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Conference Preview: AFC

By Aric Manthey

Feb 25, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of NFL Wilson football and NFL shield logo helmet at the peristyle end of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Coliseum will serve as the home of the Los Angeles Rams for the 2016 season after NFL owners voted 30-2 to allow Rams owner Stan Kroenke (not pictured) to relocate the franchise from St. Louis. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of NFL Wilson football and NFL shield logo helmet at the peristyle end of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Coliseum will serve as the home of the Los Angeles Rams for the 2016 season after NFL owners voted 30-2 to allow Rams owner Stan Kroenke (not pictured) to relocate the franchise from St. Louis. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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AFC EAST

4th place: New York Jets

2016 Record: 6-10

Explanation: Every year, there’s a team that goes from playoff contention to absolute obscurity.

Jan 3, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; A general view of a New York Jets helmet and an NFL football during the game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; A general view of a New York Jets helmet and an NFL football during the game between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /

For many reasons, the team that I think will bestow that dreaded tag in 2016 is the Jets.  It’s easy for people to forget just how close this was to not only making the playoffs in 2015, but actually winning this division. Here’s a mind blowing fact about the 2015 Jets.

Aside from the 4th quarter collapse in the regular season finale, all this team would have needed was one more win to not only win the AFC east, but secure the #1 seed in the AFC. Yes, the NUMBER ONE SEED!

If that doesn’t sum up the competitive parity in the AFC last season, I don’t know what will. Unfortunately for gang green, I have a hard time imaging them getting back into the postseason conversation. Despite the fact that they finally agreed to bring back the Amish Rifle(you know who it is. Google it, if you don’t) there’s still plenty of issues to be resolved on this offense.

Can former Bronco Ryan Clady protect Fitzpatrick’s blind side? Can the aging Matt Forte replace departing Pro Bowler Chris Ivory? Can they field anybody decent at the receiving positions aside from Decker/Marshall?

Combine that with a brutal schedule (Bengals, at Bills, at Chiefs, Seahawks, at Pittsburgh, at Arizona, Baltimore to start the season). Anybody else want that line up? Didn’t think so… It’s also important to keep in mind that this division has been making strides and you could make the argument that everyone in this division sans NY could have a winning record in 2016.

While this team does have a roster with plenty of talent, a good number of it is aging talent that won’t be around much longer. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, Nick Mangold, Ryan Clady, David Harris, Darrelle Revis, Kellen Davis and Erin Henderson.  What do they all have in common? Well, there’s two things in common. One, they’re all key players. Two, they’re all 30 or older.  That’s a lot of grizzled veterans to rely on in key positions.

With that said, between the aging roster, brutal schedule and question marks on offense, I think this team is going to take a step back and cool out in the cellar of the AFC East in 2016.

3rd Place: Miami Dolphins

2016 Record: 8-8

Explanation: All of us here in Broncos Country would agree that the Dolphins made a heck of a

Aug 22, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Miami Dolphins helmet lays on the field prior to the start of the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 22, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; A Miami Dolphins helmet lays on the field prior to the start of the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

hire with the Adam Gase this off-season. A “hot shot” coordinator the last few seasons, Gase has patiently wait his turn to find a dancing partner in the middle school social that is the NFL.  With the Dolphins serving as his tango partner, he now has the ability to make some moves as the top coach for an NFL team.

The Dolphins have been stuck in this purgatory of mediocrity for years now and while I decided to give them another .500 record in 2016,  I do think that this team is trending up under the leadership of Gase.

With the recent acquisition of Arian Foster and having one of the most talented receiving groups in the league, it would appear that there’s plenty of weapons for Ryan Tannehill to work with. On defense, I believe that Mario Williams, Kiko Alonso and Byron Maxwell could all flourish under new DC Vance Joseph’s system.  Speaking of Joseph, the former Bengals DB coach may turn out to be the best move that the Dolphins have made this off-season.  If Joseph can guide this unit into the top 10 defenses in the league, look for his name to get heavy consideration for Head Coaching jobs next off-season.

In the meantime, I think that the Dolphins have quietly put together a solid off-season with excellent coaching hires and personnel moves to strengthen their roster.  While they are a better team than the one in 2015, I can’t give them playoff consideration just yet for the simple fact that I need to see how this new regime adjusts to the team. I could easily see this team in playoff contention, but they need to prove it on the field first before I have them as legitimate playoff contenders this year.

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