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2009 AFC East Preview
Published by JM Van Horn on August 4, 2009
In 2009 the AFC East will welcome back one of the premier quarterbacks in the league while a rookie quarterback will be looking to make a name for himself in New York.
Can the Wildcat offense continue to find success this year and will Terrell Owens help push his newest team into the playoffs?
Here is how the AFC East will shape up by the end of the regular season, from first to last.
New England Patriots
Even though the New England Patriots missed out on the playoffs in 2008, they still posted an 11–5 record while playing without their top quarterback, Tom Brady. The question remains how well will Brady’s reconstructive ACL hold up during the rigors of a NFL season.
Even if Brady is not 100% for the first half of the season, he has enough offensive weapons, like Randy Moss, Wes Welker, & Joey Galloway at his disposal. The Patriots brought in Fred Taylor, who should excel in this offense in a reduced role.
When it comes to their defense, the Patriots have gotten younger from the last two drafts and have two future Pro-Bowl players in their lineup, Jerod Mayo and Eugene Chung. The biggest hole on their defense is the secondary so expect teams to test it early and often.
In 2009, the Patriots may have a miscue or two, but they will still come away as one of the best by the end of the regular season. Look for the Patriots to be crowned AFC East division champions.
Miami Dolphins
It would be an understatement to say the Miami Dolphins’ success was a shock in 2008. The key to their success was the Wildcat offense formations and NFL teams should expect to see more of them in 2009, especially with the addition of rookie Pat White.
But do not call this team a one trick pony either. Running back, Ronnie Brown, is establishing himself as one of the top five backs in the NFL. With the leadership and accuracy of quarterback Chad Pennington, this Dolphins offense will continue to flourish in 2009.
On the defensive side of the ball, the unit is young, especially in the secondary. If the Dolphins want to return to the playoffs, they will need rookies Vonte Davis and Sean Smith to step up. The Dolphins also welcomed back Jason Taylor from his failed stint in Washington.
The Dolphins will fit the Patriots until the end for the division title, falling just short as they earn a wildcard berth in the playoffs.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills took one of the biggest calculated risks during the off-season when they added the troublesome but talented wide receiver, Terrell Owens to the offense.
People let T.O.’s antics overshadow his production in Dallas, recording 38 touchdowns in three seasons. Owens is going to benefit from having a legitimate receiver, Lee Evans, on the opposite side of the field. Quarterback Trent Edwards will have his hands full if Owens begins to get cranky, but usually that does not happen until the second year with a new team.
And oh yes, the Bills have Marshawn Lynch, someone who would be a premiere running back in the league if he keeps his head on straight.
As for their defense, the Bills front line can be one of the best in the AFC if Aaron Schobel can remain healthy. Keep an eye on rookie defensive end, Aaron Maybin who will make a run for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
If the Bills can have a .500 record going into the second half of the season, they could cause some problems because four of their last six games are at home.
New York Jets
Big things were expect of the New York Jets in 2008 that ended up dropping like a rock after they started the first half of the season on fire. As a result, Jets fans are welcoming in a new head coach, Rex Ryan from Baltimore.
For the offense, out is Hall of Fame quarterback, Brett Favre, and in is rookie quarterback, Mark Sanchez. If Sanchez is named the starter, it will be interesting to see how he handles the New York media if he has a rough outing. Remember, Sanchez only started 16 games in college.
If you want to find a rookie who is going to make a big impact, look no further than running back Shone Greene. He was a monster in college and will find success in the NFL. Eventually this will cost running back Thomas Jones some carries but should give them a solid backfield.
The Jets defense went through some changes during the off-season to suit the needs of head coach Ryan. They brought in linebacker, Bart Scott, from the Ravens, to help shore up the middle and cornerback, Lito Sheppard, to help an improving secondary.
Some people who are high on the New York Jets in 2009, probably because of the success rookie head coaches had in 2008. They do not have all the pieces of the puzzle yet. If they are able to exceed more than six wins this year, then the season will be a success.
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