Handicapping the 2015 AFC East Schedule with Important Games and Predictions

by George Monroy - 5/13/2015

The biggest news coming out of the NFL post draft has been Tom Brady and "Deflategate" punishment. If Brady's four-game suspension holds, the AFC East may be wide-open for the first time in years, and someone other than New England could capture the division crown that has gone to the Patriots in 11 of the last 12 seasons. The week-by-week schedule has already been released, so let's take a closer look at the AFC East, go over important games and make a few predictions for each team. All odds come from Bovada.

New England Patriots

Super Bowl Odds: +1000

AFC East Odds: -150

Games of Consequence : Week 1 through Week 5 without Tom Brady; Week 6 at Indianapolis; Week 10 at New York Giants; Week 12 at Denver; Week 13 against Philadelphia

If the Brady suspension weren't on the table, New England would have a straightforward and manageable schedule that would probably see the team earn 11 or 12 wins on the season. The squad really only has four tough games on the docket with road matchups against Dallas, Indianapolis, and Denver and a home matchup against Philadelphia.

The key for New England will be making it out of the first four games with a 2-2 record, which would leave the team room to make a few mistakes during the back half of the schedule. Expect Weeks 5 and 6 against Dallas and Indianapolis to be a huge test to start off the season. Consecutive losses for the Patriots could spell doom for the squad.

Prediction : 11-5 AFC East champions.

Buffalo Bills :

Super Bowl Odds: +3300

AFC East Odds: +425

Games of Consequence : Week 1 and 2 against Indianapolis and New England; Week 6 against Cincinnati; Week 11 and 12 at New England and Kansas City; Week 14 at Philadelphia; Week 16 against Dallas.

Buffalo has already built a sense of confidence with Rex Ryan taking over the head coaching duties along with the addition of running back LeSean McCoy. The squad will be tested right away, however, with a Week 1 matchup against the Colts and a must-win Week 2 matchup against a Brady-less Patriots squad. Expect the Bills to improve on last year's 9-7 record by being more competitive and covering more spreads. The problem for the team is its relatively tough schedule that will only allow them to win 10 games at best.

Prediction : 9-7.

Miami Dolphins :

Super Bowl Odds: +3300

AFC East Odds: +425

Games of Consequence : Week 3 against Buffalo; Weeks 8 through 10 at New England, Buffalo and Philadelphia; Week 11 against Dallas; Week 13 against Baltimore; Week 15 at San Diego; Weeks 15 and 16 against Indianapolis and New England.

Miami made a huge offseason acquisition by signing perhaps the best defensive player in the entire league in Ndamukong Suh. The organization is hoping that the defensive tackle will be enough to push the 8-8 team into playoff contention in 2015 and beyond. Miami, however, will face a brutal second half of the season and will probably end up with another 8-8 record after starting off the year on a hot streak. The Dolphins could conceivably finish off the season losing eight of their last 10 matchups. The end of the year will be that difficult for the team.

Prediction : 8-8.

New York Jets :

Super Bowl Odds: +3300

AFC East Odds: +700

Games of Consequence : Week 2 at Indianapolis; Week 3 against Philadelphia; Week 7 at New England; Week 10 against Buffalo; Week 15 at Dallas; Week 16 against New England.

New York will be hard-pressed not to improve on last year's four-win record. The Jets picked up talent during the draft but will be without coach Ryan, and that transition will almost certainly show up on the field. For all the negative attention Ryan received during the final years of his tenure in New York, he was still and excellent coach and leader of his team. New York does not have a difficult schedule, yet there are five or six games that the team simply will not win.

Prediction : 6-10.

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