2007 AFC East Preview

2007 AFC East preview from MadduxSports.com. In addition to the excellent editorials we write the backbone of our company are winning NFL Football Picks. Also if you are betting football check out the NFL lines page with up to date football odds from multiple sources.

AFC East Division Preview
By Adam Barone

1.Patriots: Predicting the winner of the AFC East is about as easy as predicting the plot of an episode of “House,” but being decisive about how things will turn out in the standings below them is the tough part. The Patriots are the clear favorite, simply because they still have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, but to make them even scarier, they’ve added for Brady an arsenal of weapons fit for the Punisher. Adding Adalius Thomas, one of the league’s most versatile defenders, to their already top notch defense makes them the hands-down favorite. Anyone who gives a hoot about football knows this division is the Pats’ to lose. I see them finishing at 13-3 as the AFC’s number one seed.

2. Jets: The J-E-T-S Jets managed a 10-6 tally in 2006 with a backfield by committee made up of Leon Washington, Cedric Houston, and Kevan Barlow. Barlow is gone, but that’s okay, because he’s slow and kinda fat. Replacing him is one of the angrier running backs I can remember: former Chicago Bear Thomas Jones. Jones will be the feature back that Eric Mangini was missing in his first season at the helm and could be the work horse that puts them into elite status. Their linebackers are still the focal point of their defense and all four starters at the position are Pro Bowl caliber talents. If rookie cornerback Darrelle Revis is what they’re hoping he’ll be at cornerback, then the Jets could actually challenge the Pats for the division crown. The only question mark they’ll be facing is whether or not Chad Pennington can stay healthy, which I’m not sure that he can, but assuming he plays at least 14 games, the Jets will finish second in the division. I especially love Vilma and Hobson and expect them to make a huge impact. Expect the Jets to improve a game over last season and move to 11-5 overall.

3. Dolphins: One has to assume that Cam Cameron will better utilize NFL talent than Nick Saban, who all but admitted by leaving that he is nothing more than a college coach. Not that that’s a negative, but we can’t all be Jimmy Johnson. Saban is well known for his “my way or the highway” attitude, which surely earned little respect in the professional ranks, where the players expect to be respected as men more so than college players, who can be more open to a father figure. Cameron comes from a quality franchise in San Diego, where he ran an offense that showed its ability to adapt and win. Granted, he had LT in San Diego, but the receivers he has in Miami are much better than the ones he made work with the Chargers, and Ronnie Brown is nothing to sneeze at. The major question I have with the Fish is the quarterback situation. Trent Green is obviously the man right now, but equally as obvious is the fact that he’s old as dirt and the offense is not built specifically for him. They drafted John Beck out of BYU, who is extremely intelligent and has more of a West Coast Offense arm. How does his lack of arm strength match up with Chris Chambers and Ted Ginn Jr.’s vertical abilities? The defense is built around Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor, even with the addition of Joey Porter, and they only have so many years left that they can play at this high a level. You can make a strong case for their front seven as being the best in football, but their secondary is nothing more than mediocre. What exactly is the plan in Miami? Do they have a plan? I have them finishing ahead of Buffalo based solely on the talent on the two rosters, but Buffalo has the edge in chemistry and direction. I’ll take the Fins to finish 8-8 in a stacked division.

4. Bills: I have to admit, after his first season or so I was certain that J.P. Losman was a worthless quarterback. After watching him throw for 3000 yards last season and develop some trust with Lee Evans, J.P. has grown on me. Don’t get me wrong; connecting with Lee Evans on twin 83 yard TD receptions involves mostly skill on Evans’s end and some “chuck and pray” on Losman’s end, but chances are that J.P. stands for something French like “Jean Paul,” so he could still end up sucking. His receivers are average after Evans, and Marshawn Lynch is a rookie running back without breakaway speed, but I think Losman can take his career to the next level and lead the team to likely the same 7-9 record they had a year ago, in what will be a tougher division this season. If the Fish flop in Florida don’t be surprised if the Bills overtake them and the standings are identical to 2006.

We have broken down each AFC East team even further to give you the edge this season. Read the individual football previews of the Dolphins, Bills, Patriots, and Jets from Maddux Sports.