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Can anyone dethrone the the Buffalo Bills for the AFC East title? The New York Jets and Miami Dolphins certainly think so.
The AFC East is shaping up to be one of the most competitive divisions in football for the 2024 season. The Buffalo Bills aim for their fifth consecutive AFC East crown, while the rest of the division would love nothing more than to play spoiler. Here’s a preview of what to expect from the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New York Jets.
Kickoff for the 2024 NFL season is right around the corner. Where do each of the divisions in the NFL stand heading into the season? Here, we’ll be outlining the offseason subtractions, additions, coaching changes, reasons for optimism and reasons for pessimism for each team in the AFC East.
Buffalo Bills
2023 Record: 11-6
2023 offense: 374.5 total yards per game (4th)
2023 defense: 307.2 total yards allowed per game (9th)
Subtractions: WR Stefon Diggs, WR Gabe Davis, C Mitch Morse, S Jordan Poyer, S Micah Hyde , CB Tre’Davious White, CB Dane Jackson, DE Leonard Floyd, LB Tyrel Dodson
Additions: WR Curtis Samuel, WR Mack Hollins, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, S Mike Edwards, WR Keon Coleman, S Cole Bishop
Reasons for optimism for the Bills
With superstar QB Josh Allen leading the charge, the Bills always have a chance for a special season. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who took over midseason in 2023, now has a full offseason to install and execute his offense.
Reasons for pessimism for the Bills
The Bills lost several key leaders, including six team captains from 2023. New voices will need to step up to fill the leadership void. On offense, only one WR (Kahlil Shakir) has previously caught a pass from Allen, meaning the revamped WR room will need to quickly build chemistry with the QB.
Miami Dolphins
2023 Record: 11-6
2023 offense: 401.3 total yards per game (1st)
2023 defense: 318.3 total yards allowed per game (10th)
Subtractions: DT Christian Wilkins, CB Xavier Howard, CB Eli Apple, LB Jerome Baker, S Brandon Jones, DeShon Elliott, DT Raekwon Davis, DE Andrew Van Ginkel, OG Robert Hunt, C Connor Williams, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio
Additions: WR Odell Beckham Jr., C Aaron Brewer, TE Jonnu Smith, S Jordan Poyer, S Marcus Maye, CB Kendall Fuller, LB Anthony Walker, LB Jordyn Brooks, DT Calais Campbell, DT Benito Jones, DE Chop Robinson, OT Patrick Paul, RB Jaylen Wright, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver
Reasons for optimism for Dolphins
The Dolphins boast one of the best WR duos in the NFL with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and they further bolstered that WR group with OBJ and two draft picks. The Vic Fangio experience is over and the Dolphins start fresh with defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. If they can get better defensive play from their talented group of players to match their high-powered offense, it could finally push them to the top of the division.
Reasons for pessimism for DOlphins
Do they have enough? Despite a strong start in 2023, the Dolphins fizzled out when it mattered. Can they avoid a repeat performance with largely the same core? The offensive line has question marks after losing Robert Hunt and Connor Williams. Tua Tagovailoa made it through 2023 healthy, but poor protection could derail their season if he goes down again.
New England Patriots
2023 Record: 4-13
2023 offense: 276.2 total yards per game (30th)
2023 defense: 301.6 total yards allowed per game (7th)
Subtractions: Head coach Bill Belichick, offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, QB Mac Jones, RB Ezekiel Elliott, WR Devante Parker, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, TE Mike Gesicki, OT Trent Brown, S Jalen Mill, LB Mack Wilson, DE Matthew Judon, ST Matthew Slater, DT Lawrence Guy
Additions: Head coach Jerod Mayo, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, QB Jacoby Brissett, RB Antonio Gibson, WR K.J. Osborn, TE Austin Hooper, OT Chkwuma Okorafo, LB Sione Takitaki, S Jaylinn Hawkins, QB Drake Maye, WR Ja’Lynn Polk, OT Caedan Wallace
Reasons for optimism for the Patriots
They have a new number 10. Mac Jones is gone and rookie QB Drake Maye takes his place. I don’t think it will be long until he relieves Jacoby Brissett and ushers in a new era. The new investment in offensive playmakers early in the NFL Draft has been a breath of fresh air for Patriots fans. Getting younger in core positions on offense will bolster their unit for the future.
Reasons for pessimism for the Patriots
The Patriots overall roster talent is still lacking as they are in rebuilding mode. They will be hard-pressed to sniff a division title this year. Big question marks remain on the offensive line, which is problematic for a team looking to develop a rookie QB (and a likely reason Maye is sitting to start the year).
New York Jets
2023 Record: 7-10
2023 offense: 268.6 total yards per game (31st)
2023 defense: 292.3 total yards allowed per game (3rd)
Subtractions: TE C.J. Uzomah, OG Laken Tomlinson, C Connor McGovern, OT Billy Turner, DT Quinton Jefferson, DE Bryce Huff, DE Carl Lawson, S Jordan Whitehead
Additions: WR Mike Williams, OT Tyron Smith, OT Morgan Moses, OG John Simpson, DE Haason Reddick (holding out), DT Javon Kinlaw, OT Olu Fashanu, WR Malachi Corley, RB Braelon Allen
Reasons for optimism for the Jets
Take two for the Aaron Rodgers show premieres on Monday Night Football to start off the 2024 NFL Season. If he can stay healthy, they can be dangerous. The Jets will play a “third place” schedule after their season last year was dismantled by the Rodgers injury in Week 1. According to Sharp Football Analysis, this helps them have the fourth-easiest strength of schedule.
Reasons for pessimism for the Jets
The schedule may be easier overall, but a brutal final five weeks could make or break the season, with matchups against the Dolphins, Jaguars, Rams, Bills, and Dolphins. With sky-high expectations, pressure will mount quickly if things don’t start well for the Jets. A rough start could send them into a tailspin. Oh, and Rodgers hasn’t played a snap in a year after skipping the preseason and hasn’t taken a meaningful snap since he was with the Packers.
