AFC EAST DIVISION





Miami Dolphins


Offense: There’s an intriguing quarterback battle (yeah, right) between A.J. Feeley and Gus Frerotte, a promising rookie tailback in Ronnie Brown, and the return of running back Ricky Williams from his year off. Feeley passed for 1,893 yards and 11 touchdowns and was intercepted 15 times last season, and his passer rating was 61.7. Frerotte had a passer rating of 67.1 after throwing for 1,187 yards and seven touchdowns, with eight interceptions. Williams is lighter and seems prepared to play, but he’ll miss the first four games serving a suspension. Anyone want to guess where this thing is headed?


Defense: This has been the Dolphins’ specialty for years. Miami is expected to run a combination of 3-4 and 4-3 schemes, much like New England. New Dolphins coach Nick Saban was a defensive coordinator under Bill Belichick in Cleveland. New additions include ends Kevin Carter and Vonnie Holliday. Linebacker Zach Thomas, safety Tebucky Jones and end Jason Taylor remain the leaders.


Intangibles: Saban has a championship background, having led LSU to a national title share in 2003. And this isn’t his first tour of the NFL, making the adjustment easier.


Biggest rival: Bills. The days of Jim Kelly vs. Dan Marino are gone. Think J.P. Losman vs. A.J. Feeley. Miami leads the series 49-32-1.


Outlook: The Dolphins haven’t made the playoffs since 2001 and are coming off a 4-12 season. Saban expects to make this a better team and the Brown-Williams backfield returns a running threat to South Florida. Williams is the wild card. He could be the difference in a late-season push by the Dolphins. Brown is the future and the playoffs are likely years away until Miami upgrades at quarterback .


Ratings: QB-5; RB-7; WR-6; TE-7; OL-4; DL-7; LB-6; S-7; ST-7; C-7; Total-63





Buffalo Bills


Offense: The Bills had the 25th-ranked offense in the league last season behind Cowboys-bound quarterback Drew Bledsoe. The offense was overhauled and now belongs to second-year QB J.P. Losman. Running back Willis McGahee, who rushed for 1,128 yards last season, is the Bills’ back of the future after Travis Henry was traded. Wide receivers Eric Moulds and Lee Evans will try to make Losman’s transition a smooth one, but not replacing free-agent tackle Jonas Jennings might be a mistake.


Defense: While the offense was horrible, Buffalo’s defense ranked second in the NFL last season and ranked No. 1 in takeaways and points scored by defense and special teams. Linebacker Takeo Spikes and tackle Sam Adams lead a group expected to help the Bills push for a playoff berth after last year’s 9-7 finish.


Intangibles: Losman has confidence but lacks experience, and the Bills are willing to live with the growing pains. Buffalo has the fifth toughest schedule in the NFL, facing seven teams who were .500 or better in 2004.


Biggest rival: Dolphins. Any victory against Miami is cherished, and Losman can start winning over fans by torching the Dolphins. Miami leads the series 49-32-1, but the Bills won both games in 2004.


Outlook: The Bills’ playoff chances rest on Losman, who needs to be a quick study. But Buffalo has a top-flight back in McGahee, and a top defense and special-teams unit. A playoff berth for the first time since 1999 is within reach but will depend on the passing game improving. Losman does add a mobility upgrade from Bledsoe. An early start might be vital, too; the team can’t count on a repeat of last season’s 6-1 finish in its final seven games.


Ratings: QB-4; RB-8; WR-7; TE-4; OL-7; DL-7; LB-8; S-7; ST-9; C-7; Total-68





New York Jets


Offense: New coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, hired away from Tennessee, is expected to liven up the conservative Jets’ attack. The Jets, coming off a 10-6 season, have the weapons to make it work and go deep more often. Healthy quarterback Chad Pennington (off-season shoulder surgery), running back Curtis Martin and new receiver Laveranues Coles, who returns to New York, are the key parts. Tight end Doug Jolley, a former Raider, was also added. Derrick Blaylock, formerly with Kansas City, is Martin’s new backup.


Defense: The unit lost its best lineman in run-clogging nose tackle Jason Ferguson, who signed with Dallas. Other than his loss, the cast is familiar. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma is a star in the making after winning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. End John Abraham, who had 9.5 sacks last year, will need to stay healthy and resolve contract issues for the defense to succeed.


Intangibles: Can Martin continue to defy the dictum that over-30-year-old running backs go into decline? He had a career year at 31 last year, rushing for an NFL-best 1,697 yards and 12 TDs.


Biggest rivals: Bills. Nothing like a good in-state battle. Both could be battling for playoff position and second place in the AFC East behind favored New England. Buffalo leads the series 48-40.


Outlook: The Jets were a good kicker away from the AFC Championship Game last season. That problem is resolved or under future review with rookie Mike Nugent out of Ohio State. Still, the Jets are a high-quality AFC team expected to make the playoffs and make an impact if Martin can continue to recapture his youth and Pennington’s shoulder holds up.


Ratings: QB-7; RB-8; WR-7; TE-7; OL-8; DL-7; LB-7; S-5; ST-6; C-7; Total 69





New England Patriots


Offense: With the loss of coordinator Charlie Weis to Notre Dame, coach Bill Belichick will take over some of the play-calling duties. He has the comfort of having his core offense intact. Quarterback Tom Brady is coming off throwing a career-high-tying 28 touchdown passes last season, and tailback Corey Dillon added the running threat the Pats were lacking.


Defense: The questions are flying under new coordinator Eric Mangini, who replaces new Cleveland head coach Romeo Crennel. The heart of the unit is gone, with Tedy Bruschi out for the year after suffering a stroke and Ted Johnson retired. To help fill the void at linebacker, New England needs big things from free agent Monty Beisel, who arrived from Kansas City. Also gone is cornerback Ty Law.


Intangibles: Championship know-how remains, but massive changes will challenge the Patriots’ title reign as Brady has to adjust to Weis’ departure. The Patriots still have a great weapon in kicker Adam Vinatieri, who has scored 100 points in each of his first eight seasons and is one of the top clutch kickers in NFL history.


Biggest rivals: Jets. The Patriots defeated their division rival by only six points at home last season. The Jets lead the series 47-42-1.


Outlook: The Patriots go for an unprecedented Super Bowl three-peat without their battle-tested offensive and defensive coordinators and their top defensive playmakers. Belichick’s genius will be tested. New England still has Brady, and Dillon rushed for a career-high 1,635 yards and 12 TDs last season. New England looks vulnerable; this could be Indianapolis’ chance to gain home-field advantage and a trip to the Super Bowl.


Ratings: QB-9; RB-8; WR-7; TE-8; OL- 7; DL-8; LB-6; S-7; ST-7; C-8; Total-75.








(c) 2005, Fort Worth Star-Telegram.