Buffalo Bills still class of division

Mark Cannizzaro previews the AFC East as The Put up offers division-by-division breakdowns forward of the 2022 NFL season.

1. Buffalo Payments 

Coach: Sean McDermott 

2021 file: 11-6 

O/U wins: 11.5 

Key additions: DE Von Miller, G Rodger Saffold, WR Jamison Crowder, QB Case Keenum, RB James Cook dinner 

Key departures: WR Cole Beasley, WR Emmanuel Sanders, QB Mitch Trubisky 

First-and-goal: QB Josh Allen stays some of the dynamic skills within the league. Already outfitted with big-play targets (see WR Stefon Diggs), Allen goes to like Crowder, the shifty slot receiver signed within the offseason. Crowder, who hasn’t been enjoying with a quarterback of Allen’s caliber, must be an improve from Beasley as a result of he’s 4 years youthful. Within the backfield, the Payments nonetheless are led by Devin Singletary, who averaged 4.6 yards per carry final yr, and Cook dinner, the second-round draft decide. Don’t neglect the 763 speeding yards and 6 TDs Allen ran for in ’21. Defensively, Miller has an opportunity to develop into the primary Payments move rusher to succeed in double-digits in sacks since 2016, when Lorenzo Alexander had 12.5. Saffold made his first Professional Bowl in 2021 and is slated to start out at LG to assist the operating recreation. 

Fourth-and-long: How will the Buffalo offense look with out former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who was as accountable as anybody for serving to develop Allen into the star he’s at this time? Miller, 33, and Saffold, in his twelfth season, are win-now acquisitions and signify some threat. 

Cann’s Name: 12-5. The Payments, who have been 13 seconds from an AFC Championship recreation berth in January, stay the category of the division. It’ll be a shock in the event that they don’t have the title all-but locked up earlier than Christmas purchasing season. 

2. New England Patriots 

Coach: Invoice Belichick 

2021 file: 10-7 

O/U wins: 8.5 

Key additions: WR DeVante Parker, CB Malcolm Butler, CB Jabrill Peppers, LB Mack Wilson, G Cole Unusual, WR Tyquan Thornton 

Key departures: CB J.C. Jackson, RB James White, RB Brandon Bolden, WR N’Keal Harry, LB Chase Winovich 

First-and-goal: Mac Jones carried out in addition to any of the rookie quarterbacks in 2021, beginning 17 video games and finishing 67.6 % of his passes for 3,801 yards to go together with 22 TDs and 13 picks. The expectation is he’ll take extra steps ahead in ’22. The addition of Parker, a big-play risk, will solely improve that. 

Fourth-and-long: How will the offense look with out Josh McDaniels, who’s been Belichick’s offensive extension for years and has been changed by Joe Decide and Matt Patricia? The offense didn’t precisely regarded crisp in coaching camp and preseason. One of many questions is whether or not the Pats have a real No. 1 receiver for Jones. The hope is that Parker fills that function — if he can keep wholesome. Within the backfield, the retirement of the veteran do-everything White leaves extra duty on Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson in addition to rookies Kevin Harris and Pierre Robust Jr., a fourth-round decide. 

Cann’s Name: 10-7. There stay questions, starting with how good Jones can develop into and the way the offense will carry out with out McDaniels calling the performs. Belichick is sweet sufficient that he’ll have the Patriots aggressive, however this doesn’t appear to be a contending group. 

3. Miami Dolphins 

Coach: Mike McDaniel 

2021 file: 9-8 

O/U wins: 8.5 

Key additions: WR Tyreek Hill, OT Terron Armstead, RB Raheem Mostert, RB Chase Edmonds, WR Cedrick Wilson 

Key departures: WR DeVante Parker, WR Will Fuller 

First-and-goal: Hill instantly makes QB Tua Tagovailoa higher. The 28-year-old is coming off a 2021 season when he caught a career-high 111 passes for 1,239 yards and 9 TDs. Mix that with WR Jaylen Waddle (104 catches as a rookie in ’21) and tough-matchup TE Mike Gesicki, and Miami’s offense will likely be a lot better in ’22. 

Fourth-and-long: McDaniel is a first-time head coach with a powerful pedigree. How rapidly can he put his stamp on a group that’s been mired in mediocrity for thus lengthy? The Dolphins have been in fixed search of a powerful speeding assault for a number of years. They introduced in Mostert and Edmonds, who will likely be utilized in a committee rotation McDaniel brings with him from San Francisco. Mostert is aware of McDaniel’s scheme, having performed for the 49ers. The query is whether or not he can discover the type of the 2019 NFC Championship recreation, when he ran for 220 speeding yards and 4 touchdowns. Edmonds produced 903 yards from scrimmage in 2021 as a backup to James Connor. 

Cann’s Name: 9-8. There will likely be rising pains with the brand new teaching employees and new system, however there will likely be flashes of enchancment. 

Betting on the NFL?

4. New York Jets 

Coach: Robert Saleh 

2021 file: 4-13 

O/U wins: 5.5 

Key additions: TE C.J. Uzomah, TE Tyler Conklin, G Laken Tomlinson, OT Duane Brown, WR Garrett Wilson, CB Sauce Gardner, RB Breece Corridor 

Key departures: WR Jamison Crowder 

First-and-goal: Enhancements have been made in essentially the most missing areas, most notably within the secondary and talent place round QB Zach Wilson. There are large expectations with more healthy WRs Corey Davis and second-year Elijah Moore. The drafting of Garrett Wilson, who has regarded good regardless of some drops in coaching camp, additionally strengthens the offense. The drafting of Corridor offers the Jets a powerful one-two backfield punch with Michael Carter, whose 183 touches his rookie season amounted to 964 yards and 4 touchdowns. The most important improve has been made at tight finish with the signings of Uzomah and Conklin and the drafting of Jeremy Ruckert. This was the thinnest place on the group and now has an opportunity to be a power. 

Fourth-and-long: Wilson, who’ll start the season rehabbing a preseason knee harm, should show he can keep wholesome after which wants to indicate he generally is a large playmaker with the higher weapons round him. Defensively, the Jets allowed 29.6 factors per recreation final season and should enhance on that. The hope the return of move rusher Carl Lawson, who missed all of 2021, makes them extra formidable up entrance. 

Cann’s name: 8-9. The Jets make main strides in Saleh’s second season, however aren’t prepared but for playoff competition.