Rivalries and depth define AFC East
The New York Jets’ braggart attitude and dominating defense. The New England Patriots’ passive-aggressive methods of commenting about their opponents and efficient offense. TheBuffalo Bills’ skilled secondary and young running game. The Miami Dolphins’ stingy allowance of points and beautiful cheerleaders.
When you throw in the complicated and long-enduring rivalries between fan bases, it looks like the AFC East will maintain its high level of entertainment and talent for the next NFL season, whenever that may be.
The division saw the Patriots at the top in 2010 with a 14-2 regular-season record. The Jets were second during the regular season with an 11-5 mark, but knocked the Patriots off in the divisional round of the playoffs. The 7-9 Dolphins and 4-12 Bills finished out of the playoffs, so a key element to watch is if Miami and Buffalo can get to the same level as New England and New York.
The top of the division isn’t concrete, either. While the Patriots are the favorites for 2011, last season’s 28-21 divisional playoff loss to the Jets suggests they may be more vulnerable than their record suggests. In fact, John Butchko of Jets’ blog Gang Green Nation believes Rex Ryan’s team is above New England right now.
“The Patriots might have the division champion’s banner, but the Jets have advanced deeper in the playoffs the past two years and beat the Pats head-to-head in last year’s postseason,” Butchko said.
Although New York has key free agents to resign and quarterback Mark Sanchez still has to improve some mechanics, there aren’t any other problems for now.
“This is not a team with many weaknesses,” Butchko said.
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The Jets’ fan base is interesting from a rivalry standpoint. Some might think the most hatred is directed towards the Patriots, but Butchko sees the Dolphins as the biggest rival. He chalks it up to location.
“There are a ton of transplanted New Yorkers in Miami, and the Dolphins have a surprisingly big following across the country,” Butchko said. “There are a number of fans in New York. This familiarity breeds contempt.”
Although fans like Butchko might not abhor New England the most, Jamie Pacheco of Patriots’ blog Musket Fire sees the Jets as his team’s biggest rival. He sees them as brash and loquacious.
“While Bill Belichick and the Pats may be too quiet at times for fans’ and the media’s liking, it’s the right way to go about business and let their play do the talking,” Pacheco said. “The Jets could be the darlings of the NFL, being the underdogs to the hated Patriots, but their talking does them in.”
Pacheco sees the Patriots winning the division last season as a good accomplishment, but they would most likely be happier to succeed in the playoffs instead. He sees it as a two-team race now, but considers New England as the best until the Jets win the division.
That perception of a two-team race this year isn’t just limited to those who follow the Jets and Patriots. DolphinShout‘s Paul Smythe would place Miami at third in their division, and called any fan who thinks otherwise “delusional.” With that said, though, Smythe sees the Dolphins as very close to competing at the top.
“Miami is only a player or two away from being a contender for the top spot in the AFC East,” Smythe said. “They need to get another quarterback to compete with or replace Chad Henne and another guard to add to the offensive line.”
Out of the rest of the AFC East, Smythe’s most-disliked team is the Jets.
“Rex Ryan has a big mouth that is only outmatched by his big ego,” Smythe said. “Whatever he’s doing seems to be working, though, so part of my hate towards them is my envy towards their success.”
Bills fans like Mike Tracz of Buffalo Wins are realistic that they can’t make the dramatic transition from worst to first in just one season, but Tracz does believe they have enough to get out of the AFC East’s basement.
“It’s easy to put the Bills at the bottom by default,” Tracz said. “On paper, though, the Bills had an outstanding draft on the defensive side of the ball and that might be enough to vault them over the Dolphins. The AFC East is a tough division to conquer when there are teams as good as the Patriots and Jets at the top, but I think another season or two of improvement and smart drafting can put the Bills in that conversation.”
When it comes to Buffalo’s most hated division opponent, Tracz is an equal-opportunity loather, saying “Most Bills fans passionately hate every team in the division.” In recent years though, New England has been despised greatly “since they’ve beaten us 15 times in a row.” Regardless of your team allegiance, it’s clear that the AFC East should offer two things in the upcoming season: a strong level of competition and no love lost.
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