yoonew AFC East Preview...

The Only AFC East Preview...

So we start off the yoonew.com NFL season preview with the division that produced the undefeated (regular season) Patriots who flopped in the Super Bowl. The 1-15 Parcells led Dolphins. The Buffalo Bills who started 0-3 and managed to finish 7-9. And last but not least, the arrival of Brett Favre in New York. How can anyone forget that?

Let's look at their stock prices on our exchange in Category A for "Team Fantasy" seats.

New England Patriots - 1,905.52
Buffalo Bills - 117.82
New York Jets - 430.88
Miami Dolphins - 53.56

"Bill Belichick's Boys"

The Patriots may look pricey to some traders, but they are a relative bargain. Do I think the Patriots will make another Super Bowl this year? I actually think they won't. The AFC continues to get better and I believe the "aura" surrounding them from last year was lost once the Giants ran through their swiss-cheese offensive line. Now does that mean the Patriots won't make the playoffs? Absolutely not.

The easiest schedule in the NFL basically assures them of that unless Tom Brady gets injured. The loss of Asante Samuel will hurt the Patriots, but they always manage to patch things up and keep leaks from turning into floods.

So as an investment, the Patriots are gold. By the end of the season, their stock price may be 3-4,000 higher, but the cupcakes they faced in the regular season will come back to haunt them when they run into a team that was tested thoroughly in the regular season.

Prediction: 12-4

"From Green to Green"

So how will the Brett Favre era turn out in the biggest media market in the country? Well, he better be prepared for scrutiny as he's never seen before. This won't be Green Bay where any media member who dared question Brett would get run out of town. Reporters do the running out of town in NY.

One thing I am sure of is the Jets will not go 4-12. Actually, I think they will nearly double their win total to get to 8 wins on the season which will be a solid improvement, but not enough to make it into the playoffs.

Now before the Favre trade, the Jets were trading at $151.00. Once whispers began floating around midnight that Favre was getting traded to the Jets, they jumped to $340.68 immediately and are now at $430.00.

I expect the Jets to be one of the most volatile teams on the exchange due to their market and also the schedule which they will encounter. They will be what the Yankees and Phillies have been on our exchange in MLB. Their first 5 games consist of:

NYJ @ Miami (Home openers always difficult)
NE @ NYJ (Jets will be hyped up in their first home game against a division rival, but Brady and the Pats will be too much.
NYJ @ SD (The Jets have historically played well against the Chargers so don't count them out in a upset)
Ari @ NYJ (A young team which everyone has high expectations. A game the Jets should win.)
Cin @ NYJ (Two years ago, the Bengals were the surprise team of the NFL. Last year, they pulled a New Orleans and went under. Chad and Carson could easily walk out with a win)

When you look at those first 5 games, you see three possible losses or a 1-2 start to the season which will dramatically drop prices. When the Jets return home is when it may be time to invest in them as they have 2 home games against teams they should defeat.

Thomas Jones should have a big season with Favre opening things up for him. But the lack of receiving threats (Only Coles), aging of Favre, and a young defense recovering from the loss of Johnathon Vilma should do them in. Prediction: 7-9


"The Toronto Bills??"

Yes, sounds strange doesn't it? Toronto may be the new destination for the Bills in the future which will be devastating to Buffalo fans who've filled Ralph Wilson stadium to capacity for close to 4 decades. But one thing is for sure and that's the Bills will play a game in Toronto against the Miami Dolphins on December 7th.

After starting 0-3 last year, and having the tragedy, now miraculous recovery of Kevin Everett strike their team, you figured the Bills were done. Not so fast. The Bills won 7 of their next 10 games to compete for a wild-card slot before losing their last 3 to drop out of playoff contention. The offense, anchored by RB Marshawn Lynch and WR Lee Evans should continue to improve, but with a rookie QB in Trent Edwards, you wonder whether the Bills will be able to better their 7-9 record of last year. With J.P Losman waiting in the wings to take back his job, you expect the Bills to be careful with their rookie QB and if results aren't produced early, JP will be back behind center.

On the other side of the ball, the defense looks to be the make or break for this team with the additions of LB Kawika Mitchell (Super Bowl Giants) and Pro Bowl DT Marcous Stroud who they pried away from the Jaguars. The Bills defense was better than the numbers showed with only 22ppg allowed. If you subtract the basketball numbers Tom Brady put on them last year, the Bills weren't statistically bad.

The Bills hold the 6th easiest schedule in the NFL, but they begin the season with a tough home game against, road game at Jacksonville, a home game against the improving Raiders, and a mini-road trip before a bye with the Rams and Cardinals. Would I invest in the Bills right now? I would hold off. It will be a difficult season for the Bills with the improvement of the Jets in the AFC East and a schedule that can put them in the hole early just like last year. Playing the Jets and Patriots 4 times is unhealthy for anyone.
Prediction: 7-9

"Parcells' team."

The football version of Larry Brown (NBA Coach), Bill Parcells, is now heading up the operations in South Beach for the Miami Dolphins. This definitely isn't Dallas where he had Tony Romo and T.O. He doesn't even have Jason Taylor anymore because he wasn't too fond of his "Dancing with the Stars."

A challenge unlike any is in front of the former Super Bowl champion. Remember they went 1-15 last year. 1-15!?! But the process takes time and they began by drafting Jake Long as the anchor of their offensive line which is an important part of any contending team. They hope to see 2nd year QB John Beck and rookie Chad Henne get some time sometime throughout the year, but for now, the Jets and Dolphins have exchanged starting QB's. Once Brett Favre went to NY, the Jets got rid of Chad Pennington and the Dolphins were more than happy to pick him up. But with young receivers who have yet to experience the rigors of a full season at the position, and an injury prone/weak-armed Pennington, it will be a long season in Miami. But, an intriguing Week 1 match-up can do alot for the Dolphins confidence if they beat the Jets. But, the confidence can easily evaporate with a young team when they travel to pre-season hyped Arizona and visit New England after that.

Despite the toughness of their opening schedule, I expect the Dolphins to surprise some people. Will they even get close to the playoffs? No. But they will make some progress and win 3-4 more games than they did last year.
Prediction: 5-11