2024-25 NFL AFC East Predictions
The 2024-25 NFL season is just around the corner. I think it’s the perfect time to give predictions with training camp officially underway. It only makes sense to start this year's predictions with my favorite division in the NFL, the AFC East. The AFC East will be one of the most competitive divisions in football because of the superstar talent on each roster. Without further ado, here are my 2024-25 AFC East predictions.
New York Jets
Record Prediction: 11-6
It could be a surprise for whoever is reading this that I have the Jets winning the AFC East. The Jets haven’t won the division since 2002, but this is arguably the best roster they have had since. The Jets will be in a great position to win the division because of how much better their roster is compared to the rest of the AFC East. They will, without a doubt, have the best defense in the division. The Jets have the best cornerback duo in the league with Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed. Gardner is coming off another All-Pro season, making it his second in only two years. The defensive line group will improve tremendously now that Haason Reddick will be rushing alongside Jermaine Johnson II. This defensive line group led by Quinnen Williams, Haason Reddick, and Jermaine Johnson II is all but guaranteed to be top-five in all pass-rushing metrics in 2024-25. The most exciting part about this roster is the return of Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. After his season was cut short due to an Achilles tear, Jets fans have been waiting for their quarterback to return. Now that Rodgers is 100% healthy and will be taking snaps under-center with a much improved offensive line, this offense's potential is through the roof. The last thing I will say about this Jets roster is that they are more than capable of having a top-five receiver/quarterback duo in the NFL with Rodgers and Garrett Wilson. Rodgers has compared Garrett Wilson to his former wide receiver, Davante Adams. Rodgers and Adams terrorized the NFL for many years, and now Rodgers and Wilson have a chance to do the same.
Buffalo Bills
Record Prediction: 10-7
Finishing second in the AFC East, I have the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo has won the division four consecutive times since 2020, but this is the year things change. For starters, the Bills have lost multiple key players like Stefon Diggs, Mitch Morse, Jordan Poyer, and Tre’Davious White. Diggs has been one of the best receivers in the NFL for a couple of years now, and although he comes with a lot of baggage, it will be hard for Buffalo to replace his production. The Bills will be relying on a wide receiver core of Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, and their second-round draft pick, Keon Coleman. None of these players are bad by any means, but they aren’t game changers either. The Bills will be more reliant on Josh Allen this year than ever before. Given how wild Allen can get at times, Buffalo should be expected to have weeks where they look like the best team in the NFL and others where they look like a team that can’t compete. Josh Allen and Sean McDermott will be good enough to make the playoffs and finish the year second in the AFC East, but that's as far as they’ll go.
Miami Dolphins
Record prediction: 8-9
The Dolphins have been the second-most dominant team in the AFC East for quite some time now. They are one of the best teams at home, and their quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, is coming off an impressive 2023-24 season in which he led the NFL in passing yards. The Dolphins have one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The two combined for over 2,800 receiving yards, which was the most of any duo in the NFL. With all that said, you may be asking yourself why I have them going below .500. I don’t believe in the Dolphins this season because of their lack of pass rush and their record against teams over .500. This offseason, they lost their best defensive player in Christian Wilkins to the Raiders. Their second-best pass rusher, Jaelan Phillips, will be out for the beginning of the NFL season due to an Achilles injury he suffered in week 12 against the New York Jets. Miami signed Shaquil Barrett to help with their pass rush, but he just recently retired. As I mentioned earlier, the Dolphins do not have a good track record of beating teams over .500. Their last four games are against the Browns, Jets, Niners, and Texans, which are all teams expected to be playoff contenders. The Dolphins could easily go 0-4 during this stretch, making it almost impossible to win the East.
New England Patriots
Record Prediction: 5-12
There just isn’t much to look forward to if you are a Patriots fan this season. A rookie head coach, a rookie quarterback with a below-average offensive line and lackluster weapons. The only way the Patriots will be able to compete in games this upcoming season will be by relying on their defense to get consistent stops. The Patriots have had an elite defense for as long as I can remember, but it will be interesting to see how they look without their defensive mastermind, Bill Belichick. Rhamomdre Stevenson is arguably their best offensive weapon; if he were to somehow get hurt, the Patriots would become a bottom-three offense in the NFL. The future has the potential to be bright with third-overall pick Drake Maye and their young superstar cornerback Christian Gonzalez, but as of today, the team isn’t good enough.
