1. Miami Dolphins
There is no doubt that this is Ricky Williams’ team now and I only see him getting better over the next couple seasons. Fiedler has had trouble staying healthy, but they have a guy on the bench in Griese that has proven he can put up Pro-Bowl type numbers, so don’t expect the meltdown that occurred last year to repeat itself.
This team’s defensive unit is, by far, the best in the division, and could be the best in the league when it’s all said and done. The secondary is one of the best in the league. They have future hall of famer Junior Seau lined up next to Zack Thomas at linebacker. And the defensive line that gave up just 97.1 yards per game on the ground and sacked the quarterback 41-and-a-half times in 2002 is still intact.
They also have the added motivation of the humiliation felt after another late-season collapse. Combine that with a head coach who could be on his way out if this team doesn’t go deep into the playoffs, and I’d say this is going to be a team that is going to be ready to play when September comes around. If they continue to play into December, the division is theirs. I see them going anywhere from 10-6 to 12-4.
2. New England Patriots
The Patriots improved their defensive talent, but they are planning to switch to a new system this season and there could be a period of adjustment. They are still a little small at receiver and there are questions surrounding the running game. This team still has the talent to make the playoffs, but they must figure out how to stop the run as well as run it themselves. Look for them to end up somewhere between 8-8 and 10-6.
3. Buffalo Bills
Every team in this division is a legitimate contender for the playoffs, including the Bills. They appear to have improved their defense considerably, but everyone else in the division seems to have improved on paper as well. I think they’ll slow down the turnstiles in their defense, but the strength of their competition will make it tough to significantly improve their record from last season.
4. New York Jets
Despite being raided by the Redskins in the off-season, this team still has a lot of good, young talent. The loss of Pennington is huge, but Vinny Testeverde is an experienced veteran, and Curtis Martin should bounce back from a down season in 2002. The defense looks solid, especially the line, and if special teams don’t collapse, these guys could still be in the playoff race.
