Barely a threat to Pats’ East crown
Bills, Jets likely in for long, rough year
There’s not much here. That’s the prevailing theme when it comes to the rest of the AFC East landscape. It appears the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets are bad enough to not just miss the playoffs but dive into the depths of NFL obscurity, while the Miami Dolphins have talent but a major question mark at quarterback.
The Patriots have won the AFC East 15 times in the past 16 seasons. Let’s take a quick look at what’s in store for their six division games in 2017.
Buffalo Bills
What’s new: How about almost everything? Sean McDermott, 43, takes the reins for his first head coaching position after spending the past six seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. The Bills also cleaned out their front office and entire scouting staff, as general manager Brandon Beane is in control now. The offense endured a major face lift, too, although quarterback Tyrod Taylor remains the starter as long as he can overcome a recent concussion.
What’s scary in this offense: Not much. Taylor hasn’t really taken the next step and is injured, so you might see rookie Nathan Peterman as early as Sunday’s opener against the Jets. Neither will get much help from a receiving corps that was gutted in the offseason, as all of last year’s top three targets — Sammy Watkins (Los Angeles Rams), Robert Woods (Los Angeles Rams) and Marquise Goodwin (San Francisco 49ers) — are elsewhere. Charles Clay gives the team a nice receiving tight end, and LeSean McCoy remains one of the game’s best running backs, but this is not an offense that will strike fear into opponents.
Season forecast: The Bills seem to be in the middle of a reboot given the purge with the roster and the front office. There is not much to like about the offense, and McDermott does not have the same players he had in Carolina to immediately turn around the defense. The Bills, who haven’t made the playoffs since 1999, likely fall way short again this year.
Miami Dolphins
What’s new: Remember when Jay Cutler retired to start a career in broadcasting? Well, plans have changed because now he’s the starting quarterback for the Dolphins after Ryan Tannehill went down with a season-ending ACL injury. Most of the rest of the roster remains intact, as the Dolphins easily have the best collection of talent in the division other than the Patriots.
What’s scary in this offense: Provided the offensive line can stay healthy, there are plenty of positives here. Jay Ajayi had a breakout season at running back a year ago with 1,272 yards and eight touchdowns. The receiving corps is solid with Jarvis Landry in the slot, DeVante Parker and Kenny Stills out wide and second-year jitterbug Jakeem Grant poised for a breakout year. If Cutler can provide any sort of stability to the passing game, the offense can be dangerous. That’s a pretty big if.
Season forecast: Injuries hit the Dolphins hard this preseason. Not just Tannehill, but linebackers Raekwon McMillan, Koa Misi and Lamin Barrow also start the season on injured
reserve. One has to assume even though coach Adam Gase was Cutler’s offensive coordinator in Chicago, you’re not going to see a huge boost in production in the passing game with the 34-year-old signal-caller. The weapons are there, but even though the Dolphins took a nice step forward in 2016 to make the postseason as a wild card entry, the quarterback situation likely will determine whether they get there again.
New York Jets
What’s new: This team seems firmly dedicated to bottom out this season after jettisoning a ton of parts. Wide receivers Brandon Marshall (New York Giants) and Eric Decker (Tennessee Titans), veteran linebacker David Harris (Patriots) and defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson (Seattle Seahawks) all have departed. Defensive end Kony Ealy, who was released by the Pats, has arrived. Cornerback Morris Claiborne has come to the Jets from the Cowboys but currently is hurt, while there is some excitement about the arrival of safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye. Journeyman quarterback Josh McCown is the new starter. This is his eighth team in 15 years.
What’s scary in this offense: Nothing, basically. Sure, running backs Matt Forte and Bilal Powell are nice players, but No. 1 receiver Quincy Enunwa is out for the season with a neck injury. Regardless, with McCown running the show and Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenburg backing him up, there is no hope for quality quarterback play on an offense that promises to be utterly dreadful.
Season forecast: Lots of losses are coming the Jets’ way, and they probably will bank on drafting one of the many top-level prospects entering the 2018 draft. That is the most exciting part of the Jets’ season because they won’t be fun to watch on the field. The main highlight will be watching the young players develop. Leonard Williams still has some promise on the defensive line, and Adams and Maye can both grow into something special. Outside of that, this season will be ugly.