AFC East Predictions

1 NEW YORK JETS
The AFC East will again be most competitive division in football. I'm a big Chad Pennington fan and he has the potential to single-handedly lead this team deep into the playoffs. Watch out for first round draft pick, Jonathan Vilma. Fantasy league sleeper: WR Justin McCareins. The Jets will sneak past New England on tiebreakers.

2 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
I don't buy into the whole Patriots dynasty talk. RB Corey Dillon will turn out to be a dubious addition to a team that values cohesion. With DL Ted Washington gone to the Raidahs, how will they stop the run? Many football people are raving about rookie NT Vince Wilfork, like Vilma a product of Miami (FL). I think it's hard to count on a rookie to play nose tackle on a contending team. Aside from that, they have head coach, BIll Belichick and QB Tom Brady. There will be no Super Bowl letdown for the Pats.

3 BUFFALO BILLS
I'm not very bullish on this team. They're filled with a bunch of well-known, but over-the-hills names on defense, but I think their two-headed running attack will be the talk of the NFL. Rookie head coach, Mike Mularkey, likes a ball control offense and with RBs Willis McGahee and Travis Henry, the Bills might contend if they start fast and coast to their frigid home-field advantage in snowy December.

4 MIAMI DOLPHINS
These guys make me sad. The loss of Ricky Williams matters less than the season-ending injury of WR David Boston. The window has clearly passed on this once-dominant defense. Jay Fiedler and A.J. Feeley are unacceptable quarterbacks, especially with only one offensive weapon in WR Chris Chambers. Head coach Dave Wannsteadt will be gone by week 4 or 5. Maybe Don Shula will make a comeback?