The past couple of articles we took a look at the NFC, now we will be
looking at the AFC and what they need to bring to the table to try and bring home a
Super Bowl again since they have been bested by the NFC the past couple of years.
AFC East: Buffalo
The Buffalo Bills are the team everyone expects to win the Super Bowl this year, even
though that was supposed to be the case the past couple of years. You could say that
the Bills have really let everyone down even though they have one of the best QB’s in
the league. Josh Allen has really proven himself, statistically, that he has what it takes
to be one of the best. Although, he has not proven himself in the case of making it to the
Super Bowl and bringing it home to Buffalo. The Bills were the top defense in the league
last year, along with their offense being in the top 5 as well. With Allen leading the way,
Diggs at the top receiver spot and Singletary in the backfield, Buffalo should have no
issues getting to the Super Bowl, they just have to believe in themselves. Losing to the
Chiefs in last year’s playoffs makes it really hard to believe that the Bills are going to
make it past the Divisional round. Being voted as the team who has the highest odds of
winning the Super Bowl once again this year, the Bills are really going to have to prevail
if they still want respect from fans not only their own, but NFL fans as well. Buffalo
opens up the season in LA against the defending champions and really need to come
through with a win against them, to show they are ready for the 2022-23 season and
whatever is thrown at them.
Miami:
The Dolphins are still known as the team to have a perfect season, but that was a few
decades ago, and Miami has never really had a solid season since winning back to
back Super Bowls. After drafting Tua Tagovailoa out of Alabama in the 2020 draft,
Miami needed a QB who knew the game and could at least pass the ball accurately.
They were taking a big gamble as Tua, ever since the start of his senior season,
became injury prone. Miami finally had a couple positive seasons at least above .500
after three straight seasons being under. The Dolphins made a few good moves this
past off season, picking up Tyreek Hill to put alongside Jaylen Waddle and Mike Gesicki
to make a good trio for Tua to throw too. Miami is opening up their season at home
against division rival, New England. Miami has a good chance to be 2nd in the division
especially if the Patriots and the Jets struggle like in years past.
New England:
Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots have had quite a few pitfalls the past
couple of years ever since Tom Brady moved to Tampa Bay. That posed questions
about Belichick, if he was a good coach or was he only good because Tom Brady was
his QB. Undoubtedly he is going into the Hall of Fame with his nine championships as
the Patriots coach, but things really need to turn around before he gets ready for
retirement. New England has a lot to figure out before the start
of the season. Having a young talent like Mac Jones and solid players like Hunter Henry
and Davante Parker, New England can rely on their defense to pull through as long as Jones can drive down the field and at least score a touchdown or two. With pre-season
approaching quickly, New England opens their regular season down in Miami.
New York Jets:
What it means to be a New York football fan is hard to imagine, after talking about the
Giants and their struggles of finishing last it is time to talk about their cross city team the
New York Jets. The Jets have not been above .500 since 2015 and have not been to
the playoffs since 2010. Let’s just say New York has had a lot of frustrating seasons
since then and really have tried hard to figure out what to do. Drafting QB Zach Wilson
in the 2021 NFL draft, hoping that the young QB would provide some kind of spark to
the Jets struggling offense. Where he had proven himself well in week 1 against the
Panthers and then struggled the rest of the way with ups and downs after playing the
Patriots in week 2. The Jets drafted Ahmad Gardner in the first round in the 2022 draft
at pick 4 to hopefully provide a little push to their struggling defense as well. Let’s just
say, New York has a lot of building up to do in the future if they even want to compete
with teams like Buffalo, Miami and New England. New York starts their season at home
against the Ravens and travels to Cleveland the week after. Any team can surprise us
though so don’t rule the Jets out to make a surprise run or at least get above .500 this
year.
The AFC East is filled with 4 young talented QB’s and with Buffalo leading the way as
the favorite, any team can surprise you as the older generation starts to move out, the newer generation starts to move in and could give teams a decent shot at the playoffs
and or the wild card spot.
