The New England Patriots have been the AFC East champions for six out of the last seven seasons. Since the 2002 NFL divisional re-alignment the only other team to win the division has been the New York Jets.

The Pats had a phenomenal (and disappointing) 18-1 season in 2007, while the Jets were an embarrassing 4-12. The Patriots’ Tom Brady won the NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Male Athlete of the Year and Sportsman of the Year awards. In other words, Brady won as many awards as the Jets won games.

Anyone who thinks the addition of a 38-year-old cheesehead is enough to hold off the Pats from dominating this division is clearly insane.

With that put aside, I do not think the Pats will be able to go undefeated throughout the regular season again. The chances are astronomical and everyone will be out to beat them. They do, however, have a superior team when matched up against their divisional foes.

Last year the Jets did not even have a single player representing them in the Pro Bowl. The addition of one man is not going to be enough to single-handedly carry the Gang Green into the playoffs, nor second place in the AFC East. Brett Favre will greatly increase jersey, season ticket and video game sales, but he won’t increase the amount of wins registered for the Jets by the same large percentages.

The Buffalo Bills (7-9) were the second “best” team in this division last year and once again that will be their ceiling. Quarterback Trent Edwards, a 24-year-old out of Stanford, should show some progress in his second season as a starter. It will not be an easy season for the Bills; They have to play the Pats twice as well as Seattle, Jacksonville, San Diego and Cleveland.

The Miami Dolphins were the worst team in the entire league last year and it’s hard to imagine them doing much better this year. I’m expecting the Fins to win three times as many this year as last.  Yes, I think they can win a whopping three games! Oh, and my pity goes out to Chad Pennington… poor guy got demoted from the Jets to the Dolphins.

Projected AFC East standings:
New England Patriots 13-3
Buffalo Bills 9-7
New York Jets 7-9
Miami Dolphins 3-13

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