NFL Preview 2023: AFC East Division
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From top to bottom, there’s no better division in football than the AFC East. From the New England Patriots and the Buffalo Bills to the Miami Dolphins and the spicy new look New York Jets, the AFC East is slated to be an absolute slugfest in 2023. With the NFL preseason now officially in the books, let’s take a closer look at how the AFC East stacks up in 2023.
New England Patriots
Major additions: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, CB Christian Gonzalez (draft), TE Mike Gesicki, RB Ezekiel Elliot
Major losses: WR Jakobi Meyers, RB Damien Harris
Where they were:
The 2023 New England Patriots were a classic Bill Belichick team. They competed in more games than expected due to a phenomenal defense, but in their 3rd year without quarterback Tom Brady (the catalyst to Belichick’s experiments) fell short of the playoffs for the first time since blank. Doomed by a sheer lack of offensive firepower, the Patriots still managed an 8-9 record, a testament to their defensive prowess more than any accomplishment by the offense.
Where they are:
Unlike many teams across the NFL, the 2023 Patriots look very much the same as the 2022 squad. Veteran RB Damien Harris was replaced by veteran RB Ezekiel Elliot, veteran WR Jakobi Meyers was replaced by veteran WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, and CB Christian Gonzalez was added in the draft to help replenish a defensive backfield feeling the loss of longtime staple Devin McCourty.
While there may not be much cause for playoff optimism in Foxborough this season, never count a Bill Belichick team out of the running. The Patriots will once again compete in, and even win games they have no business winning with their talent pool. New England is the popular pick to finish last in the AFC East with a Draftkings win total over/under set at 6.5, but don’t be surprised to see the Patriots have another solid season, and finish above expected.
Grade: Underrated
Buffalo Bills
Major additions: RB Damien Harris, TE Dalton Kincaid (draft), G Connor McGovern, LB Leonard Floyd
Major losses: WR Isaiah McKenzie, LB Tremaine Edmunds, RB Devin Singletary
Where they were:
The 2022 Buffalo Bills were cruising through the regular season, well on their way to a high seed in the playoffs and an AFC East division title. That all came to a sudden and crashing halt in an unassuming week 17 matchup against the Bengals. Safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field, going into cardiac arrest and requiring extensive resuscitation. The game was called off, and the Bills were never the same, shaken by what had befallen their teammate. The Bills squeaked out a wildcard round victory over a Dolphins squad missing its top two quarterbacks before quietly falling to the Cincinnati Bengals at home in the divisional round.
Where they are:
As Damar Hamlin has seemingly recovered in full, so have the Buffalo Bills. Over an offseason where the Bills greatly strengthened a previously middle of the pack offensive line and drafted an intriguing weapon for star QB Josh Allen in TE Dalton Kincaid, the Bills have only improved for the upcoming season.
Buffalo will be a force to be reckoned with in 2023. Draftkings has set the Bills as the odds on favorite to win the AFC East with a win total over/under of 10.5, and this Buffalo squad could very easily reach and potentially even exceed that mark.
Grade: Properly rated
Miami Dolphins
Major additions: CB Jalen Ramsey (trade), LB David Long, QB Mike White
Major losses: TE Mike Gesicki
Where they were:
In the first year of new head coach Mike McDaniel’s tenure, the Dolphins finally put something together and made the playoffs with a 9-8 record in 2022. While a hot start fizzled out in the latter half of the season due in no small part to injuries, the Dolphins were finally an exciting, competitive team again. In the wildcard round, the Dolphins gave the AFC East champion Bills all they could handle, despite playing a combination of Teddy Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson at QB in the game.
Where they are:
The Dolphins look to improve upon their record in 2023, adding star CB Jalen Ramsey to shore up an improving defense. Even with the new look defense, the Dolphins fate rests on the health of QB Tua Tagovailoa, known for his penchant for serious injury.
Should Tua stay healthy for the duration of the season, the Draftkings win total over/under of 9.5 is extremely reasonable for the Dolphins. If he does not remain injury free, long-suffering Dolphins fans could be in for another disappointing season.
Grade: Properly rated
New York Jets
Major additions: QB Aaron Rodgers (trade), WR Allen Lazard, RB Dalvin Cook, S Adrian Amos, WR Randall Cobb,
Major losses: WR Elijah Moore (trade)
Where they were:
The Jets finally gave a success starved fanbase hope in 2022. While the Jets finished last in the AFC East, they boasted both of the offensive rookies of the year in CB Sauce Gardner and WR Garrett Wilson. Deplorable QB play doomed the Jets to a 7-10 record, but the rise of a young talented core gave Jets fans great excitement for the future.
Where they are:
The predominant story of the NFL offseason was the Jets shocking acquisition of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the Packers. Winning 7 games without a viable QB the previous year was a start, adding Rodgers could put the Jets over the top.
Rodgers brought along a few of his former Packers teammates as WRs Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb signed in free agency, and the Jets look to challenge for the AFC East if everything falls properly into place. Draftkings has set the Jets win total over/under at 9.5 wins, which feels reasonable for a new look New York squad.
Grade: Properly rated
The stories write themselves
As all 32 NFL teams begin the process of trimming the preseason roster from 90 to 53 over the next several days, GM’s will finally decide and affirm the direction they are heading in with their roster. With difficult and occasionally painful decisions to be made, each cut is only made more difficult by the knowledge that the depth of a roster often determines ultimate success in a race as close as the 2023 AFC East. With new flashy teams like the Jets and Dolphins, an incredibly solid team in the Patriots, and a well rounded and talented team in the Bills, the race for the AFC East could very well come down to the final week. The battle begins right away, as the Jets face the Bills on Monday Night Football to open the regular season. The preseason is in the books. Now it’s time for the real thing.
