Is the AFC East being overhyped this year?

[Success]

We're all expecting it to be the toughest division in football - that's the national narrative, and I think most of us have felt that way.  But I'm starting to get 2022 AFC West vibes.

 

1) The Jets won 7 games last year.  The conventional wisdom is that they were "just a quarterback away" from contending. But 7 wins is 7 wins.  They added a 40-year-old QB, who - though great - will be behind the worst line in the division.

 

2) Miami gave us a tough time last year - but we win the 1st one if it wasn't played in extreme heat, with the visitor sideline getting the brunt of it.  We were up 17-0 in the playoff game and really beat ourselves to make it close.  The only other good team they beat in 2022 was the Ravens. They ended up w/ 9 wins. 

 

3) As for the Pats, they were bad last year. There is a media narrative that's starting to take hold that they're being overlooked & underestimated - but they have 2 elite players in Judon and Stevenson, and added very little in the offseason to move the needle.  I'm not seeing a team that will break .500 this year.

 

Maybe this is all just homer rationalization - but I still think the Bills are king in this division, and that it won't be a particularly close race as we get into December. 

[Gregg]

It will be a three-way fight for the division. Miami has a good roster but can Tua stay healthy is the big question. Even if he can't Mike White is a decent backup that could help them win games. The Jets D is good, and Rodgers is a big upgrade over Wilson, White, and Flacco. Last year both games against them were tough. Expect the same thing this year. The Bills are the favorite in the division, but it won't be easy.

[Virgil]

3 of the 4 teams are legit playoff contenders.  The AFC East and AFC North are stacked.  If the Broncos figure it out, so is the AFC West.  There is no overhype.  
 

The Jaguars are have a gift playing in the south and the NFC has 2 contenders with a bunch of hopefuls 

[MJS]

Yes. These teams need to go out and prove it. The only team to show they are a superbowl contender so far is the Bills.

[BuffaloBillyG]

I think the thing the media forgets is this. Yes, on paper the Jets and Dolphins got better. And both teams gave the Bills trouble last year. But they also play each other two times which should be dog fights. You don't hear about that at all.

 

New England...while not on the same level now has a real offensive coordinator that will make a difference. BOB isn't a great GM, but he can call an offense and do it much more competently that Matt Patricia. They should be a tougher out as well. 

 

There is a good chance that these teams all split with each other as well. I could see each of them at 3-3 in the division. I think Buffalo splits with Miami and Jets, but sweeps NE. 

[Gregg]

3 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

I think the thing the media forgets is this. Yes, on paper the Jets and Dolphins got better. And both teams gave the Bills trouble last year. But they also play each other two times which should be dog fights. You don't hear about that at all.

 

New England...while not on the same level now has a real offensive coordinator that will make a difference. BOB isn't a great GM, but he can call an offense and do it much more competently that Matt Patricia. They should be a tougher out as well. 

 

There is a good chance that these teams all split with each other as well. I could see each of them at 3-3 in the division. I think Buffalo splits with Miami and Jets, but sweeps NE. 

 

I really want that week one win. It may take some time for Rodgers to develop chemistry with his new teammates. If the Bills can come out of MetLife 1-0 then they will have a good chance to sweep the Jets. Also, I will be there, and it will suck leaving the stadium if they lose.

Edited July 26, 2023 by Gregg

[The Jokeman]

The AFC West was hyped last season so it's possible the East is this season. Yet until proven otherwise the Bills are the cream of the division's crop. Yes, we lost to the Jets and Dolphins last year but the games were close and likely could have been won by us if better in the redzone or didn't make a dumb mistake. Toss in most division games are close in score because of familiarity. I get why people are hyping the Jets with an MVP QB and the Dolphins with a new DC yet until we see them produce better with these new people I can't say am scared of either one of them. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

5 minutes ago, Gregg said:

 

I really want that week one win. It may take some time for Rodgers to develop chemistry with his new teammates. If the Bills can come out of MetLife 1-0 then they will have a good chance to sweep the Jets. Also, I will be there, and it will suck leaving the stadium if they lose.

Hopefully this is the case. Buffalo can't keep the game close though. The NFL NEEDS the Jets to win that one. Big game, nation TV and the team that just got Rodgers and plays in one of the largest markets...that's an early season gold mine for them.

[Bray Wyatt]

35 minutes ago, Success said:

We're all expecting it to be the toughest division in football - that's the national narrative, and I think most of us have felt that way.  But I'm starting to get 2022 AFC West vibes.

 

1) The Jets won 7 games last year.  The conventional wisdom is that they were "just a quarterback away" from contending. But 7 wins is 7 wins.  They added a 40-year-old QB, who - though great - will be behind the worst line in the division.

 

2) Miami gave us a tough time last year - but we win the 1st one if it wasn't played in extreme heat, with the visitor sideline getting the brunt of it.  We were up 17-0 in the playoff game and really beat ourselves to make it close.  The only other good team they beat in 2022 was the Ravens. They ended up w/ 9 wins. 

 

3) As for the Pats, they were bad last year. There is a media narrative that's starting to take hold that they're being overlooked & underestimated - but they have 2 elite players in Judon and Stevenson, and added very little in the offseason to move the needle.  I'm not seeing a team that will break .500 this year.

 

Maybe this is all just homer rationalization - but I still think the Bills are king in this division, and that it won't be a particularly close race as we get into December. 

 

Weren't two of their wins against Miami without Tua?

[FireChans]

40 minutes ago, Success said:

We're all expecting it to be the toughest division in football - that's the national narrative, and I think most of us have felt that way.  But I'm starting to get 2022 AFC West vibes.

 

1) The Jets won 7 games last year.  The conventional wisdom is that they were "just a quarterback away" from contending. But 7 wins is 7 wins.  They added a 40-year-old QB, who - though great - will be behind the worst line in the division.

 

2) Miami gave us a tough time last year - but we win the 1st one if it wasn't played in extreme heat, with the visitor sideline getting the brunt of it.  We were up 17-0 in the playoff game and really beat ourselves to make it close.  The only other good team they beat in 2022 was the Ravens. They ended up w/ 9 wins. 

 

3) As for the Pats, they were bad last year. There is a media narrative that's starting to take hold that they're being overlooked & underestimated - but they have 2 elite players in Judon and Stevenson, and added very little in the offseason to move the needle.  I'm not seeing a team that will break .500 this year.

 

Maybe this is all just homer rationalization - but I still think the Bills are king in this division, and that it won't be a particularly close race as we get into December. 

3 of the teams have been in the playoffs in the last 2 years. And the one that didn’t added an old HoF QB. 
 

I don’t think all 4 teams will make it or anything crazy like that. But I have a pretty good feeling one or two WC’s will come from the AFCE.

[Franco_92]

We won't sweep the Dolphins and jets but I wouldn't be surprised if our wins against them are easier this year than last. One season does not make a trajectory, and few trajectories stay true year over year in the NFL

[uninja]

I have a gut feeling Hackett and Rodgers are gonna stink up the joint Broncos style. Hackett rode the coattails of LeFleur to a head coaching job and proved that he absolutely SUCKED at it. As an OC he's had pretty meh offenses except for GB (and that offense wasn't his) and he'd never called plays until he was HC of the Broncos and was...not good.

 

For as good as Rodgers is I don't think that offense can overcome Hackett's terrible play calling abilities and their pretty questionable offensive line.

 

Miami is legit good and between Tua staying healthy, Vic Fangio being a good DC and them having pretty decent personnel on both side of the ball except for a pretty pedestrian running game I think they'll give us a hard time and maybe even win a game against us. I am more afraid of Mia than I am of the NYJ.

 

NE is NE and I just don't think that team has the firepower to match us, imo.

 

I think the hype for NYJ is a bit misplaced, I see shades of Denver there. That defense is gonna be tough but I think their offense is going to struggle because Hackett sucks. NE is NE and Mia is gonna be a tough out.

[Bray Wyatt]

For a comparison to the AFCW last year I would say:

 

Bills - Chiefs

 

Miami - Chargers

 

Jets - Broncos

 

NE - Raiders

[RiotAct]

Miami’s going to be good, very little doubt about that.

 

 

The Jets… could have a great season, could implode.  We’ll see.

[co_springs_billsfan]

5 minutes ago, uninja said:

I have a gut feeling Hackett and Rodgers are gonna stink up the joint Broncos style. Hackett rode the coattails of LeFleur to a head coaching job and proved that he absolutely SUCKED at it. As an OC he's had pretty meh offenses except for GB (and that offense wasn't his) and he'd never called plays until he was HC of the Broncos and was...not good.

 

For as good as Rodgers is I don't think that offense can overcome Hackett's terrible play calling abilities and their pretty questionable offensive line.

 

Miami is legit good and between Tua staying healthy, Vic Fangio being a good DC and them having pretty decent personnel on both side of the ball except for a pretty pedestrian running game I think they'll give us a hard time and maybe even win a game against us. I am more afraid of Mia than I am of the NYJ.

 

NE is NE and I just don't think that team has the firepower to match us, imo.

 

I think the hype for NYJ is a bit misplaced, I see shades of Denver there. That defense is gonna be tough but I think their offense is going to struggle because Hackett sucks. NE is NE and Mia is gonna be a tough out.

I think he called plays for the Bills and Jags also

Edited July 26, 2023 by co_springs_billsfan
Typo

[Doc]

As goes Tua, so go the Dols.  I can't see him not getting concussed early in the season.

[Gregg]

2 minutes ago, Process said:

Jets are good, they will be tough matchups, but they are not Superbowl contenders. Outside of Wilson they have nothing on offense. Hall coming off an ACL? And o line is a big question mark. Rodgers also looked awful in a lot of games last year. But we'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now. 

 

The Dolphins, again, good team, but not Superbowl contenders. Tua is massively overrated right now because of his record last year. He's not good.

 

I disagree on Tua. I also thought he wouldn't be a good QB. But now I think he is. He will never be on the level of Mahomes, Allen, Burrow but he is good. His biggest issue is his health. Another concussion or two and I see his career being cut short.

[NewEra]

I think Miami will be a force- Fangio is a problem. 
 

the jets will be fine as long as they can protect AR.  
 

The pats are 💩 

[PBF81]

The entire division has a tough schedule, ours the toughest.  

 

We all play the AFCW and NFCE 

 

We play Cincy, Jax, and Tampa 

Miami plays Baltimore, Tennessee, and Carolina 

The Jets play Cleveland, Houston, and Atlanta 

NE plays Pittsburgh, Indy, and the Saints 

 

Advantage Jets  

 

NE is like an STD that you can't be gotten rid of.  They weren't good last season but still managed to finish 8-9.  They're probably the worst team in the division but they can play spoiler.  

 

Should be interesting.  

 

 

[GoBills808]

no I don't believe so

 

Dolphins should only be better and they were already tough

 

Jets should be better

 

Patriots are weak but every division has one