This AFC East Preview comes after a season where the division saw nearly opposite results. The Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots qualified for the playoffs, while the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets underperformed and are entering full rebuilds.
The Bills were unable to repeat as division champions but captured a Wild Card berth off the strong play of quarterback Josh Allen and running back James Cook. After beating the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo fell to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round. After another disappointing playoff run, long-time head coach Sean McDermott was fired, and offensive coordinator Joe Brady was promoted. Under new leadership, there is hope the Bills can finally maximize their talent and make a Super Bowl run.
The Dolphins also fired their head coach, Mike McDaniel, after a 7-10 season. The team cut edge rusher Bradley Chubb and traded receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos, indicating the team is preparing for a rebuild. Former fifth overall pick Tua Tagovailoa was released as well, incurring an NFL record $99 million dead cap hit. Miami signed the Green Bay Packers’ backup Malik Willis to be their quarterback of the future and lead the team into a new era.
The Patriots won both the division and the AFC, representing the conference in Super Bowl 60 against the Seattle Seahawks. New England was unable to overcome Seattle’s smothering defense, which held quarterback Drake Maye in check most of the game, leading to a 29-13 win for the Seahawks. With another year of development for Maye and improvements to the roster in free agency, the Patriots could be a draft away from another shot at a title.
The Jets were active on the trade block throughout last season, trading away two former first-round picks in defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner. These trades have landed the team significant draft capital over the next few seasons, but also created more holes on a defense that struggled last year. Despite being coached by former defensive back Aaron Glenn, New York’s defense became the first team in NFL history to finish a season without recording an interception. They will need to make the most of their picks to avoid a repeat of this year’s performance.
