With the 2023 NFL preseason in the books, the New England Patriots now turn their attention to the regular season, but not before that final 53-man roster is in shape. Roster cuts are getting going, and the initial depth chart should be out before we know it.
Preseason doesn't matter much, but what we saw from the Patriots during that time was mostly underwhelming.
The rest of the AFC East, though, looks like it should be shaping up to be a tough division overall. Is New England in trouble?
Short answer: yes.
But, let's look at where the entire division stands now that preseason is finished.
4. New England Patriots
The best thing New England has going for them is on defense, where they finished 8th overall in 2022. The Patriots are especially good against the run, allowing just 105.5 yards per game last season. If they can take a step forward against the pass, that unit could make an even higher jump into the top five. Adding first-round pick Christian Gonzalez should sure help that cause.
Offensively, it's all on the shoulders of Mac Jones. The Patriots have decent options in terms of weaponry, whether we're talking wide receiver, tight end or running back. But, Jones has to take a step this year. If he doesn't, then the Patriots are firmly planted as the worst team in this division, solely because the rest of the division is packed with firepower on offense.
Will Bill Belichick prove he has not been passed by just yet? Or, will the Patriots continue to sit fourth amongst their divisional foes?
3. Miami Dolphins
After the Patriots is where things get difficult. The Miami Dolphins finished as the NFL's fifth-best passing attack in 2022, and very well could be up there again in 2023 if Tua Tagovailoa is healthy.
That, right there, is a big "if."
Tua needs to be upright in order for the Dolphins to have a chance at the division title and a playoff berth, but those concussions cannot happen anymore. Last year, the pair of concussions we saw were quite scary. If he's able to be kept upright and on the field.
If Tua is out there, the Dolphins should have one of the best offenses in the league.
Defensively, the Dolphins were supposed to be even better after trading for Jalen Ramsey. But, they'll have to wait a little while before Ramsey makes his regular season debut after recovering from a meniscus injury.
Miami was already a mediocre defense, as a whole. Barring any major step forward from this group without Ramsey, they'll continue to need to put up monstrous amounts of points in order to stay competitive in this division.
2. New York Jets
I'm officially buying the New York Jets hype, but not quite to the level of some. Could they make the Super Bowl? Sure, if everything goes right in New York, they just might have a shot at it. But, that would mean Aaron Rodgers has one of the best seasons of his career and the Jets defense becomes the best unit in football.
Rodgers may very well prove to be as good as ever, if his body is fully right. His confidence and ego alone make him a threat to bounce back from a ho-hum 2022 campaign. The last time Rodgers was doubted, back when the Packers drafted Jordan Love, he went on to win back-to-back MVP awards.
So, with some people questioning whether or not Rodgers is over the hill, he could easily come out firing this season and prove everybody wrong. I'm banking on that happening, for the most part.
The Jets have a ton of talent around Rodgers too, whether we're talking Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Dalvin Cook or any of the other role players on that offense.
But, defensively is where they could really shine. The Jets finished as the league's fourth-best defense overall last year, and boast some big-time playmakers both in the trenches and secondary. Assuming they continue their trajectory, the Jets have a chance to live up to every bit of hype behind them this year.
However, they are still not the cream of the AFC East crop just yet.
1. Buffalo Bills
You cannot bet against the Buffalo Bills as the division favorites, right now. Maybe a few weeks in, if the Jets truly look like the real deal, things could change. But, for now, the Bills are too good and too well-rounded to place lower than no. 1 on this list.
Josh Allen is coming off a questionable season as far as his turnovers go, and it's safe to say he's going to improve. It's an area of focus he's concentrated heavily on throughout the offseason, and my bet is that he bounces back there.
Stefon Diggs is still an elite weapon. Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid might be the best one-two punch at tight end, in all of football. If James Cook proves he can take on the lead role and become a threat in both aspects of the offense, Buffalo should continue to be up there in offensive production.
Defensively, the Bills are going to miss Von Miller to start the year. But, they're still talented at every level. Buffalo was the sixth-best defense in football last year, even without Miller to end the year. They added Leonard Floyd and still have Matt Milano flying around, so they should be fine until Miller returns.
The Bills are the best team in this division right now, hands down. But, in a few weeks, we'll see if that still holds true.