AFC East outlook

NEW ENGLAND

LAST SEASON: Won first Super Bowl after an 0-2 start that included serious injury to QB Drew Bledsoe. Tom Brady led the Patriots to AFC East title. Then Adam Vinatieri's last-play field goals beat Oakland in a snowstorm in the first playoff round and St. Louis in the Super Bowl.

ADDITIONS: TEs Cam Cleeland and Christian Fauria, TE Daniel Graham (first-round pick), S Chris Hayes, WR Donald Hayes, CB Tommy Knight, DE Rick Lyle, DT Steve Martin, LB Ryan Phillips, CB Tony Scott.

SUBTRACTIONS: Bledsoe, traded to Buffalo; CB Terrell Buckley, LB Bryan Cox, WR Terry Glenn, LB Andy Katzenmoyer, DT Brandon Mitchell, TE Rod Rutledge, TE Jermaine Wiggins.

WATCH FOR: Brady must continue to progress now that teams have seen him play. Graham must match the success of last year's first-rounder, DT Richard Seymour, and give the team its first receiving threat at TE since Ben Coates in the '90s.

EXPECTATIONS: It will be hard to repeat, particularly in what may be league's toughest division.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

  • Sep. 9 Pittsburgh, 3 p.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 at New York Jets, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 Kansas City, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 at San Diego, 10:15 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 at Miami, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 Green Bay, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 20 Open date
  • Oct. 27 Denver, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 3 at Buffalo, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 at Chicago, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 17 at Oakland, 3:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 24 Minnesota, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 28 at Detroit, 7:30 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 Buffalo, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 16 at Tennessee, 4 p.m.
  • Dec. 22 New York Jets, 3:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 29 Miami, 8 a.m.

MIAMI

LAST SEASON: Made playoffs for fifth year in a row, longest current streak. Offense sputtered at times, including in a 20-3 loss to Baltimore in a wildcard playoff game. That was the fifth straight quick exit from playoffs by combined score of 164-16.

ADDITIONS: RB Ricky Williams, acquired from New Orleans in March for draft picks, including this year's first-rounder. He should be a good match with new offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who has a history of producing 1,000-yard rushers.

SUBTRACTIONS: RB Lamar Smith, OT Spencer Folau, G Heath Irwin, TE Hunter Goodwin, DE Kenny Mixon, S Brian Walker.

WATCH FOR: Coach Dave Wannstedt is hoping Williams can upgrade a ground game that has been a problem for two decades. Williams should take pressure off inconsistent QB Jay Fiedler, who will miss some of camp recovering from hip surgery.

EXPECTATIONS: Combine a ball-control attack with the Dolphins' strong defense and kicking game, and they're a contender. But a shaky offensive line could be a problem.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

  • Sep. 8 Detroit, 7 a.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 at Indianapolis, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 New York Jets, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 at Kansas City, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 New England, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 at Denver, 2:30 p.m.
  • Oct. 20 Buffalo, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 27 Open date
  • Nov. 4 at Green Bay, 4 p.m.
  • Nov. 10 at NY Jets, 3:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 17 Baltimore, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 San Diego, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 1 at Buffalo, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 9 Chicago, 4 p.m.
  • Dec. 15 Oakland, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 21 at Minnesota, 8:30 a.m.
  • Dec. 29 at New England, 8 a.m.

NEW YORK JETS

LAST SEASON: Made playoffs in final game of season by winning at Oakland, then lost to Raiders in first round.

ADDITIONS: LB Sam Cowart, CBs Donnie Abraham and Aaron Beasley, SS Sam Garnes, DEs Steve White and Bryan Thomas (top draft pick).

SUBTRACTIONS: CBs Aaron Glenn and Marcus Coleman, LB James Farrior, SS Victor Green, OT Ryan Young.

WATCH FOR: Cowart, if he is healthy, can be a huge playmaker opposite Mo Lewis; the health of QB Vinny Testaverde, coming off foot surgery.

EXPECTATIONS: Should contend for the AFC East title and maybe more.

NEW YORK JETS

  • Sep. 8 at Buffalo, 7 a.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 New England, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 at Miami, 7 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 at Jacksonville, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 Kansas City, 10:05 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 Open date
  • Oct. 20 Minnesota, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 27 Cleveland, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 3 at San Diego, 11:05 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 Miami, 3:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 17 at Detroit, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 Buffalo, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 2 at Oakland, 4 p.m.
  • Dec. 8 Denver, 11:15 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 at Chicago, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 22 at N. England, 3:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 29 Green Bay, 11:15 a.m.

BUFFALO

LAST SEASON: Injuries, salary-cap induced cuts and inexperience in coach Gregg Williams' first year resulted in worst finish since 1985.

ADDITIONS: QB Drew Bledsoe, LBs London Fletcher, Eddie Robinson, OT Trey Teague, S Billy Jenkins, RBs Richard Huntley, Charlie Rogers, TE David Moore, WR Charles Johnson, K Mike Hollis, plus OT Mike Williams and WR Josh Reed, first two draft picks.

SUBTRACTIONS: QB Rob Johnson, LBs Sam Cowart, Jay Foreman, OT John Fina, S Keion Carpenter, DT Shawn Price, CB Ken Irvin, DE Phil Hansen (retired).

WATCH FOR: Bledsoe and improved offensive line. Fletcher and Robinson should bolster what had been weak linebacker corps. CB Nate Clements to build off strong rookie season.

EXPECTATIONS: Bledsoe's addition capped major off-season rebuilding. Should be much better but play in one of NFL's toughest divisions. May be difficult to get cohesion early with all the new players.

BUFFALO BILLS

  • Sep. 8 New York Jets, 7 a.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 at Minnesota, 10:15 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 at Denver, 10:05 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 Chicago, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 Oakland, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 at Houston, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 20 at Miami, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 27 Detroit, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 3 New England, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 Open date
  • Nov. 17 at Kansas City, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 at New York Jets, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 1 Miami, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 at New England, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 San Diego, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 22 at Green Bay, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 29 Cincinnati, 8 a.m.

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