We are counting down the days until the start of the 2024 NFL Season as training camps start later this month. There were some major switch ups this offseason regarding big names moving to new teams and legendary coaches – Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll – being relieved of their duties. On top of that, tons of franchise players were taken in the draft. Let’s get caught up with our 2024 AFC East preview.
Last Year
The AFC East was a ton of fun in 2023. The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins went right down to the wire with the Bills ultimately edging them out. It was a huge disappointment for Miami as they lost three of their final five games and two straight which forced them to face Kansas City, the Super Bowl champs, in the first round of the playoffs. The Bills, despite pulling it together in the finality of the regular season, fell flat in the postseason as they were also booted by the Chiefs. Outside of those top two teams, the Jets were one of the biggest disappointments in 2023 with Aaron Rodgers’ season ending in week 1 and the team flailing from there. The Patriots were so bad that they dumped Mac Jones this offseason and did the unthinkable, they took Bill Belichick out of the equation and fired the greatest head coach in NFL history.
Favorite to win in 2024
The Bills are the favorites to win in 2024, as they should. Buffalo has won the division the last four years, quite the switch up from New England winning in 11 straight seasons before that. Miami, with a loaded offense and a great mind leading their team, is the easy second place choice and they will give the Bills a run for their money. New York will be the wild card in all of this but it’s going to depend on Aaron Rodgers as he turns 41 during the season. After that, I think the Pats have a legit shot to have the number one overall pick next draft, despite drafting their next franchise QB in Drake Maye this last April.
Offensive Player to Watch: Aaron Rodgers
All eyes on Rodgers. Everyone felt short-changed a year ago when Rodgers didn’t even finish the first drive with the New York Jets before going down with a season-ending injury. Rodgers is a four-time MVP, a Super Bowl MVP, and has been a First-Team All-Pro four times. But Aaron Rodgers is getting old and he’s never won like Tom Brady has won.
Defensive Player to Watch: Sauce Gardner
We picked Sauce last year in this spot and we will pick him again. Simply said, he has become one of the most dominant cornerbacks in the game. He has only played in the league for two years; he has a Rookie of the Year award and has been a First-Team All-Pro twice. Gardner is still young and not even close to his prime, but he is playing at a Darrelle Revis’ level.
Prediction
I am going with Miami in this division. Buffalo lost too many pieces on offense, and I think there will be a big adjustment period. Miami is ready. They have the game’s best wide receiver in Tyreek Hill. They have a QB who is confident and a defense coming into its own. Record (11-6)