We simply cannot wait for the new NFL season to start, and we are counting down the days until the very first kick off. If you are like us and love the NFL, then you definitely need to have a read on below, as we take a look at each and every team from the AFC East and analyze their chances for success in this brand new season.
Buffalo Bills
The 2021 Buffalo Bills were 13 seconds away from defeating the Kansas City Chiefs and hosting the AFC Championship Game. However, the Chiefs rallied to send the game to overtime and dealt the Bills a heartbreaking loss. But life goes on in Buffalo and head coach Sean McDermott’s squad is primed for another Super Bowl run.
A new offensive coordinator, Ken Dorsey, was promoted from QB coach to diversify the offensive scheme for Pro Bowl signal-caller Josh Allen. The former Wyoming product tossed 45 touchdowns last season, including nine in two postseason matchups.
The Bills have surrounded Allen with an array of offensive weapons that will make life difficult for opposing defenses. Top wideout Stefon Diggs tallied 100-plus catches for the second consecutive season, and tight end Dawson Knox enjoyed a breakout campaign with 49 receptions and nine touchdowns.
It’s @StefonDiggs‘ world and we’re just living in it. 😎#GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/aTHCaXeiVy
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 30, 2022
The receiving corps also includes Gabriel Davis, Isaiah McKenzie, and free-agent acquisition Jamison Crowder. Devin Singletary is penciled in as the featured running back, but second-round draft pick James Cook is a capable pass catcher with big-play ability.
Buffalo’s stout defense received a major upgrade during the offseason with the addition of edge rusher Von Miller. The two-time Super Bowl champion has 115.5 career sacks and continues to wreak havoc in opposing backfields.
A pair of former Bills – defensive linemen Shaq Lawson and Jordan Phillips – return to Orchard Park after departing in free agency two years ago. The defensive front also features former first-round picks, Ed Oliver and Greg Rousseau.
The secondary should again be elite with Pro Bowl cornerback Tre’Davious White and rookie Kaiir Elam, who was the 23rd overall pick in this year’s draft. If the Bills can stay healthy, there is no reason they cannot bring home the franchise’s first Vince Lombardi trophy.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins opened the 2021 season with a victory before suffering seven consecutive losses to post an ugly 1-7 record at the midway point of the season. But the Dolphins regrouped to win eight of their final nine games, including a seven-game winning streak, to finish the season with a 9-8 mark.
First-year head coach Mike McDaniel was hired to overhaul a stagnant offense and develop third-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa into an elite signal-caller. Miami is overstocked with playmakers on both sides of the ball and should advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Speedster Tyreek Hill comes over from the Kansas City Chiefs in a blockbuster trade that has elevated the offense into an elite unit. Hill is an electric wideout who hauled in 111 passes a year ago and has 67 all-purpose touchdowns in 73 career starting assignments.
The initial 5️⃣3️⃣ man roster is here! #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/vzPi1vX4Pv
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 30, 2022
Former first-round receiver Jaylen Waddle enjoyed a record-setting rookie season with 104 catches for 1,015 yards and six scores. Tight end Mike Gesicki is another pass-catching threat who caught 73 balls a year ago. Former San Francisco 49ers workhorse Raheem Mostert joins free agent pickups Chase Edmonds and Sony Michel in a revamped backfield.
The Dolphins have a talented defensive unit that could challenge the Bills for AFC East supremacy. Defensive ends Emmanuel Ogbah and Jaelan Phillips combined for 17.5 sacks last year, and linebacker Jerome Baker has blossomed into a defensive leader.
Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is an elite run stuffer who tallied 89 tackles a year ago, while cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Byron Jones anchor a solid secondary. The Dolphins have the talent for a deep playoff run but it all will depend on the development of Tagovailoa.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots had a rocky start to the 2021 season with four losses in the first six games. But head coach Bill Belichick’s squad rebounded with a seven-game streak to climb back into the playoff picture with a 9-4 record.
The Patriots dropped three of their last four games to limp into the playoffs and suffered a 47-17 blowout to Buffalo in a Wild Card matchup. New England signed a slew of free agents to upgrade both sides of the football, but the biggest question remains at quarterback.
Second-year signal-caller Mac Jones is an over-hyped media darling who claimed six victories over bad football teams a year ago. The Patriots will not compete for a division crown this season but should be in the hunt for another Wild Card berth.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left to take the head coaching gig with the Las Vegas Raiders, which does not bode well for an offensive unit that added some dynamic weapons during the offseason.
Bill Belichick Live Press Conference 8/30: https://t.co/rQbBZUxLvp
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 30, 2022
Former Miami wideout DeVante Parker is a big, speedy pass catcher with big-play ability, and rookie Tyquan Thornton caught 62 passes for 10 touchdowns during his final season with the Baylor Bears. A trio of receivers – Nelson Agholor, Jakobi Meyers, and Kendrick Bourne – and tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith provide the Patriots with a deep corps of pass catchers.
New England’s defensive unit was more than a little inconsistent a year ago. The Patriots went from awful to great, and back to awful, in an up and down campaign. Former fifth-round pick Cameron McGrone missed his entire rookie season rehabbing a torn ACL, but the speedy linebacker is expected to make his NFL debut in the season-opening contest.
Interior linemen Christian Barmore and Davon Godchaux both played well last year, while edge rushers Deatrich Wise Jr., Lawrence Guy, Daniel Ekuale, and Henry Anderson will play a key role in the success of New England this season. While the Patriots should compete for a playoff spot in 2022, the team is not a serious Super Bowl contender.
New York Jets
The bad news for the 2021 New York Jets is that the perennial AFC East cellar-dweller opened the season with only one win in their first six outings, and stumbled to a 4-13 season record. The good news is that the Jets dropped five games by a touchdown or less, and with a little luck could have finished with eight or nine victories.
The Jets will continue to struggle in one of the NFL’s toughest divisions, but the second-year head coach has his team headed in the right direction. The success of New York will ultimately depend on the development of quarterback Zach Wilson. The second overall pick in last year’s draft went 3-10 as a starter during his rookie campaign with nine touchdown passes, 11 interceptions, and four fumbles.
A promising trio of receivers including Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, and first-round pick Garrett Wilson should bolster a passing attack that was lackluster a year ago. Davis underachieved last season catching 34 passes in nine games, while Moore caught 43 balls for five touchdowns during his rookie campaign.
Coach Saleh on the process of setting our initial 53-man roster. pic.twitter.com/8tmF1q4KnP
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 30, 2022
Wilson was the 10th overall pick in the draft and tallied 70 catches for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns in his final season at Ohio State. Second-year running back Michael Carter posted 964 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns last year, and will share backfield duties with rookie Breece Hall. A second-round pick from Iowa State, Hall is a two-time All-American who tallied 3,941 yards and 50 touchdowns in three collegiate seasons.
The Jets were one of the NFL’s worst defensive units last season and allowed 30 or more points on seven different occasions. The addition of a pair of first-round picks, cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and defensive end Jermaine Johnson II, should improve a mediocre defensive unit. Gardner was the fourth overall pick and is a lockdown corner that will instantly upgrade the Jets’ secondary.
Johnson was chosen with the 26th pick and was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year with 12 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. New York is a long, long way from becoming a playoff contender, but six or seven wins would be a major improvement.
When the 2022 NFL season does eventually kick off, make sure SportsTips is your go-to destination for NFL picks. We will provide NFL picks for each and every game of the season from our experts, so you can place your bets with more confidence!
