By Matt Gentile
Football season is finally underway, and you know what that means. It’s time to make predictions that never pan out.
Football season is finally underway, and you know what that means. It’s time to make predictions that never pan out.
Darren Zaitlen gave you his insight on the NFC East. So, let's take a look at the AFC East.
The New England Patriots ran away with the AFC East in 2011,
making a deep run into the playoffs. The New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills all failed to make it into the post season. But those three teams did make some key acquisitions this offseason that they hope will close a
very large gap.
New
England Patriots
(13-3)
The Patriots cruised through the regular season on their way
to Super Bowl XLVI, where they lost yet again to the New York Giants. Quarterback
Tom Brady led another high powered offense that finished third in points (512)
and second in total yards. Most of the yards came through the air, with Brady
throwing for 39 touchdowns and a career-high 5,084 yards.
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| Tom Brady is on a mission for his fourth ring in 2012. (credit: Jeffrey Beall/Wiki Commons fair use) |
If there is one weakness, it’s on defense. This unit wasn’t
as bad as many analysts thought. They were 15th in total yards allowed and
hauled in the second most interceptions in the NFL. However, their weakness was
on third down, where they allowed opposing offenses to convert about 43 percent
of the time (fifth most in NFL). The defense also was 31st in total yards
allowed.
But Bill Belichick, who made his bones as a defensive guru,
didn’t sit back this offseason and let that side of the ball go untouched. He
drafted pass rushing specialist Chandler Jones, linebacker Dont’a Hightower and
safety Tavon Williams to shore up the defense.
They might not be a dominant unit, but they can certainly do
enough not to lose games. Belichick and Brady just might have enough to win
their fourth Lombardi Trophy this year.
Prediction: 12-4
