Miami Herald

ALLEN ALONE AT TOP; IS TUA NO. 2 IN EAST?

Buffalo Bills quarterbac­k Josh Allen is in a class of his own in the AFC East, but behind him is a trio of quarterbac­ks looking to establish themselves among the NFL’s elite.

- BY DANIEL OYEFUSI doyefusi@miamiheral­d.com

If the Dolphins want to change their fortunes in 2022, it will have to start in the division. The last time the team won the AFC East was the 2008 season when Tony Sparano was head coach and Chad Pennington was starting at quarterbac­k. Since then, the Dolphins have made the playoffs just once and finished second in the division only four times.

The Dolphins, though, have assembled a talented and deep roster that is expected to have them in contention for a playoff spot after they have come one win short the past two seasons. In the first of an eight-part series, the Miami Herald will rank and preview different positions for each team in the AFC East, from strongest to weakest. Part 1 is quarterbac­k, and next

is running back.

1. BUFFALO BILLS

Projected depth chart: Josh Allen (starter), Case Keenum (backup)

Skinny: Allen is in a class of his own in the AFC East. He garnered votes for Most Valuable Player in 2020 and has transforme­d from a polarizing young quarterbac­k to undisputab­ly one of the most dynamic signal-callers in the NFL. It’s no coincidenc­e that has also overlapped with Buffalo’s trade for wide receiver Stefon

Diggs two seasons ago, but Allen has worked hard to refine his mechanics and improve his accuracy and decision-making. The Bills are the early betting favorite to win the Super Bowl, in large part because of Allen, and the only question is whether he and Buffalo can finally put it all together after a string of gutting postseason exits. The departure of offensive coordinato­r Brian Daboll and how much the offense is tweaked by Ken Dorsey (the former University of Miami quarterbac­k) also looms over the season.

 ?? DAVID SANTIAGO dsantiago@miamiheral­d.com ?? Josh Allen, who is 7-1 in his career against the Dolphins, including wins in both meetings in 2021, is a major reason the Bills are the early betting favorite to win the Super Bowl next season. Allen has thrown for 1,955 yards and 19 touchdowns against Miami.
DAVID SANTIAGO dsantiago@miamiheral­d.com Josh Allen, who is 7-1 in his career against the Dolphins, including wins in both meetings in 2021, is a major reason the Bills are the early betting favorite to win the Super Bowl next season. Allen has thrown for 1,955 yards and 19 touchdowns against Miami.
 ?? ?? Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa
Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa
 ?? ?? Patriots’ Mac Jones
Patriots’ Mac Jones
 ?? ?? Jets’ Zach Wilson
Jets’ Zach Wilson

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