New York also re-signed special teams ace Braxton Berrios to another contract and the occasionally explosive Tevin Coleman was also retained, and hope to produce more than they did last year. QBs Joe Flacco and Mike White were both given generous deals to likely play backup roles, but one could argue this is decent insurance with starter Zach Wilson still fighting an uphill battle to emerge as a top passer and game-runner in this league. Even the hot-dog stand guy in the nosebleeds could see that.Ģ021 Pro Bowler Laken Tomlinson was tendered and should be able to shore up the play along with the offensive interior. Guard play along the offensive line was of great cause for concern for all of those who associate themselves with Jets football. Uzomah in free agency as a quality dual-role tight-end who can block and catch passes behind linebackers. The Jets finished 4th in the division for the fifth time in the last six years at 4-13 and finished dead last in team defense. Robert Saleh manned the helm in the Big Apple (really just Northeast New Jersey) for his first season as an NFL head coach and his Jets improved their 2-14 record from the previous year…by two wins. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images) Final Predictions for the AFC East in 2022 4th Place – New York Jets (5-12) ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 09: Head Coach Robert Saleh of the New York Jets reacts during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Januin Orchard Park, New York. So here is a bird’s-eye-view of each team’s finish last season, their offseason improvements, draft needs, and how the division could play out this upcoming fall. Some teams play checkers, but there are those who are playing chess. The free-for-all of player movement in March and April is huge for teams looking to get an edge on next year’s opponents. The edge is set along the banks of the Niagara River, but more on that later. Yet, even they weren’t safe from some important players being poached by other contenders. They improved on defense, and still drafted quality depth, despite trading several picks to acquire certain players. Los Angeles nabbed a league-favorite quarterback in Matt Stafford to help their offense click together with all of its pretty pieces. However, in the NFL, you can win championships with how you improve in the offseason. Sort of like that 24-hour period between December 31st and January 2nd where you promise to become a better person and stop smoking, lose weight, quit gambling, or something else your mind has contrived that often never gets accomplished. College prospects diligently work to improve their intangibles in hopes of being selected by one of the 32 teams in the NFL Draft. Players have been spreading out across the map to different cities and beginning the process of carving their names into the halls of Canton forever with new teams. Coaches were fired and rehired in different positions across the league and in the NCAA, owners sold rights and general managers changed name tags. AFC East: Setting the StageĪfter the conclusion of the 2021 season, the league began its annual spring cleaning. If I am able to be completely forthright here, the Jets and the Dolphins have been two of the worst franchises in the league since the beginning of this millennium, but their stock is rising. A winning record the past two seasons under the now-fired coach Brian Flores is the lone bright spot in the past score of mediocrity. The Phins have floundered as well in recent memory, since 2000, they have only made three playoff appearances, and zero victories in each hopeless try. In a sick and mostly enjoyable sense of irony, they were steamrolled by the Bills, and quite possibly “molly whopped.” Their improvement and key victories over other AFC squads earned them a playoff spot in 2021. This emergence from a conservative offensive towards a more tactical approach paired well with a Belichick-lead defense and the Patriots finished 2nd in the AFC East at a respectable 10-7. The next season Mac Jones showed a lot of poise and had the additional help of a balanced rushing attack. New England went 7-9 in the first year after Brady’s absence, finishing third place in the division, their lowest mark since the 2000 season. Buffalo added lots of talented pieces for strong-armed Josh Allen who has used that strength, along with deceptive mobility and stride, to power the Bills to three consecutive playoff appearances, and two straight AFC East titles and make an appearance in the Conference title match in 2020. Knocking at that door was Buffalo, ready to erase past memories of Scott Norwood or Thurman Thomas’s lost helmet. This exodus of a larger-than-life figure in football from what became one of the most storied, recognized, and valued franchises in all of the professional sports would prove to be the necessary open door for a new team to begin their own run.
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