AFC East Division Prediction, Odds: Bills, Jets, Dolphins, Patriots Ready to Rumble

The 2023 NFL season is finally upon us. Rather than offer one giant preview of the entire season, we’ll be looking at the league by division. We begin with the AFC East, arguably the best quartet of clubs in the NFL.

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AFC East Division Preview

Buffalo Bills

A whirlwind 2022 came to a crashing end in the January snow when the Bengals bounced the Bills out of the playoffs in the Divisional Round. Since then, some pundits have insisted that the window is starting to close for this group led by Sean McDermott. Let’s be frank: there’s always a chance with Josh Allen at quarterback.

Furthermore, Buffalo has a gifted arsenal when attacking through the air with WRs Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, not to mention stud TE Dawson Knox.

The defence will be interesting to see unfold this season. McDermott is not only filling his usual role but that of defensive coordinator as well. Seeing the return of Damar Hamlin is a great story, but the pass defence will have to step up. It got burned more and more down the stretch in 2022.

Bills Record Prediction: 12-5

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins enter 2023 with a lot of talent on their roster but also a lot of question marks. Lest it be forgotten that they started 2022 brightly, but terrible head injuries suffered by QB Tua Tagovailoa derailed their campaign in many ways.

Tua is back and healthy, but several teammates are either injured or are currently listed as questionable. Jaylen Waddle, De’Von Achane, Miami heads into the campaign with multiple players nursing wounds. One hopes Tyreek Hill can make up for some of those absences. The team’s defence also needs to play a lot better away from home than in 2022. It looked great at times when playing in the piping Florida heat, but very vulnerable on its travels.

Dolphins Record Prediction: 9-8

New England Patriots

Mac Jones enters year three of his NFL career and it seems as though no one knows quite what to make of him. The rookie campaign was decent, the sophomore year much less so, but then again the whole organization of the Patriots’ offensive was bizarre in 2022.

WR Juju Smith-Schuster arrives to replace the departed Jakobi Meyers. Is that an upgrade? We’ll find out. But New England’s strength hasn’t been its attack for a few seasons already, including Tom Brady’s final year in 2019. The defence has carried the load whenever the Pats have known success. Linebacker Matthew Judon leads a unit that can stuff the run and put consistent pressure on opposing QBs. What are the New England Patriots? Not great, certainly not bad, but they possess the personnel to give their immediate rivals some headaches.

Patriots Record Prediction: 7-10

New York Jets

Well, one thing is for sure. Expectations are high for the first time in a while with the New York Jets. It was never going to be otherwise with Aaron Rodgers in town. Some call Hard Knocks docu-series a distraction, while others say it offers insight into team spirit. If the latter is true, Rodgers seems to be quite happy in New York. At least for now.

RB Breece Hall is currently listed as questionable. His departure from the lineup in 2022 derailed what little of an offence the Jets had, but Dalvin Cook arrives from Minnesota to cover that ground. WR Allen Lazard, a favourite target of Rodgers in Green Bay, is also questionable. Still, he has Garrett Wilson and Randall Cobb to throw to. Much like with the Patriots, it’s the defence that can save the team’s face if the offence needs a week or two to start clicking. Sauce Gardner is one of the top corners in the league and rightfully so.

Jets Record Prediction: 11-6