NFL 2010 Preview: AFC East

Tough schedules will make it tough for AFC East teams to make the playoffs, making the battle for the divisional title all the more important.

Brutal crossover
This is not a year for rejoicing in the AFC East. Sure the Jets are loaded, the Pats still have Tom Brady, and the Dolphins have added Brandon Marshall. Teams in this division face the toughest schedules in the NFL. Every team in this division must take on Green Bay, Minnesota, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. New England can add Indianapolis to that slate, Miami has Tennessee, while the Jets will play Houston.

With so many difficult challenges ahead, I can’t see any team from this division doing enough to take one of the two Wildcard slots in the playoffs. It could also seriously hurt the chances of whoever wins the division. Only two teams get bye weeks in the playoffs and whoever wins this division might be stuck with a game in the Wildcard round because of the tough schedule.

Spare a thought for the Bills
It’s going to be a really tough year in Buffalo. While the Pats, Dolphins, and Jets all have rosters capable of contending with a brutal schedule, the Bills are sorely lacking in talent. It’s bad enough that Buffalo must play six games against divisional rivals, but the added dose of AFC North and NFC North opponents will make for another bleak year.

NFL betting fans will still have reason to care about Buffalo however. C.J. Spiller is a decent contender for offensive rookie of the year. Spiller was electrifying at Clemson and should get enough touches in running, receiving, and returning the ball to impress despite the Bills’ failings.

The final shake-up
It’s time for the penultimate call on a divisional winner before the season begins. In the end it will all boil down to one thing; can the Jets sign Darrelle Revis in time? The cornerback should have won defensive player of the year honors in 2009 and is the most importantly player on this Jets’ defense. If New York signs Revis then I really can’t see either New England or Miami stopping the Jets. Miami is a better team than last year but it is also one with a limited passing game and questionable secondary. New England simply didn’t make the moves necessary to strengthen its defensive and control its opponents’ running games. The Jets aren’t perfect but they have the fewest holes of any team in this division. Bet on the New York Jets to win the AFC East at +125 with Sports Interaction.

XXXVII: Gabriel Morency previews the weekend’s sporting action

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phO5FeaVWxk[/youtube]