2006 AFC East Predictions
The New England Patriots will once again top the AFC East with an 11 – 5 record. The Patriots will lose to the tough teams, namely Denver, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Jacksonville. But they will roll over the Jets and the Bills, and take at least one game from the Dolphins in their division. Their greatest loss, in my opinion, this off-season was Kicker Adam Vinatieri. What that means is that Tom Brady must return to form and find the endzone all the more often. Some are questioning whether New England will even make the playoffs this season. I simply cannot envision Head Coach Bill Belichick losing with this team, even in the depleted form it is currently in. Clearly, none of New England’s division rivals are prepared to take the crown.
Miami Dolphins fans are optimistic this season, thanks to their string of six straight season ending wins. I am afraid that is where the momentum is going to stop. The Dolphins have the terrible fortune of facing off against the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers to start the season…at Pittsburgh. To make matters worse, RB Ricky Williams was suspended by the league for the upcoming season after yet another substance violation. The addition of QB Daunte Culpepper will help the Dolphin’s offense, but the loss of Ricky Williams will once again prove too much for Miami and second year Head Coach Nick Saban. Expect another 9 – 7 season and no postseason.
The New York Jets. Count me among the thrilled that the Chiefs were able to lure Herm Edwards to Kansas City. As someone who sat through too many unnecessary losses at Giants Stadium, I was glad to see Herm go. Of course, he was replaced by as yet untested first year Head Coach Eric Mangini. Mangini is inheriting some serious problems, especially at quarterback. Sure there are always thousands of Pennington jerseys at the stadium, only there’s hardly ever one on Chad himself. That’s because he’s always injured and on the sidelines. Then the team finds some retired QB (who this year? Ken O’Brien?) and tosses him to the lions…and Bears and Dolphins, etc. The Jets are a young team who will be contenders again eventually. But not this year. Expect them to improve to 7 – 9.
The Buffalo Bills will be lucky if they can repeat their abysmal 2005 performance and end this coming season at 5 – 11. Where to begin? The Bills acquired WR Peerless Price, but lost WR Eric Moulds. Marv Levy, 80, returned to the Bills as general manager, but has shown by the draft that he may be stuck in another decade. Buffalo’s woes will continue for the next several years to come.
I welcome your comments and your own 2006 AFC East predictions.
