NFL Preview for the 2007 Football Season: AFC East

The NFL's AFC East Division has been a no-brainer in recent years when it comes to NFL wagering. The New England Patriots have won this division five of the past six years and have three Super Bowl trophies to show for it.

Will things change this year?

The oddsmakers don't think so, as New England not only is WagerWeb.com's -850 favorite to win the AFC East again, but the Pats are WagerWeb's +310 favorite to win Super Bowl XLII. With Tom Brady and Bill Belichick still in Foxborough, and with New England adding receiving weapons Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth and Wes Welker in the offseason, the division is clearly the Pats' to lose. Expect a career year out of Brady and a huge season from second-year back Laurence Maroney.

The New York Jets were New England's closest challengers last season, finishing 10-6 and two games out of the division lead. The Jets also surprisingly reached the playoffs via wild card in Coach Eric Mangini's first season, although Mangini lost to mentor Belichick 37-16 in the postseason. The Jets, +925 to win the AFC East, did add running back Thomas Jones in the offseason from the Bears, but he has been injured. Without Jones, the offense has struggled mightily under QB Chad Pennington, and many believe the club overachieved last year. Look for a step back for the Jets this year and for Pennington to eventually be replaced by Kellen Clemens.



The Buffalo Bills, +2100 to win the AFC East, might be one of the sleeper teams in the NFL this season. The Bills finished 7-9 last year and lost running back Willis McGahee to the Ravens, but QB J.P. Losman showed signs of life in the second half of last year,
and receiver Lee Evans is ready to be a star. Add draft pick Marshawn Lynch from Cal at running back, and Buffalo appears poised to climb to second in the AFC East and battle for a wild-card spot.

The Miami Dolphins, +1300 to win the AFC East, had big playoff hopes heading into last season, but not much went right. QB Daunte Culpepper could never overcome his knee problems and was awful, and RB Ronnie Brown struggled. Miami finished 6-10, despite a strong defense, and lost Coach Nick Saban to Alabama in the offseason. The Dolphins traded for QB Trent Green to run the show, but he looks old in the preseason. Expect another disappointing year in South Florida.

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