By: Jake Rajala

The AFC East will be more intense than the movie “Rush” this season. The Buffalo Bills are riding high after they massacred the reigning Super Bowl Champions (Los Angeles Rams), the Miami Dolphins have an ambitious head coach (Mike McDaniel) & an utterly explosive wide receiver (Tyreek Hill), the New England Patriots have an ageless legend in Bill Belichick, and the New York Jets have a plethora of talent on offense and a very desperate head coach named Robert Saleh. Each team feels that they have the ability to at least oust a winning season and make their fans delighted.

AFC East results in 2021:

• Buffalo Bills
• New England Patriots
• Miami Dolphins
• New York Jets

AFC East results in 2020:

• Buffalo Bills
• Miami Dolphins
• New England Patriots
• New York Jets

With that enunciated, I’m going to untwine an optimistic preview for each AFC East squad. Let’s begin.

Buffalo Bills

In an early moment of the Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, the pirates ransacked the city and took anything they wanted with ease. That scene could be reminiscent of the performance by the Buffalo Bills defense against the Los Angeles Rams offense on Thursday night. Von Miller impressively ousted two sacks & the Bills D were also able to snag three interceptions on Matthew Stafford. Besides the Leslie Frazier-orchestrated unit having a high-end performance against the Rams, Josh Allen showed his laser-arm strength with three passing touchdowns (including a 53-yard passing TD to Stefon Diggs – who was guarded by Jalen Ramsey). I anticipate James Cook to begin to look like the next gifted ball-carrier with the last name, Cook, soon. The Bills were picked as a Super Bowl favorite by countless analysts entering their Week 1 match-up and it’s safe to say their talent and energy on Thurs. night portrays a team that is on a mission to win the Lombardi. In Week 2, the Bills will battle the Tennessee Titans at home on Monday Night.

Miami Dolphins

“I am speed” – Lightning McQueen

The Miami Dolphins signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa is ready to defy expectations in his junior season. Tagovailoa is coming off a sophomore season that was slightly more impressive than his rookie campaign (which featured him getting benched numerous times). He may not be Tom Brady, Russell Wilson or Kyler Murray, but he can absolutely reach his first Pro Bowl berth with his weaponry this season. The Phins WR duo (Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle) will bring headaches to the Patriots HC and the Pats 35-year-old safety Devin McCourty. The x-factor on the Phins offense is unequivocally the explosive Chase Edmonds — who had a modest 903 all-purpose yards as an Arizona Cardinal last season. Let’s not forget about the fearsome faces on the Dolphins defense —- such as Xavien Howard (15 ints in the past two seasons combined), Jerome Baker (12.5 sacks in the prior two campaigns combined), and Emmanuel Ogbah (18 sacks in past two seasons combined). The Dolphins have a very talented roster and a creative, very motivated HC that can make the roster more successful than expected —- in a similar way that Zac Taylor brought the Cincinnati Bengals all the way to the Super Bowl. The Phins battle none other than the Pats at home tomorrow.

New England Patriots

“Death by a thousand cuts”

The INTJ head coach for the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick, brought back former New York Giants head coach Joe Judge to his lab this off-season (after bringing back former Detroit Lions ring leader Matt Patricia the off-season before). The boys are back in town in NE & they also acquired fresh, illustrious profiles for their team this summer. BB traded for DeVante Parker from his enemy, Miami, and Parker should look to return to being a 1,000+ yd WR as the Pats WR1. Belichick will still anticipate his defense with Matthew Judon (12.5 sacks in 2021), Jalen Mills (who is entering his second season in NE), the versatile McCourty (who has a twin brother named Jason), and the former Michigan Wolverine (because that’s Belichick’s favorite college) Josh Uche. The Pats recorded the second-fewest passing yards allowed last season. The Patriots didn’t have the sexiest off-season, but I still expect Mac Jones (who caught fame for his 2021 performance and a giddy at the latest Pro Bowl) to take positive steps forward and the Patriots to return to the postseason. As previously noted, the Pats will square off against the Phins tomorrow.

The Dolphins have famously beaten the Patriots four times in their last five showdowns.

New York Jets

The New York Jets have crafted a beautiful crew of toys, but they have an iffy QB situation. The Jets possess WR Corey Davis, WR Garrett Wilson (tenth overall pick in the 2022 draft), WR Elijah Moore, and RB Breece Hall (second overall pick in the 2022 draft). Sadly, they will miss the second-overall pick (Zach Wilson) in the 2021 draft until Week 4. It’s quite scary if the former BYU QB can consistently keep his knee healthy – as he also missed games last season due to his knee. The Jets have a couple of special faces on defense (Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner & Quinnen Williams). Sauce will undeniably help Jets fans forget about their 30th ranked pass defense a season ago. I absolutely foresee Gardner being one of the Top 3 candidates for DROY this season. Robert Saleh needs to make sure the blood is boiling for his team — especially if he wants to stay away from the hot seat in 2022. Perhaps he can even exceed the energy that a first three-quarters version of Gregg Williams brought to the team in the Big Apple. The Jets will clash with the Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore Ravens tomorrow.

The post Latest AFC East preview in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

“Something beautiful is on the horizon.”

The AFC East is set to be another exciting one in what has been an eventful offseason. 

Tyreek Hill is now in the division, Stefon Diggs has a new contract, the Patriots have been quiet in the offseason and the Jets aim to try and gain some positivity ahead of the 2022 campaign.

Just how do their quarterbacks rank? Here is a ranking list of all four starting quarterbacks in the division.

1. Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)

Allen is arguably a top-three quarterback so there is no way he does not end up the number on this list. Buffalo is arguably the AFC favorites for the 2022 season, especially with Hill leaving the Chiefs. Buffalo may face their biggest challenge to winning the division once again, but Allen is head and shoulders above the rest. 

Allen threw for 4,544 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2020 and 4,407 yards, 36 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 2021. 

Only Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Matthew Stafford have thrown for more yards than Josh Allen since the start of the 2020 season. In addition, Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Mahomes are the only quarterbacks to have thrown for more passing touchdowns than Allen during that span. 

A cannon arm, a great ability to use his feet at the right time, and tremendous leadership. There are not many players you’d rather have in this league than Allen.

2. Mac Jones (New England Patriots)

3. Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins)

This one was tough to call as both players are very similar in their playstyle and stats.

Jones had 3,801, 22 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 67.6% completion rate in 2021 during his rookie campaign, which consisted of 17 games as New England finished 10-7. Meanwhile, Tua has played only six more games than Jones and has 4,467 career yards, 27 career touchdowns and 15 career interceptions as well as a 66.2% completion rate and a 13-8 record as a starter. 

That gives Jones an average of 223.6 yards and 1.29 touchdowns a game. Meanwhile, Tua has an average of 194.2 yards and 1.17 touchdowns a game. These are very similar numbers, which makes the decision between them that much harder.

People often refer to Tua’s win-loss record as a starter. Well, Jones made the playoffs as a rookie and Tua has yet to make the playoffs or play an entire season in either of his first two years in the league, which is why Jones gets the edge over Tagovailoa. 

There are no real questions around Mac, who is seen as the best quarterback so far out of the 2021 class whereas Tua faces question marks daily and continues to live in the shadow of fellow 2020 draftees Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert. Mike McDaniel could be the key to unlocking Tua’s potential but right now, Jones is the better QB, but it is very close and very susceptible to change now the Cheetah is in South Beach.

4. Zach Wilson (New York Jets)

There is no doubt about this one. Wilson was picked second overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and has yet to convince anyone. The Jets literally traded for Joe Flacco to return to the Big Apple.

His relationship with Braxton Berrios and the protection from Mekhi Becton will give Jets fans offseason hope but Wilson’s performances did not provide any source of encouragement in 2021. In the 13 games he played, he ranked 30^th in passing yards (2,334), 29^th in touchdowns (9) and 30^th in quarterback rating (28.2). He also had 11 interceptions to add to a woeful first season as a pro.

Wilson showed signs in BYU that he can be a good quarterback, but the way his first season went, he has a lot to prove in his second season.

The post Ranking AFC East Quarterbacks right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

The Buffalo Bills host the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football in one of the most hotly anticipated games of the season. 

With a combined 15-8 record and one win between them and still two games to play against each other, there is a lot at stake in this game. 

In a battle for the AFC East crown and the number one seed, is this the start of a new rivalry in the NFL? 

Head Coaching Excellence

Both these teams are helped by excellent head coaches. Bill Belichick is widely seen as the greatest head coach of all time and Sean McDermott is one of the best young head coaches around. 

One thing a team needs to succeed is strong and reliable head coaching. This will ensure both teams will be competitive for years to come. 

Since arriving in 2017, Sean McDermott guided the Bills to their first playoff appearance since the 1999 campaign and also their first playoff wins since the 1995 season when they went all the way to the AFC Championship game earlier this year.

Belichick is proving, with their 8-4 record so far, that he can more than cope without Tom Brady. Their defense looks far better than it did last season, without the injuries and opt-outs suffered in 2020. Running back Damien Harris has 643 yards and 8 touchdowns to his name. They also have a new rookie QB that has massively impressed during his first-ever NFL season.

QB Battle 

Mac Jones was drafted fifteenth overall by the Patriots in this year’s draft. He was expected to be the backup to Cam Newton, but the former MVP was cut before the start of the season, leading the way for Mac to be the starter in New England. So far, he has 2,850 yards, 16 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in the 12 games so far this campaign. This has him projected to end the season with 4,038 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Not bad for a rookie. 

He looks composed in the pocket, with a tremendous amount of confidence on the field for someone so new to the league. 

His rookie season has gone a lot better than Josh Allen’s did. The Bills QB had a troublesome first two seasons that led to many questions from outsiders looking in as well as the NFL media. He proved himself last season, with a brilliant campaign as the Bills went the furthest, they have been in the playoffs since the 1993 season. He threw for 4,544 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. This season, he has thrown for 3,071 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 picks. 

He also knows how to use his feet, with 8 rushing touchdowns and 421 rushing yards in 2020. He is also the team’s second leading rusher so far in the 2021 season, with 383 yards and 3 touchdowns. 

This is going to be a very exciting QB battle, between two young quarterbacks that are going to be great for a number of years. Whilst Allen is the more experienced and completed player, Mac Jones has that swagger that not a lot of young players have in the position. It is harsh for Mac more than anyone else to make the comparison to Brady, but he does look like a young version of TB12. 

A Wide Open AFC

The AFC is wide open this year. The NFC has five teams that everyone knows is good whereas no one knows who is good in the AFC. Everyone is beating each other, and suffering shock defeats in the process.

New England have hit form at the right time, with a current six game winning streak that has seen them go from 2-4 to 8-4. Meanwhile, the Bills’ inconsistent past few weeks has allowed their division rivals to creep up the table. The run game has been poor, and teams have been much more able to stop Stefon Diggs, despite the stats telling you otherwise. The defense has made a step up, which will help Bills if they are to make the postseason. 

There is just two wins separating the number one seed Baltimore Ravens and the seventh seed Los Angeles Chargers. Both the Pats and Bills will be optimistic that they can still secure both the AFC East and the top seed in the AFC. This adds more importance onto the game on Monday Night Football as well as their week 16 matchup. 

Game Prediction

This game is going to be tight and tense. Defensively wise, the Bills have allowed the least yards per game, with the Patriots in fourth. Buffalo are also top of the league in passing yards allowed (1,964) whereas the Pats are in seventh (2,411). Buffalo are also fifth in total rushing yards allowed (1,063), with New England in the lowly position of 25^th (1,389). This has to be where the Bills capitalise. Whether this be lead rusher Devin Singletary or Josh Allen, this will be the way to beat New England. 

No team has allowed fewer total points in the league this season than Buffalo (1^st) and New England (2^nd). Despite the Patriots’ poor run defense this season, they have managed to stop teams getting many points, which is a credit to their redzone defense. New England’s 48.39% is only topped by the Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints, with the Bills in seventh (51.61%)

If New England can keep this up against the Bills on Monday, then this is how they can beat the Bills, stopping them on crucial plays and in crucial areas on the field . 

In terms of the game, form is going to be a massive factor and New England have it. They may be on the road, but I am backing the Patriots to secure a vital win and gain a two-win advantage over Buffalo.

Score prediction: Patriots 27-24 Bills 

The post Patriots vs Bills Preview: Is This The Start Of A New Rivalry? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Cody Molla (@Cmolla1)

Far removed from dominating the division in the 70s and early 80s the Dolphins have won 4 division titles since 1985, and only two since 2000. The franchise and fans have their eyes focused on winning a division title and making a splash in the postseason. There is hype and expectations for the Miami Dolphins coming off a 10-6 season last year. Improvement is expected all around, and with that improvement do they win the AFC East?

The hype for this year comes off a strong 2020 season and strong offseason. However, the Dolphins aren’t the only team improved within the division. The Buffalo Bills return their core from last season that played in the AFC Championship game. The New England Patriots return players on defense that opted out of last season and have returned their quarterback for a second straight year who is more comfortable in his position within the offense. The New York Jets are completely turned over and though they don’t pose a threat to win the division in anyone’s eyes, they do have a chance to spoil someone’s season.

The biggest factor in winning the AFC East for the Miami Dolphins is to win their divisional games. Last year the Dolphins went 3-3 in the six division games. They swept the Jets, split with New England, and were swept by Buffalo. The Bills in perspective went 6-0. Winning division games is like winning two games in the standings, not only does it directly give you a game up on your rivals but it gives you tie-breakers which may play a role in deciding a competitive division winner. Yes! The AFC East is now a competitive division. The Patriots are no longer a juggernaut and three teams have playoff expectations placed on them.

To be division winners the Miami Dolphins will need to be 4-2 minimum in the six division games. More likely than not a record of 3-1 in games versus the Bills and Patriots would be necessary as well. This will be tested early in the season as their first two games are with New England and Buffalo.

These rivalry games will be competitive and a handful of key plays need to be made to seal the wins. Last year in a tight opener vs the Patriots the defense failed to stop Cam Newton and the Patriots run game. The Dolphins have the tools to do so this time around and score points to put New England away. As they did in the second meeting last year.

The first Bills game was completive but the Dolphins failed to contain the big pass plays from Josh Allen to his receivers. Part of this was an injured secondary that improved as the season went on. A slow start to the season this year will likely lead to the Dolphins failing to win the division again. A fast start and improved play is expected and will be key to winning the 2021 division crown.

After one game of 2021 preseason, the national narrative on Tua has piggybacked on their 2020 takes. In the preseason opener, Tagovailoa finished with a stat line of 8-11, 99 yards, and one interception. Tua played in three possessions in the first quarter and got the Dolphins inside the red zone twice on his final two drives. After having a full offseason knowledge of the playbook I saw an improved Tua in limited action. For those who didn’t watch the game and only saw the highlights you likely saw the big reception to Gesicki for 50 yards and the interception that drew large criticism. Yes, the interception was a poor decision. Whenever you throw a bit off rhythm late over the middle in the NFL bad things happen. What would the narrative be if that pass was completed for a touchdown?

What you didn’t see shown in all those highlights was a three and out to start the game, due to a dropped first down on a good corner route ball thrown by Tua that should’ve extended the drive. On the next two drives, Tua showed confidence, aggressive throws, and a handle on the playbook. These are all things he lacked in his rookie season. Tua has now had a full offseason, shown health from the hip injury, and an improved arsenal of weapons.

The Dolphins focused on making improvements around Tua and giving him weapons. Another reason I think Tua’s game is improved enough to win the division is that not all the offensive starters played in the preseason game. Tua defendants will tell you about the lack of weapons last year and how he was throwing to fringe NFL receivers. He did a lot of that in this preseason game and his improvements were noticeable.

Tua is a Drew Brees prototype of quarterback more than the playmaking strong-arm type like Mahomes, Rodgers, and Watson to some effect. Tua’s strengths are being accurate, on rhythm, and hitting receivers in stride allowing them to make the plays with their athleticism. He is not going to throw passes that travel 60 plus yards in the air downfield and cross body. The offense is built around Tua and it has the ability to score points as well as move down the field efficiently and often. Tua is the focus and key for the Dolphins offensive success and a division title.

On the other side of the ball, a huge part of the defense has officially been returned. After requesting a trade last month, All-Pro CB Xavien Howard and the Miami Dolphins came to an agreement on a restructured contract. Howard is coming off the best season in his career thus far and although 10 interceptions is hard to replicate I expect another strong season from X-man. The key will be health. Since coming into the league in 2016 he has 22 interceptions, the second-most in that span. He trails Marcus Peters by one despite playing 19 fewer games in that span. He has missed many games due to knee and ankle injuries.

With Howard, the Dolphins secondary is set up to be one of the best across the NFL. Playing opposite Howard is Byron Jones, who is a top 15 corner in his own right and could be a top 10 layer at his position. Along with the two highly regarded outside corners is a talented slot corner in Justin Coleman who is making his dolphin debut this year, upcoming player Noah Igbinoghene, rookie Jevon Holland, veterans Eric Rowe, Jason McCourty, and fellow youngsters in Nik Needham and Brandon Jones. The backend of the Dolphins defense is solid.

The third focus for the Dolphins winning the division is line play on both sides of the ball. The offensive line is the bigger focus. The preseason game versus the Bears didn’t show improvement on the offensive line. In fact, it prompted a trade for another offensive lineman. The Dolphins traded for Greg Little to seek another quality player. The offensive line struggled to protect Tua and open up running lanes consistently last year. Without an offensive line, it doesn’t matter what skill players you have. Look at the Chiefs superbowl performance. I don’t expect the offensive line to be one of the worst in the league but a slight improvement in all the young players will be a huge dividend. How much they’ve learned and improved needs to be seen.  

On defense, the line needs to create pressure and get to the quarterback more consistently. With the good coverage if the pressure gets home early and often the Dolphins defense will have a lot of turnovers and spend limited time on the field. First-round pick Jaelen Phillips was brought in to help with this area of concern.

The Dolphins return to a division title is in sight. A lot of the load falls on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. I believe Tua’s improvement from year one will surprise a lot of people and the addition of playmakers will help this offense a lot. With a strong defense and potent offense, the Dolphins have the capability of winning 12 games. The first two will be the tone setters and the pivotal ones to earn the title of AFC East Champ.

The post Why the Dolphins can really win the AFC East appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Pat Pitts

The Patriots received a culture shock finishing their season in Week 17, then watched as their former face of the franchise won another Super Bowl. Their 7-9 record ranks as the second worst season Belichick has had in New England. In 2000, the Patriots finished the season 5-11. The next season turned out a bit different. 

History repeats itself. 

If I was asked to summarize the Patriots’ 2020 season, I would not be nice. It was like reading about a tragic car crash in the newspaper. The more you read into it, the worse the incident becomes. 

A new year means a fresh start. Thank you football gods.

The Bills winning the AFC East snapped an 11-year consecutive streak of the Patriots sitting atop of the division. A historic streak that may be in jeopardy by how the Bills looked last season. Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs mirrored Brady & Moss in 2007 at times. The Dolphins caught the eyes of fans after barely missing the playoffs behind a rookie QB. It is going to be a competitive division this year, but not for Jets fans. 

Sorry. 

The Patriots will reclaim their throne at the top of the AFC East this season. The Bills and Dolphins have talented, young rosters ready to compete for a Lombardi, but they are missing one thing. A head coach who has won more Super Bowls than both of the franchises combined.

Belichick needs to prove to the football world he can win without Tom Brady. He trails his former QB in that department. This is the year he will even the score and it starts with the division. 

These three reasons are a few of many reasons why they will win their 18th division title in 21 years. 

A rebuilt offense

The 2020 Patriots lacked a lot of things but mainly star power. Cam Newton can play scapegoat, but look who his receivers were. Jakobi Meyers and Damiere Byrd led the team in targets. Belichick knew he had to make an upgrade. 

The signings of Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor are leaps and bounds better than the mediocrity Newton threw to last season. In addition, however, Newton gained two of the league’s top five tight ends in Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. As a result, the offense becomes an instant improvement without a down of football played. 

In 2011, the Patriots relied heavily on their two TE system in Gronk and Hernandez. The duo ranked two and three in every major receiving category, targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns. With Newton’s regressing arm, these two will be more significant in the offense than fans realize. 

Defense wins a championship, again. 

Belichick’s championship teams consisted of TB12 and stalwart defense. Guys like Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, and Ty Law were the core of the first dynasty, while Dont’a Hightower, Stephon Gilmore, and the McCourty Bros. carried the torch into the second one. 

Who’s next in line of the throne? 

The Patriots signed a few players to help with their 25th ranked defense against the run. Matt Judon (EDGE), Devon Godchaux (DL), and former Patriot Kyle Van Noy (LB) help the cause with their run-stopping ability and getting to the quarterback. 

They even upgraded their passing defense, signing Jalen Mills and placing a second-round tender on J.C Jackson, who had a breakout season finishing top three in interceptions. Training camp will bring many eyeson who will pick up the torch into the third dynasty era. 

History always repeats itself.

I look at sports a bit differently than most people. Nevertheless, there are patterns within all sports, specifically in certain franchises. The Patriots have a few of these patterns, but one stands out in particular. 

Since 2000, the Patriots have not won the AFC East three times However, the 2000,2002,2008). The season following their failure to capture, they won the division. Two of those three times, they played and won that year’s Super Bowl. 

Yes, it is a bit out there, but history repeats itself. Constantly. 

The New England Patriots are destined to climb back up the mountain, even without Tom Brady. Bill Belichick knows the game better than he knows his own family. He understands how to win and win often. So whether division winners this season. I guarantee it.  

The post Why the Pats could return to being AFC East champions appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Andy Davies

The New York Jets have a new quarterback. BYU’s Zach Wilson was taken second overall by the franchise in this year’s draft. Three years after trading up to get Sam Darnold at number three, the Jets have a new quarterback to pin their hopes on.

Getting a franchise quarterback has been a struggle ever since the departure of Joe Namath, winning Super Bowl 3 but failing to make the big game again. Darnold’s failure and subsequent trade to the Carolina Panthers is just another example in a long list of struggles at the position. 

Can Zach Wilson be the man to change this? Let’s take a look at a list of starting quarterbacks to have started at least ten games for the Jets during the Super Bowl era and whether Wilson can succeed in the NFL.

Joe Namath (1965-76)

Namath was the first Jets quarterback of the Super Bowl era and still stands as the best in franchise history. He was the starter when the Jets shocked the world by beating the Baltimore Colts 16-7 in a game that would change the history of the sport forever. In the first officially named Super Bowl, the Jets went into the game as massive underdogs before the team from the AFC beat the team from the NFC for the first time. This showed the entire sport that both conferences can beat each other and the league has never looked back.

Al Woodall played during Namath’s absence when he threatened to retired but during his time with the Jets, Namath was both the passing yards and passing touchdowns leader in the 1972 season. He also won the Comeback Player of the Year award in 1974 and had his number 12 jersey retired by the organization. He threw for 27,057 yards and 170 touchdowns during his time with the Jets, a career that saw Namath inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

As well as being a great player on the field, Namath was also known for his character off the field. As well as his infectious personality which saw him often spend time with women on the night before games, ‘Broadway Joe’ was an important figure for the NFL. It is not a surprise that the Jets have struggled to find anyone since with both the personality and ability of Namath.

Richard Todd (1976-83)

Namath left the Jets in 1977 for the Los Angeles Rams and his successor was Richard Todd, the sixth overall pick in the 1976 NFL Draft. He was taken by the Jets, who intended for Todd to replace Namath. Todd’s idol growing up was Namath and he spoke of what the experience was like playing alongside his childhood hero. 

“I thought it was great. It was very cool to hang out with Joe, watching his leadership and how he played. I hoped the Jets would let Joe be my tutor for four years but it didn’t work like that”. 

Todd is third in total yards recorded by any Jets quarterback in franchise history, with 24,386 yards and 110 touchdowns. However, Todd also had 138 interceptions, a 42-51-1 record as a starter and was at times booed by fans. He did guide the Jets to the AFC Championship during the 1982 season, a year after losing in the Wildcard Round to the Buffalo Bills. Todd would face a quarterback battle against Dan Marino and he vastly struggled. At Miami’s Orange Bowl, Todd was sacked four times as well as throwing for five interceptions and going 15-of-37 on his completions. He would last just one more season for the Jets before being traded to the New Orleans Saints. 

Pat Ryan (1978-89)

Joe Walton took over as Jets head coach during Todd’s final season and decided to start Ryan, who went 281st overall in the 1978 NFL Draft. Ryan didn’t start a game until Walton gave him the opportunity in 1984, where he started eleven games. This was his one true season as the Jets’ QB1, but threw for just 1,939 yards, 14 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in the 1984 season and only started eight more games in the remaining five seasons of his Jets career. He did get the chance to lead the Jets in the playoffs during the 1986 season, where he took over from the benched Ken O’Brien. Ryan threw three touchdown passes as the Jets beat the Kansas City Chiefs before they lost to the Cleveland Browns in overtime in the Divisional Round.

“I was in disbelief and there was no suggestion it was going to happen. I didn’t play a lot but when I did, I did a fairly good job”, Ryan said when discussing replacing O’Brien.

Ken O’Brien (1984-92)

O’Brien was the starter in 1984, before the aforementioned benching for Ryan during the 1986 season. Only Namath has thrown more passing yards for the Jets than O’Brien, who was a two-time Pro Bowler and the NFL passer rating leader in 1985. He recorded a total of 24,386 yards, 124 touchdowns and 95 interceptions during his time with the Jets but failed to win a playoff game in two attempts at a starter (). O’Brien has since spoken of his time with the Jets.

“Things didn’t go the way they were growing and I wish we had done things better, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying”. 

Browning Nagle (1991-93)

Nagle had just a 3-10 record as a starter, recording 7 touchdowns and 17 interceptions during his time with the New York Jets before a more successful career in the Arena Football League.

Boomer Esiason (1993-95)

Esiason was traded to the Jets from the Cincinnati Bengals, who received a third-round pick in exchange. Despite winning the Most Valuable Player award with the Bengals in the 1988 season that saw them go to their second-ever Super Bowl, Esiason’s numbers began to drop. He recorded 20 or more touchdowns in 5 of his first 7 NFL seasons before a disappointing final two seasons with Cincinnati, recording 13 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 1991 along with just 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 1992.

The decline continued into his time with the Jets, with a 15-27 record as a starter. Unfortunately for New York, it appears that the Jets picked Esiason five seasons too late.

Neil O’Donnell (1996-97)

Despite being a Pro Bowler in 1992 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, O’Donnell was traded to the Jets in 1996 in the offseason after throwing three interceptions in their Super Bowl 30 loss to the Dallas Cowboys

During his two seasons with the Jets, he posted an 8-12 record as a starter, throwing for 3,943 yards, 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.  In an article on Jets Wire back in 2016, O’Donnell was named the Jets’ worst ever Free Agency signing, although Le’Veon Bell may give him a run for his money if the article was written tomorrow. 

O’Donnell never worked out in New York,  but the Jets soon got a good replacement through the facility doors. 

Vinny Testaverde (1998-03, 2005)

Testaverde came to the organization late in his career but certainly made the most of it, earning one of his two Pro Bowl selections whilst with the Jets during his first season at the franchise. He left for the Cowboys but only lasted one season before heading back for a single year. 

He was part of a game in 2000 that many call the best ‘Monday Night Football’ game of all-time in an AFC East matchup against the Dolphins, where the Jets came back from 30-7 down at the beginning of the fourth quarter before bringing the scores back level at 37-37 at the end of regular time. A John Hall 40-yard field goal saw the Jets win in overtime.  It has been called the ‘Monday Night Miracle’ ever since, with the Palm Beach Post calling it a ‘Monday Meltdown’. Testaverde turned up when it mattered in this game, going 18-of-26 with four touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone. 

He recorded 12,497 yards, 77 touchdowns, 58 interceptions with a 35-26 record as a starter for the Jets and has a 1-2 record in the postseason whilst playing in New York green.  

Chad Pennington (2000-07)

Pennington is widely regarded as the second or third best quarterback in franchise history along with Testaverde. For those eight seasons he spent with the Jets after being drafted eighteenth overall in 2000 he guided the Jets to the playoffs in three of those eight seasons, despite starting 3 games or less in three of those eight seasons. He posted a record of 2-3 in the playoffs with the Jets, reaching the Wildcard Round once and the Divisional Round twice.

He won the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2006 whilst with the Jets (along with the Dolphins in 2008), was both the passer rating leader and completion percentage leader in 2002, the latter in which he also won as a Dolphin in 2008.  

Only three quarterbacks have thrown for more yards as a Jet than Pennington (13,738), who recorded 82 touchdowns and 55 interceptions with a 32-29 record as a starter. 

Brett Favre (2008)

This one was a big shame. Favre is a Hall of Famer and is seen as one of the best quarterbacks of all time, with many current NFL players who idolized the former Green Bay Packer growing up. The one-time Super Bowl champion finished his career as a three-time MVP, eleven-time Pro Bowler, four-time passing touchdown leader, two-time passing yards leader and a one-time completion percentage leader. His number 4 jersey is also retired by the Packers. 

Favre announced his retirement in March 2008 before returning to the league in the same year. Despite the best attempts of the Minnesota Vikings, Favre was traded to the Jets in exchange for a fourth-round pick. In his one season at the organization, he ended it with 22 touchdowns, 22 interceptions and a 9-7 record as the Jets missed out on the playoffs.  Favre told the Jets he was retiring before he was cut by the team. 

He then decided to join the Vikings, where he reached one of those eleven Pro Bowls in 2009. Favre had a 12-4 record as a starter that season as well as throwing for 33 touchdowns and 7 interceptions as Minnesota reached the NFC Championship. What could have been. 

Mark Sanchez (2009-12)

Sanchez was taken fifth overall by the Jets in 2009 and reached the AFC Championship in his rookie season, albeit recording 12 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. He would also reach the same stage of the postseason a season later. However, Sanchez never had the numbers despite an improvement in his sophomore year that saw him record 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The 2010 sophomore year saw Sanchez put himself in the history books by becoming the first quarterback to beat Peyton Manning and Tom Brady on the road in successive weeks. Only Joe Flacco managed this achievement after Sanchez. 

After his first two seasons, Sanchez failed to make the postseason again in his career, recording 12,092 yards as a Jet as well as 68 touchdowns and 69 interceptions. He is best known nowadays for one play that took place on Thanksgiving in 2012 against the New England Patriots, which is referred to as the butt fumble.

With the Jets 14-0 down on 1st and 10 around their 30-yard line, Sanchez ran into the backside of offensive lineman Brandon Moore, before fumbling the ball. This was picked up by the Patriots safety Stephen Gregory, who took the ball to the end zone to give the Pats a 21-0 lead in a game that finished 49-19 to New England. 

Geno Smith (2013-16)

A second-round pick in 2013, Smith never took his opportunity as a starter, throwing for 5,962 yards, 28 touchdowns and 36 interceptions during his three seasons with New York. He had a 12-18 record as a Jets starter.

Ryan Fitzpatrick (2015-16)

Fitzpatrick is one of the more loved NFL quarterbacks, being the one Jets quarterback with a similar personality to Namath. He is a fun guy who may not have ever been consistent in his professional career, but he had one of his best spells as a Jet. Fitzpatrick may have had a 13-14 record as a starter but threw for 43 touchdowns, 6,615 yards and 32 interceptions during his two seasons.

Josh McCown (2017-18)

McCown only won five games during his sixteen games across two seasons as a starter for the Jets. He never truly got going but was more than likely a stopgap so they could go out and get a quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft. Their intent was clear when they traded up to get the number 3 overall pick. The player they picked, was USC’s Sam Darnold. 

Sam Darnold (2018-20)

Darnold came into the league with plenty of hype, with many seeing him as a potential number one overall. However, his NFL career never really took off. The Panthers trade is seen as a chance for him to resurrect his career after two head coaches in three seasons with the Jets, being caught on microphone saying he was “seeing ghosts” in a 2019 week 7 Monday Night Football loss to the New England Patriots. He threw for 8,097 yards, 45 touchdowns and 39 interceptions during his spell with the Jets but failed to convince the franchise to keep him on as they went out and got Wilson. 

There are plenty of people on both sides of the Sam Darnold fence. Some feel his struggles were fully on him, whereas others feel that he will succeed now that he is playing under a promising head coach in Matt Rhule in Carolina. It is safe to say we will see the real Darnold in Charlotte, whether that is good or bad. 

Can Wilson Succeed?

Zach Wilson. Can he finally be the guy to turn the organization around? The Jets have certainly gone out to protect their new guy, by taking guard Alijah Vera-Tucker in the 2021 NFL Draft at fourteenth overall. There is plenty who feel he has bust potential, with only one of his three college seasons seeing more than 12 touchdowns thrown. In 2020, he recorded 33 touchdowns and just three interceptions. This is a great season and he certainly impressed in the combine, was that just a one-off? 

The NFL will be the true test of that and the fact he was second overall will bring its own pressure, especially in a city such as New York. Wilson’s personality appears a lot more reserved than many of the other players taken in the first round, with the Utah native needing to quickly adjust to the change of lifestyle in the big apple. 

His arm looks excellent and he looks able to scramble and make plays in a similar fashion to Patrick Mahomes. Comparing him to the Chiefs superstar is the last thing I want to do for an NFL rookie, but it is hard to ignore the similarity in his college tape. 

The Jets have struggled for too long and need something to ignite the fire back into this organization. Can it be Wilson?

The post Can Zach Wilson succeed in New York? A history of New York Jets QBs appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Which teams are the favorites to win their respective divisions? Glad you asked because I will go division by division and give my favorites. Using the compass, we will start north with the AFC North.  

AFC North: Baltimore Ravens  

This division is about two teams (Ravens & Browns) with an outside chance for the Steelers. There’s always next year, the year after that for you Bengals fans. The Ravens get the edge because it’s the one team that I have the most confidence in. Head coach John Harbaugh has three consecutive double-digit winning seasons. (Steelers & Browns each have one). Their run game and that defense are still formidable.  

To be clear, you cannot ignore the Browns after their 1st winning season since 2007 and winning their 1st playoff game since 1994. The question mark here is can they duplicate, or even improve, from last year? They shored up some gaps in their secondary via both free agency and the draft. If Baker Mayfield can keep up his steady improvement, this division will be fun to watch.  

For the Steelers, it certainly looked as though Big Ben’s best days were behind him. Is the defense good enough after losing DE Bud Dupree to the Titans? As for the Bengals, Joe Burrow was a ROTY frontrunner before being injured and they drafted his LSU teammate, WR Ja’Marr Chase, as his new target. Overall, this division will come down to QB play and which defense is the best.   

AFC East: Buffalo Bills  

Josh Allen is a top 5 QB in this league. He was a huge part of their success last season, winning the AFC East for the 1st time since 1995. They return all five of their starting offensive line and if they are a strong tenacious unit this year, this is a Super Bowl contender. There is not a lot of gaps on this roster.   

The Miami Dolphins and their franchise is hinging on what QB Tua Tagovailoa can do in year two. Despite going 6-3 in his nine starts, there was still clamor that they should have pursued a starting QB. However, I have faith in Tua because of his accuracy (64.1%) and the ability to win down the stretch (two 4th quarter comebacks). Adding WR Will Fuller in free agency and drafting WR Jaylen Waddle along with WR DeVante Parker gives Tua a nice WR core to throw to. Plus, head coach Brian Flores and his defense drafted LB Jaelan Phillips out of Miami (FL) to replace LB Kyle Van Noy, who signed with the Patriots. They will be in the mix.  

Speaking of the Patriots, head coach Bill Belichick opened up the checkbook, especially on the tight end position. Hunter Henry got a three-year, $37.5 million deal, including $25 million guaranteed, and Jonnu Smith a four-year, $50 million deal with $31.25 million guaranteed. They also signed WRs Nelson Agholor & Kendrick Bourne, LBs Kyle Van Noy and Matthew Judon, and C Ted Karras. It is abundantly clear the Patriots are not rebuilding, given the Belichick is 69 years old. Even though they re-signed QB Cam Newton, they drafted Mac Jones of Alabama. Jones will play this season but when is uncertain.   

The Jets cleaned house by firing Adam Gase and hiring former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as their head coach. They drafted a franchise QB in Zach Wilson of BYU and OT Alijah Vera-Tucker to protect his blindside. They also went out and signed WR Corey Davis from the Titans, DE Carl Lawson from the Bengals, and S Lamarcus Joyner from the Raiders. The Jets are far from a contender but I love their upside because I like Zach Wilson and what he can do in this offense ran by OC Mike LaFleur.   

AFC South: Indianapolis Colts  

I am confident that this is a two-team for the division. The Colts went out and traded for QB Carson Wentz. They did not make a huge splash in free agency, but they did sign CB Xavier Rhodes from the Vikings to help in the secondary. If Wentz can stay healthy, the Colts. could sneak into the AFC Championship game. By the way, the Matt Eberflus-led defense with DT DeForest Buckner and LB Darius Leonard was great last year.  

Here is what I know about the Titans: Derrick Henry is a beast and traded for a future HOF WR in Julio Jones. I know the offense is great but can we talk about the defense for a second? They signed DE Bud Dupree and drafted CB Caleb Farley of Virginia Tech but is it enough to improve their defense? They were 28th in the NFL in total defense. Having an explosive offense is cool but can you stop anybody?   

The Jaguars have their QB of the future in Trevor Lawrence and 1st-year head coach Urban Meyer is looking to get the Jags back on track. As for the Texans, I feel bad for only two people: the diehard Texans fan and head coach David Culley. 0-17 is not out of the realm of possibility here.  

AFC West: Kansas City Chiefs  

Everyone feels this division is a lock because of the Chiefs’ success over the last three years (2 Super Bowl appearances and 3 AFC Championship game appearances). Also, having the QB Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid helps too. However, they might have some competition because the Chiefs can play down to their opponents. Nonetheless, they vastly improved their offensive line by signing Joe Thuney and Kyle Long, which was their Achilles heel last year. They are the favorite but do not sleep on the Chargers.  

The Chargers were plagued with injuries and losing close games, which cost Anthony Lynn his job. Hiring former Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley as their new head coach gives me a sense that they make a move in this division. Starting with their offense, QB Justin Herbert played outstanding, garnering the ROTY award. Throw in WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams along with signing C Corey Linsley from the Packers solidifies their offensive line. RB Austin Ekler could have a breakout year also. The Rams had the No. 1 defense in the league under Staley last season. He inherits DE Joey Bosa, S Derwin James, and drafted CB Asante Samuel Jr.   

The Denver Broncos passed on QB Justin Fields in the NFL Draft for CB Patrick Surtain II of Alabama. They traded for QB Teddy Bridgewater, making it a QB competition between him and QB Drew Lock. They signed CB Kyle Fuller from the Bears to play on the other side of Surtain II. The question is this: Do the Broncos have a Lock or a Bridge at QB?   

As for the Raiders, their turnover differential was ”“11, which was 30th in the league. Derek Carr is not the problem because this was a top 10 offense last season (8th) with a defense ranked 25th. I will contend that the head coach Jon Gruden is a great offensive mind but my concern will always be the defense with this team.   

NFC North: Minnesota Vikings  

My favorite here is based on one player: Aaron Rodgers. I believe that he might not play a down for them again. With Jordan Love under center for the Packers, they will not win this division. Rodgers moves the needle for me. Plus, they lost their C Corey Linsley to the Chargers and made no other free agency signings but did re-sign RB Aaron Jones and CB Kevin King. However, if no. 12 is not there, this team is going nowhere.  

Shifting to the Vikings, their drafts over the last two years have great, yielding WR Justin Jefferson, CB Jeff Gladney, OT Ezra Cleveland, and CB Cameron Dantzler in 2020. This year, they drafted OT Christian Darrisaw, QB Kellen Mond, and OT Wyatt Davis. Throw in that they still have RB Dalvin Cook in the backfield and a still productive QB in Kirk Cousins (still overpaid though). Plus, they still have Harrison Smith, Anthony Barr, and Eric Kendricks on defense.   

The Bears finally got their franchise QB in Justin Fields. Their defense is still good but not elite, especially after losing CB Kyle Fuller in free agency to the Broncos. They have a good chance to improve if the Packers don’t get Rodgers back. As for the Lions, QB Jared Goff needed a change of scenery and the Lions needed to restart their franchise after trading QB Matthew Stafford. The Lions have RB D’Andre Swift and TE T.J. Hockenson on offense and their defense has promise with CB Jeff Okudah, DE Trey Flowers, and DT Michael Brockers.  

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys  

On paper, the Dallas Cowboys have a talented roster. With a now healthy Dak Prescott as the signal-caller, they have the best QB in the division. The biggest issue I have is if the defense, now under new defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, will improve. Last season, the defensive scheme of Mike Nolan was pretty bad and it showed. Plus, the injury bug hit them hard. If this defense takes some major strides, this division is theirs to lose.  

The Washington Football Team (WFT) won this division with a 7-9 record in 2020. This offseason, they signed WR Curtis Samuel from the Panthers, CB William Jackson of the Bengals, and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick from the Dolphins. This was the second-best defense in the league last year with defensive ROTY Chase Young leading the way. Offensively, the only concern is the offensive line. They were tied for 2nd, allowing 50 sacks. Can FitzMagic stay upright to get this offense going?  

The Giants were all about building around their QB Daniel Jones, signing WR Kenny Golladay, WR John Ross III, and TE Kyle Rudolph in free agency. For GM Dave Gettleman, his job is tied to Danny Dimes. He drafted WR Kadarius Toney of Florida as well. With a healthy Saquon Barkley, this offense has to improve or it could over for Gettleman. As for the Eagles, it’s life after Carson Wentz with the Jalen Hurts era set to commence. New head coach Nick Sirianni has his cut for him as a rookie head coach trying to navigate a roster with talent but needs improvement big time.   

NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers   

When you re-sign every starter in the offseason and you won the Super Bowl, you are the favorite. If key players remain healthy, the Bucs could be in Los Angeles playing for another Super Bowl.   

The Saints lost QB Drew Brees to retirement and players like DE Trey Hendrickson, CB Janoris Jenkins, LB Alex Anzalone, and DT Sheldon Rankins to free agency. However, they still DEs Cam Jordan & Marcus Davenport, CB Marshon Lattimore, and WR Michael Thomas. To me, if Taysom Hill is the starting QB, I do have reservations because he has been a gadget player ever since he’s been in the league. He was a QB at BYU but maybe with a full offseason as a QB, he could adjust.   

The Falcons hired Titans OC Arthur Smith to be the head coach after firing Dan Quinn five games into last season. They traded away one of the best players to ever don a Falcons uniform, Julio Jones. They still have QB Matt Ryan, WR Calvin Ridley, and drafting TE Kyle Pitts of Florida, they are in a transition phase. On top of Pitts, GM Terry Fontenot has a great draft and is building for the future. This defense has to be better and new defensive coordinator Dean Pees has to maximize this talent to show gradual improvement.   

The Panthers, like the Broncos, passed on QB Justin Fields for a CB. This time, it was Jaycee Horn of South Carolina. It does help their secondary and they traded for QB Sam Darnold. It was clear that head coach Matt Rhule wanted to move on from Teddy Bridgewater and did so. The biggest question coming out of Carolina is if Darnold is the guy. If so, Carolina will pay him. If not, they look to the 2022 draft for their guy.   

NFC West: Arizona Cardinals  

I am high on the Cardinals. Every team in this division can win this division. I went out on a limb with the Cardinals is because they went out and got better on defense, signing DE J.J. Watt and CB Malcolm Butler. Last year, the Cardinals’ defense was 4th in sacks and a top-15 defense. Plus, signing WR A.J. Green to pair with DeAndre Hopkins gives QB Kyler Murray weapons at the skill position. The x-factor is head coach Kliff Kingsbury. If he can elevate this offense, this team could be dangerous come playoff time.   

The Rams upgraded at QB by trading for Matthew Stafford of the Lions. It seems GM Les Snead does not believe in the draft whatsoever, giving up a lot to get him. Their defense lost S John Johnson to the Browns but they still CB Jalen Ramsey and DT Aaron Donald. The concern is if new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris can keep this defense elite to compete for a Super Bowl.   

I am a huge Russell Wilson fan but the Seahawks have been leaning on him for some time now. That offensive line allowed 48 sacks, which was tied for 3rd in 2020. Defensively, head coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. need to shore up that secondary. They allowed 285 passing yards/game (2nd worse in the league last year). If they want any chance to win this division, this defense has to be better.  

Many people like the 49ers to win this division and I get it. Their defense is great and healthier and TE George Kittle is healthy. The biggest question mark I have is under center. Jimmy Garoppolo is not the answer and I feel Trey Lance is not the answer. I love their front office in GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. However, losing defensive coordinator Robert Saleh concerns me and uncertainty under center.   

The post Each Divisional Favorite in the NFL appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Caleb Holfoth (@cmhfilm)

Buffalo is in a prime position to make a run and potentially overtake the Kansas City Chiefs as AFC Champions. After a successful offseason where we saw Brandon Beane address both the offensive and defensive line in the draft and free agency the Bills look to make another jump forward after a successful 2020 campaign. If the Bills want to make that run it is necessary, that some role players step up their game and start to have a major impact every single week. Buffalo has a very young roster in terms of a contender so many of the players they will need to step up have only been in the NFL for a couple of seasons. Not only will these players need to step up for the Bills, but they also have to prove to the organization that they are worthy of keeping in the coming years. These are the three players that have the most to prove for the Buffalo Bills in 2021.  

Tremaine Edmunds, Linebacker

Tremaine Edmunds has manned the middle linebacker spot ever since he was drafted in the same round as franchise quarterback Josh Allen. Edmunds has had an up and down career in his three seasons with Buffalo. Still only 23 years old there has always been an extremely high ceiling for Edmunds since he was picked. Totaling 335 career tackles, and 19 tackles for loss Edmunds has been the anchor of a Bills defense that was elite in 2019 allowing the 2nd least points in the NFL. However, in 2020, Edmunds took a small step back alongside the rest of Buffalo’s defense. Edmunds struggled mightily in run defense causing Buffalo to allow the 7th most yards per carry in the NFL. Edmunds struggled to shed blockers and often either failed to attack the hole or over pursued the running play. Part of this was due to a shoulder injury that Edmunds sustained early in the season as well as the small defensive line that Buffalo had after the losses of Shaq Lawson, Jordan Phillips, and Star Lotulelei who were all oversized lineman that manned a solid run defense.

Edmunds has a lot to prove because the Bills already picked up his 5th-year option for next season. That option will make Edmunds the 5th highest-paid middle linebacker in the NFL per Spotrac. Edmunds has to not only prove his worth to Buffalo to earn a potential long-term deal after 2022 but also has to prove that he can bounce back from a poor season and get back on the right developmental track. Edmunds is a very unique linebacker in terms of age and physical tools so even if he does not become an All-Pro level linebacker as long as he takes a step back in the right direction, he will have proved his worth.

Part of the reason that Edmunds has so much to prove in 2021 is that if he is unable to improve on last season not only will it cast serious doubt about his future with Buffalo but will also make his 2022 salary a burden. Edmunds can easily turn around his career after one slightly down year, but he has pressure on him considering he is the quarterback of the defense, and his first two seasons of play built high expectations for his future.

AJ Epenesa, Defensive End

As a rookie AJ Epenesa could barely get on the field. Epenesa registered only 27% of defensive snaps for Buffalo which is much less than many expected the Bills 2020 second-round pick to play. Part of the reason Epenesa played so little was that he was unable to experience a normal offseason. All of last year’s rookie camps and OTAs were canceled because of COVID-19. Epenesa also came into the season underweight. Buffalo had asked him to cut some weight before training camp, but Epenesa cut two much coming into camp very lean.

Epenesa has a lot to prove in 2021 because he essentially proved nothing in 2020. While he did show some occasional flashes, it was not nearly enough to rely on him in 2021. Epenesa needs to show really solid improvement because both Jerry Hughes and Mario Addison are on the wrong side of 32 years old. Epenesa should be in line for more snaps this season and needs to make the most of them. Luckily, just in OTA’s Epenesa has received some solid reviews.

Another reason the Epenesa has a lot to prove this season is because Buffalo drafted defensive ends in rounds one and two in the 2021 NFL Draft. If Epenesa cannot prove his worth this season he could easily fall behind both Carlos Basham and Greg Rousseau on the Bills depth chart or even further and be in jeopardy of being let, go before or after his rookie deal ends. Epenesa has pressure from all directions. He has high expectations because he is a second-round pick who showed very little impact in his first year and while there may be good reasons for that Epenesa does not have much time to right the ship as the Bills have Basham and Rousseau waiting in the ranks.

Ed Oliver, Defensive Tackle

Ed Oliver his to prove his value in year three. A former top ten pick that has never completely lived up to the hype is a very good player just like Tremaine Edmunds. However, just like Edmunds, Oliver does leave a lot to be desired. Oliver is good but has shown he can be much more than just good. Oliver just struggles to show that consistently. Just like Edmunds the shuffling of the defensive line from 2019 to 2020 could have negatively affected the play of Oliver. However, this season he gets his partner Star Lotulelei back. That means that Oliver can slide back to his normal position and Lotulelei can resume his role as the 1-tech defensive tackle for Buffalo. Oliver struggled with the adjustment of his position last season and described the adjustment here.

Despite starting nine more games in 2020 than 2019 Oliver saw a drop off in his play.

2019: 7 Starts, 1 FF, 5 Sacks, 43 Tackles, 5 TFL, 8 QB Hits

2020: 16 Starts, 1 FF, 3 Sacks, 33 Tackles, 6 TFL, 6 QB Hits

While the drop of was not dramatic it was concerning that Oliver took a step back after showing his rookie year that he had the potential to be one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the NFL. Oliver finally gets to return to the position where he is most comfortable. Oliver has to capitalize this season for Buffalo because Buffalo has been desperate for a complete game-changer along the defensive line ever since the All-Pro season that Marcell Dareus put together in 2014.

Oliver not only needs to be better and prove his potential for the sake of Buffalo but also for the sake of his career. This offseason the Bills have to decide if they are going to pick up Oliver’s 5th-year option which will come at no small price tag. As of now Oliver probably has not shown enough to warrant that option being picked up. However, if Oliver can put together his best season yet both Buffalo and him will benefit. Although it is not necessarily a contract year for Oliver it nearly is because of the 5th year option. His play this season will determine if he gets to make upwards of 10 million dollars in his 5th season.

Final Thoughts

All of these players have different and similar reasons why they have the stuff to prove in 2021. However, if the Bills want to be extremely successful this season and challenge for a super bowl these three players will all have to play much better than they did last season. While Oliver and Edmunds have significant experience and solid play the flashes, they have shown call for greater expectations for both players. If neither Edmunds nor Oliver can come near those expectations this coming season the Buffalo Bills may be in a tough spot next offseason. Lastly, AJ Epenesa seems like a product of a COVID-ridden offseason and the learning curve of the NFL. Epenesa likely would not be on this list if the Bills had not drafted two players who can easily take over Epenesa on the roster if he does not perform. Because of the increased competition at the defensive end, Epenesa has to improve and show value because the clock is ticking.  

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By: Louis Damiano

Last year, the Buffalo Bills won the AFC East division title for the first time since 1995, a drought every fan couldn’t wait to end. So much so, thousands of fans gathered to celebrate when the team plane arrived back in Buffalo in the freezing cold night after the Bills clinched the division title in Week 15 at Denver with a 48-19 victory. 

The AFC East is no longer a division where the topic of conversation is which team can potentially be the biggest challenge to the New England Patriots. This division is as competitive as it has ever been, and it is filled with young highly touted quarterbacks. Two rookie quarterbacks drafted high in the first round, a former number 5 overall pick who has only played in nine games, and the other who is entering his fourth season and finished second in the MVP voting a season ago. 

The New York Jets finally seem to have a plan, and it appears that they are building toward something that has the potential to put them in contention in this conference in the future. The Jets have rookie quarterback in Zach Wilson who will be facing some of the best defensive head coaches in the NFL. Sean McDermott, Bill Belichick, and Brian Flores are as good as they come, and they welcome a rookie head coach in Robert Saleh who will certainly be going through his ups and downs just like his young signal caller will. The Jets will not be AFC East contenders this year, but if things go right, they might not be the worst team in the division.

As for the Miami Dolphins, this is a team with high expectations. Many tout this Dolphins squad as a team that has the talent to win a lot of games and potentially the division. But it will all come back on their young quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Miami has been one of the most active teams the last couple offseasons, building from the bottom up with general manager Chris Grier. Miami won 10 games last year, and it was due to solid quarterback play from Ryan Fitzpatrick and an opportunistic defense that featured cornerback Xavien Howard who led the league with 10 interceptions. The Dolphins season came to an end when they fell one game short of the playoffs when they got beaten by the Bills and their backups 56-26.

So, what have the Dolphins done this offseason to make the next jump? 

The Dolphins entered the offseason knowing they needed to support their young quarterback who struggled mightily when he played against stiffer competition. We saw a few times when Tua started the game but didn’t finish because Flores thought Fitzpatrick gave their team a better chance at winning. We all remember that Saturday Night game in Las Vegas against the Raiders when Fitzpatrick brought the Dolphins back late and won on a game winning field goal 26-25. Tua was taken out of the game after completing 17 of 22 passes for 94 yards. Yes, 94 passing yards on 17 completions. I am not making that up. Fitzpatrick is no longer on the team, and you have to think the Tua will not be coming out of the game for his new backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett. 

The Dolphins appear to have given Tua the keys to the franchise, (unless they trade for Deshaun Watson which would not surprise me) but that also means they must put him in position to succeed. The receivers Tua had to work with was not enough. They brought in the speedy wide receiver Will Fuller in free agency and drafted another speed demon in Jaylen Waddle with the 6th overall pick last month. The moves to bring in deep threat wide receivers did catch some criticism considering Tua is not the greatest deep ball thrower attempting only 3.3 deep passes per game which was 27th in the league and averaging just 6.3 yards per attempt which was ranked 30th. Tua also had a 36.4 deep ball completion % which was 24th in the league. All of this of course may have been due to the fact that he didn’t have the best deep ball receivers but there are no more excuses for him now. 

In the draft, Miami drafted four players in the top 42 picks. After Waddle, the Dolphins took Jaelan Phillips who if it wasn’t for injuries could’ve been a top 10 pick. Injuries aside, Phillips should help the pass rush, which feasted on a lot of blitzing but also left the secondary for dead. The passing defense ranked 23rd in the league last year, and Josh Allen was amazing in both games against them. If the Dolphins are going to improve the passing defense, getting to the quarterback with just four will certainly help. 

Other notable picks who can make an impact, Oregon safety Jevon Holland and Notre Dame right tackle Liam Eichenberg should make an immediate impact for the Dolphins in year 1. 

What have the Patriots done?

The Patriots on the other hand are as interesting as they ever have been even with Tom Brady no longer in the picture. It starts with the quarterback position, and it’s a very interesting situation to monitor. The Pats drafted Alabama signal caller Mac Jones 15th overall, resigned Cam Newton to $3.5 million in guarantees, they already have former 4th rounder Jarrett Stidham, and then just this week they signed veteran backup Brian Hoyer. Mac Jones is the only lock for the roster, Cam has been named the starter by Belichick but if he has a rough camp and Jones shows out, Cam isn’t making enough money to guarantee him a spot. Stidham was a guy many thought would be the Brady replacement, but his 4 interceptions in 48 career passing attempts doesn’t look great. Hoyer could be the mentor for Mac Jones while Cam is the starter, which would leave Stidham as the odd man out, but anything is possible in New England. 

Elsewhere on the roster, the Patriots spent a ton of money in free agency to fill holes. The two biggest splashes the Patriots made were at the tight end position. Tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith were paid as top 5 players at their position, and after having Ryan Izzo, Devin Asiasi, and Dalton Keene split reps last year, these new tight ends are a major upgrade for a team that loves to utilize two tight ends sets.

At receiver, the Patriots also had no talent and production, so they brought in two under the radar guys who are no longer under the radar given the contracts they received. Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne provide the Patriots talent they have missed. On defense the Patriots brought in former Raven Matt Judon to provide more grit on the defensive line, brought back Kyle Van Noy after being cut in Miami, brought in Henry Anderson from the Jets, and drafted Alabama defensive tackle Christian Barmore in the second round of the draft. Don’t forget all the guys that are coming back after opting out last year too!

So, who is the biggest threat to the Bills after all these moves both teams in the division have made? 

I have to go with the Miami Dolphins. They were so close last year, they won 10 games and I believe they upgraded their roster where it needed upgrading. The defense was at the top all of last season and they have the potential to be even better, however facing better quarterbacks this year can certainly change that. But again, what this comes down to for me is the quarterback position on both teams. I am not a big Tua fan, but it has only been nine starts for him. We can’t judge the former number five overall pick on just nine starts. For the Patriots, I think Mac Jones will sit in year 1 until… Cam is the Cam we saw last year. Cam looks shot, I think we know what we will get from Cam, but we don’t know about Tua. I will roll with the unknown and the upside and take the Dolphins as the biggest threat to Josh Allen in the AFC East.

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For the first time since 2002, the Patriots ended a season with a losing record. A 7-9 record doesn’t look bad, but when your team is consistently winning for over 20 years, it didn’t go over well with the organization or its fans. Bill Belichick last year didn’t handle the Queteback situation correctly after Tom Brady left for Tampa. When Tom Brady left last March, everyone in the NFL knew the Patriots needed to respond and have their next great QB. Well, that simply did not happen and the team was scrambling to sign Cam Newton late in the offseason. With all that being said, the Patriots this offseason quickly turned things around and have made this team into a playoff contender. 

Can the Patriots win the AFC East this year? Yes. Here are the 3 reasons why the Patriots can return back on top of the AFC East! 

1. Free Agent Singings

Bill Belichick and his coaching staff wasted no time this offseason trying to get the team better. The Patriots signed two tight ends to solidify a much-needed boost offensively. Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry are both prominent tight ends. They also signed all-pro, Matthew Judon as an edge rusher. When Judon is 100 percent, he can cause havoc all over the field. The Wide Receiver positions also got a boost this offseason as the team signed Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne.  

2. Buffalo and Miami offseason wows 

To be honest, what have either Buffalo or Miami done this offseason? Not really much. Of course, the draft is a week from today, but both teams lost key players from their team. Buffalo lost Wide Receivers, John Brown and Andre Roberts. Miami lost Running back, Matt Breida. They also let Kyle Van Noy go back to the Patriots which could prove costly defensively. The Patriots out of all the team in the AFC East improved the most and can content with both teams. 

3. Defensive improvements 

At the start of the 2020 season, New England wanted to build their team on defense. Knowing it would take time for Newton to learn everything, the team knew it would take some time to adjust without Tom Brady. Well, this last offseason was from normal as teams weren’t allowed to have much of an offseason program. Defensively, New England was without some of their key starters with injury or opting out of the season. Coming into this year, the team has improved in a lot of ways defensively. Getting a healthy Stephon Gilmore back and adding former Eagle, Jalen Mills will make the backend of the Patriots defense stronger. The team added some depth up front to help with pass-rushing and stopping the run. In the last five games last year, it seemed like teams were running at will against the Patriots. If the Patriots’ defense is anything like 2 years ago, they will contend for a division title! 

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