Champs and the fact there is a growing hatred for them around the league after “Deflategate”. But there might not be a team that is more mentally tough than the Patriots in the National Football League which is bad news for the other 31 teams.

Miami Dolphins 9-7

Mediocrity has been plaguing the Miami Dolphins for a very long time. Since 2004, the Dolphins have had seven different head coaches and  only one winning season to show for it. And after two consecutive 8-8 years, the Dolphins are hopeful that they’ll have what it takes to finally break through in the AFC East.

Ryan Tannehill, Joe Philbin

Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin is set to begin his fourth year in Miami in what could be a make or break year for him as he has attached his wagon to quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill was Philbin’s first draft choice with the Dolphins in 2012 and he’s been the starter from his first day in South Florida. Tannehill has been consistently inconsistent with the Dolphins which is reflected in his 23-25 career record. But that did not prevent Philbin and Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey from signing him to a six-year, $95 million extension in the hopes that he can improve his play and lead Miami to the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Lamar Miller

In three years with the Dolphins, running back Lamar Miller has consistently improved his effectiveness and he could morph into a Pro Bowl caliber back in 2015 if Miami’s offense in able to click on all cylinders. In two seasons with the Dolphins, wide receiver Mike Wallace never became the consistent deep threat that Miami envisioned him to be, thus he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings this off-season. To offset Wallace’s departure, the Dolphins did sign wide receiver Greg Jennings. Jennings spent the last two years with the Vikings where he under performed, but he does have a familiarity with Philbin when they were together with the Green Bay Packers.

Defensively the Dolphins were 12th in the National Football League last season and they could be a force to be reckoned with in 2015. The Dolphins went out in free agency and set their sights on defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh whom they signed to a six-year, $114 million deal. Suh spent the first five years of his NFL career with the Detroit Lions where he was consistently a disrupter on the defensive line. Suh constantly commands a double team and his presence tends to make the players around him better which should bode well for Dolphins defensive ends Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon as edge rushers.

Eight of the Dolphins first nine opponents in 2015 failed to qualify to playoffs last season and a fast start could potentially lead them to ended their playoff drought

Buffalo Bills 8-8

Only time will tell what the Buffalo Bills record will be in the upcoming National Football League season, but they will be a team that folks will be talking about. After six years as the head coach of the New York Jets, Rex Ryan is heading to Western New York to become the head coach of the Bills and he brings with him a brash bravado and a big mouth. The Bills have the longest active playoff drought in the NFL as they have not been to the postseason since 1999. However the Bills are coming off of their first winning season since 2004 which they hope will be a launching pad to the postseason in 2015.

Rex Ryan

Ryan has built a reputation around the National Football League for fierce defensive football and the Bills have the potential to be the bullies of the league in 2015. Bills defensive tackle Marcel Dareus is seeking a new contract which means that he will be looking to take out his frustration on opponents this year. Defensive end/outside linebacker Mario Williams is coming off his best season in the NFL as he tallied 14.5 sacks in 2014 which is a stat line that should increase for him in Ryan’s blitz happy scheme.

But for the Bills to take that next step and become a playoff team in 2015, they are going to need some semblance of order on offense. Ryan has always been known for his “ground and pound” style which consists of a heavy dose of the running game and the Bills have a back that can tote the rock. The Philadelphia Eagles were surprisingly willing to unload running back LeSean McCoy and the Bills were ready to pounce on it. The Bills acquired McCoy from the Eagles and it only took Buffalo sending linebacker Kiko Alonso to Philly for the trade to go down. What McCoy provides the Bills with is a proven running back that is a a game changer, but a hamstring injury that he suffered in training camp could limit his effectiveness this year.

And while the Bills have a plethora of potential at the wide receiver position in the form of Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, and Percy Harvin, their offense won’t be able to take that next step in 2015 unless they get some consistency from the quarterback position. There’s been a battle this summer in Bills training camp between Matt Cassell and EJ Manuel, but neither player stands out with the ability to put Buffalo’s offense on his respective back which left the door open for Tyrod Taylor to get the nod for Buffalo as the regular season is set to begin.

The Bills will begin 2015 with a tough slate that will see them host the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots before they travel to take on the Miami Dolphins. And where the Bills might begin the season slow, this team under Ryan will become very formidable as the season progresses.

New York Jets 7-9

Things will be very different for the New York Jets this year when they take the field. The brash bravado of former head coach Rex Ryan is a thing of the past as he has been replaced by the placid calm of Todd Bowles. Along with Bowles, the Jets have a new general manager in Mike Maccagnan who in a brief period time has attempted to improve the talent level for Gang Green.

Two former Jets decided to rejoin the team this off-season. From 2007-2012, cornerback Darrelle Revis became a four-time Pro Bowl selection and he was the 2009 National Football League Defensive Player of the Year; all while playing for the Jets. A nasty contract dispute led Revis to being traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013. After being released by the Bucs after just one year in Tampa, Revis joined the New England Patriots last season and he helped them win the Super Bowl. This off-season Revis became a free agent and he signed a five-year, $70 million deal to come back to New York. Revis’ presence completely changes what the Jets are able to do defensively being that he is the true definition of the term “shutdown corner”. Along with Revis, cornerback Antonio Cromartie decided to rejoin the Jets as well this off-season. Cromartie has been a Pro Bowl selection in each of the last three seasons and at the age of 31, his skill and experience will provide tremendous depth in New York. The return of Revis and Cromartie should also give some guidance and help the development of young cornerback Dee Milliner whom the Jets are hopeful can improve his play.

Talent wise, the Jets defensive line could be one of the best in the NFL, but there are several question marks. In just two years defensive end Sheldon Richardson has become one of the best at his position in the league, but off-the-field issues plague him. Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson has been at odds with the Jets front office as he is seeking a new contract while rookie defensive end Leonard Williams has huge expectations that will be thrust open his young shoulders.

Things didn’t get started on the right foot for the Jets offense when quarterback Geno Smith suffered a broken jaw during a locker room dispute over $600 with former Jets linebacker IK Enemkpali. The injury will keep Smith out for 6-10 weeks which means that the keys to the Jets offense will be handed to journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The Jets have a solid offensive line which is once again led by offensive tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold which is important being that New York will more than likely have a running back by committee with Zac Stacy, Bilal Powell, and Chris Ivory. The Jets finally will have some explosiveness at the wide receiver position in the form of Brandon Marshall who was acquired from the Chicago Bears this off-season, but New York is simply lacking that solid signal caller.

The lack of an effective quarterback will be the one thing that could prevent the Jets from being a playoff team in 2015.

X-Clinched Division

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