The future of the AFC East

[CF DolFan]

Dave Hyde wrote something today that caught my attention .... "As we look at the future of the AFC East, don’t forget the New York Jets finished 6-2 this season. If you make something of the Dolphins finishing 5-4 and Buffalo making the playoffs, the Jets finish means something, too. So does the Patriots’s finish: 4-5 to end the year."

Sure seems like there is a possibility for there to be a competition for the top spot in the AFC East next year and that hasn't happened in forever.  

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

and that hasn't happened in forever.  

I could be wrong but my best recollection is the last time the AFCE was still in question going into week 17 was 2008. 

[fyo]

I could be wrong but my best recollection is the last time the AFCE was still in question going into week 17 was 2008. 

Ahh, the year of the Wild Cat. Is it sad that the one thing I really remember from that season is that it resulted in us taking Pat White in the following draft?

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Ahh, the year of the Wild Cat. Is it sad that the one thing I really remember from that season is that it resulted in us taking Pat White in the following draft?

Yeah that is sad.  The season should be memorable as the the greatest season to season improvement ever.  1-15 to 11-5..  Went from barely avoiding a winless season to winning the division. That is an impressive turnaround.

[EDGECRUSHER]

The Wildcat worked so well in 2008 because they actually switched it up a bit and had Ronnie Brown throwing and Pennington actually receiving. It failed in 2009 because every Wildcat play was just a draw and everyone knew it.

[MaineDolFan]

If Brady resigns for two I think I could see the AFC East becoming one of those divisions where you have a title winning team at 11-5, two 10-6 teams and another team at 9-7.  I feel like all of the teams are trending up and the team at the top, currently, isn't going away any time soon.

The one "wild card" in this would be the Jets.  We've all experienced the Adam Gase rocket ride and know how that ends.  Is he better this time around, or does it explode like wiley coyote with a explosive tied to his back?

[stinkfish]

The Bills are looking like they're going to be the next big dog AFC East.

[fyo]

If Brady resigns for two I think I could see the AFC East becoming one of those divisions where you have a title winning team at 11-5, two 10-6 teams and another team at 9-7.

Which would make it the first time in the history of the NFL that all teams from a division finish with a winning record, so probably not "one of those divisions".

The inverse has happened twice, in 2010 (NFC West) and 2014 (NFC South).

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

If Brady resigns for two I think I could see the AFC East becoming one of those divisions where you have a title winning team at 11-5, two 10-6 teams and another team at 9-7.  I feel like all of the teams are trending up and the team at the top, currently, isn't going away any time soon.

The one "wild card" in this would be the Jets.  We've all experienced the Adam Gase rocket ride and know how that ends.  Is he better this time around, or does it explode like wiley coyote with a explosive tied to his back?

Unlikely that would all four teams to have a phenomenal interdivisional record.  Brady leaving doesn't automatically make the other teams better.  But I do expect that the division will start being in play week 17.

[fyo]

Unlikely that would all four teams to have a phenomenal interdivisional record.

Unless you definition of "phenomenal" stretches to "average", then "impossible" would be more accurate.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Unless you definition of "phenomenal" stretches to "average", then "impossible" would be more accurate.

What I mean is that would require the equivalent of having the following record for non-divisional games 8-2, 7-3,7-3, 6-4.  Wouldn’t have to be that exact distribution but as a division they would have to win 70% of all non division games.  So you are not talking about bring the Patriots down to the rest of the AFCE post-Brady, but rather all four teams playing at the level Patriots played over the past two decades or the Colts played with Peyton, the Bills with Kelly and Dolphins with Marino at the same time.

[Dave Gray]

I think that the fall of the Patriots is crazy premature.  They made the playoffs with a good record and lost a close game to a hot team.  They still are good and have the working parts.  They may not win another title, but they're not just going to be bad all of a sudden.

[CF DolFan]

I think that the fall of the Patriots is crazy premature.  They made the playoffs with a good record and lost a close game to a hot team.  They still are good and have the working parts.  They may not win another title, but they're not just going to be bad all of a sudden.

I agree with you but if you look how they closed out the season it does beg to be debated. They only won 2 of their last 5 games and that's why they had to play the WC game. So basically they were 2-4 in their last 6 games ... losing the last 2 at home. 

[Dave Gray]

I agree with you but if you look how they closed out the season it does beg to be debated. They only won 2 of their last 5 games and that's why they had to play the WC game. So basically they were 2-4 in their last 6 games ... losing the last 2 at home. 

I understand this point and I think there's merit to it.

But I counter with this idea that good teams are good and bad teams are bad.  Part of that is culture.

Every year, I have to hear about how the Browns finished strong and are going to be good next year.  And every year it's the same, slapdick shit from them.  Teams that are great for decades are such because of good players, but also good coaching, management, ....maybe even stuff like support and goodwill from local media and fans.  Even if some of those things change, they don't just all go away over night.

[pondwater]

I agree with you but if you look how they closed out the season it does beg to be debated. They only won 2 of their last 5 games and that's why they had to play the WC game. So basically they were 2-4 in their last 6 games ... losing the last 2 at home with Brady throwing a pick 6 in both games

There I fixed it for you, LMFAO.