Well everyday this week I’ll go through the divisions and give my opinions on what’s going on with them and the direction the team going in and playoff possibilities. So today I’m going to review both the AFC and NFC East divisions. So let’s get this started.
AFC EAST
Well first off we have the Buffalo Bills, who are one of the biggest surprises of the league who are tied atop of the division with the Patriots and Jets with a 5-3 record. Let’s look at the offensive side of the ball where quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is having a career year and was rewarded with a 6 year contract extension. He have over 1900 yards passing with 15TDs and 9 Ints. Another surprise has been running back Fred Jackson who’s rushed for over 800 yards with 6TDs. Steve Johnson lead the team in receiving with 42 receptions and over 500 yards receiving. The next 3 games will be a test for this team seeing they’re all on the road against Dallas, Miami and New York Jets, who just beat them this past week 27-11. With road games against the Patriots and Chargers still on the schedule my prediction for this team is 8-8 but considering there 4-12 record last year this would have to be labeled as a successful season and something to build on to the future.
Let’s see coming into this past week they were 1 of 2 teams without a win. After this week there is only 1 team that haven’t won a game and guess what it’s not them, it’s the Colts. This week they man handled the Kansas City Chiefs who were on a 4 game winning streak but the Chiefs do have the 26th ranked offense and defense. Despite all the issues the Dolphins have there problem is on the offensive side where they rank 25th, but no one can say that they don’t give full effort because even though they’ve posted only 1 win they’ve been a scrappy team who’s been in every game which has to do with there 10th ranked defense. I don’t see them winning more than 3 games this season so Miami I guess it’s time to look at the draft to start building the franchise back up where maybe they could draft a quarterback seeing they haven’t really been impressed with there starter, who’s gone for the season with a seperated shoulder Chad Henne or possibly make a trade for one. But I see them finishing at 3-13.
This year’s New England Patriots started the season scoring at will on all there opponents putting up over 30 points a game with an average of 33 points a game. Now the last 3 games they haven’t put up more than 20 points and averaging 19 points a game losing the last 2 games. So what can be blamed for the woes or is it teams have figured out that Brady isn’t effective when pressured. Don’t know but they still bolster the 8th ranked offense in the league but on the defensive side of the ball they ranked 21st, something they didn’t see especially when they traded for Pro Bowl Defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth, well this week he was cut so let’s see where this leaves the Patriots who schedule doesn’t get any easier as this week they travel to there rival New York Jets, who they are tied with along with the Buffalo Bills for 1st place in the division. After that game they come back home to play the Kansas City Chiefs before heading to Philadelphia to play the Eagles. But don’t worry Patriot fans I still seeing them not only making the playoffs but also winning the division with a 11-5 record.
The Jets season so far has been a roller coaster ride, I mean they started the season on a high with 2 wins and then went downhill with 3 straight losses. Now they’re on a high again with a 3 game winning streak headed to there showdown with there rival Patriots. Mark Sanchez has showed signs of him coming of age seeing he’s not turning the ball over as much and have been making better decisions. The offense comes in ranked 12th and the defense ranking 9th. This is a brutal part of there schedule seeing they play the Patriots Sunday and then headed to play Denver on a Thursday night. There playoff chances could come down to the end because I see them going 10-6 and it depends on other teams if they make the playoffs but if they do get in I see them do some damage also because they have a overall solid team, it just seems they have issues putting it together like they can.
NFC EAST
We have the Dallas Cowboys who at the halfway mark have a 4-4 record boast the 18th ranked offense and the 16th ranked defense. There team still revolves around Tony Romo but it will hurt them having wide receiver Miles Austin out an extended amount of time with a nagging hamstring injury but the defense lives and die through all-pro DeMarcus Ware who is still one of the best pass rushers in the league. As far as the Cowboys playoff chances and outlook for the rest of the season I think they’ll finish the season with a 8-8 record, missing the playoffs.But this could change seeing they have found a talented runner in DeMarco Murray and that could ease alot of pressure off of Tony Romo to the point he can just manage the game and not try to do too much.
The New York Giants, who have been on a roll and I would say is a top 5 team in the league are the division leaders with a 6-2 record. What’s crazy is that if you look at there stats on the offense and defense you’d think there record would be worse. But they do the right things when they’re needed the most. They rank 13th in total offense and 20th in total defense. Coming off a huge win on the road against the New England Patriots and now headed to a huge showdown in San Francisco against the surprising 7-1 49ers. After that game there schedule doesn’t get any easier as they play division rival Philadelphia Eagles before traveling to New Orleans to play the Saints on a Monday Night game and then home to the unbeaten Packers. I see the Giants going 10-6 to finish the season and that’ll be good enough to win the division and get them into the playoffs where in any given game they can beat anyone.
Well now to my favorite team, the Philadelphia Eagles who Vince Young labeled as the “Dream Team” because all of the free agent acquisitions made during the offseason. Well at the half way point they are 3-5 with the 9th ranked offense and the 16th ranked defense. But the problem with the Eagles are them finishing the game, basically collapsing in the 4th quarter especially against the Falcons, 49ers and the Bears. The 2nd half of the season doesn’t get any easier seeing they travel to the Cowboys and Giants and also have a big home game against the Patriots. Maybe I’m biased but they can still have a decent season if they correct there mistakes and hold onto leagues because they can score with anyone in the league. I still think 9-7 can still be attained but I just don’t see them making the playoffs but let’s just hope I’m wrong.
The Redskins started the season with a 3-1 record, division leader and ever since they haven’t won a game. It started with replacing Grossman at quarterback with John Beck, then losing Tim Hightower for the season with a knee injury and Santana Moss for an extended amount of time with a broken hand so the offense have gone downhill to a 27th ranking. The defense is the bright spot for the team in which they’re ranked 7th but with no offense the team is headed to another bad season. I honestly see them continue the losing trend throughout the season and finishing with a 4-12 record. Maybe it’s time for a change in Washington, no not that change but maybe at head coach or maybe an even better idea, how about ownership because Dan Snyder has turned this once proud franchise into a joke.
Well there you have my midseason reviews on both the AFC and NFC East division. Tomorrow I’ll cover both the North divisions of both conferences.