Buffalo Bills
Is this finally the year Buffalo breaks through? The Chiefs have been their wall for half a decade, but the window is still open for the Bills to make their first Super Bowl since the 90s.
This roster is not quite as deep as some recent versions, with Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane filling gaps with affordable veterans, some of them familiar faces. On defense especially, Buffalo will be counting on players trying to bounce back from injury-riddled seasons to find their form again.
Josh Allen keeps them in the conversation every year. With James Cook re-signed, the running game looks steady, but the passing attack needs Khalil Shakir to keep developing into a true No. 1 option and second-year receiver Keon Coleman to settle in as a consistent threat. There are intriguing young pieces, but if this team is going to go beyond another divisional crown, it will be because the veterans deliver.
Can Joey Bosa Still Be a Difference Maker?
Once seen as a generational pass rusher, Bosa has not posted double-digit sacks since 2021 and has managed only 18 starts across the last three seasons. Health has been the story. Buffalo already has quality pass rushers in Greg Rousseau and Ed Oliver, but beating Kansas City or Baltimore in January takes more than just two guys. Philadelphia showed the blueprint for slowing Mahomes: disrupt the pocket every snap. Bosa will likely fill the role Von Miller had, rotating in for key situations, but durability will dictate his impact.
Is McDermott Running Out of Time?
McDermott has delivered double-digit wins every season since 2020, and yet the playoff exits keep coming. Fans are split on whether he is the reason Buffalo has stayed this good or the reason they have not taken the next step. Game management is often criticized, but his defenses almost always maximize what they have. At some point, though, another postseason flameout will raise serious questions, because Josh Allen is not going anywhere. For now, McDermott’s track record likely keeps him safe, but expectations are higher than ever.
The Verdict
The Bills remain the top team in the AFC East, and it would be surprising if that changes in 2025. The defense may wobble at times, especially if players like Tre’Davious White and Joey Bosa cannot stay on the field, but Allen gives them a chance every week. It is not Buffalo’s most loaded roster of the past five years, but the path to the Super Bowl is still there. Securing the #1 seed and making the postseason road go through Buffalo will be the Bills’ goal all season long and could make the difference in their Super Bowl run.
2025 Projected Record: 13-4 (Season O/U: 11.5)
2025 AFC East Projection: 1st
New England Patriots
Mike Vrabel is back in Foxborough, this time in charge. The former Patriots star had a strong run as head coach in Tennessee before an ugly exit, and now he takes over for Jerod Mayo after an equally messy departure.
The question is whether Vrabel can restore a winning culture in New England and fill the void left by Bill Belichick. The Patriots have leaned heavily on the draft to rebuild, and while young talent is never guaranteed, the foundation looks promising. Drake Maye has shown real potential at quarterback, the defense made some key free-agent additions, and the rookie class includes a couple players who could make an immediate impact. The AFC East may not be wide open, but this team has the makings of a legitimate Wild Card contender.
Henderson and Williams Both ROTY Candidates
TreVeyon Henderson turned heads all preseason, starting with a kickoff return touchdown and continuing with explosive runs. He already looks like one of the best backs in his class. Wideout Kyle Williams is also generating buzz. While he is not yet listed as a starter, the Patriots’ receiver group is thin, and Vrabel has no problem playing the most talented guy regardless of experience. Williams could be starting by midseason.
Will Stefon Diggs Fit in?
Diggs’ last few years have been rocky. His exit from Buffalo was as rough as his exit from Minnesota, and his one year in Houston was underwhelming. He has become more distraction than production, which makes him an odd fit in New England. Vrabel is not likely to tolerate drama, and Diggs has a history of calling out quarterbacks publicly. That could put unnecessary pressure on a young QB like Maye. If things sour early, I could see Diggs getting traded.
The Verdict
The Patriots are on the rise. Maye looks like a franchise quarterback, and Vrabel’s presence alone will stabilize the locker room. They are still too young to expect a deep playoff run, but they should be right in the Wild Card mix and will be a tough matchup for anyone.
2025 Projected Record: 9-8 (Season O/U: 8.5)
2025 AFC East Projection: 2nd
Miami Dolphins
Mike McDaniel came in as the next great offensive mind, the coach who would make the Dolphins relevant again. But heading into 2025, the shine has worn off. Tyreek Hill is trying to force his way out, Tua Tagovailoa is one concussion away from retirement, and the defense is a patchwork of aging veterans and unproven players. The arrow is pointing down.
For $500, Name a Dolphins Cornerback
Storm Duck is the current No. 1 cornerback. That is a real name, not a joke. Duck has only three career starts, and while Miami did bring back Minkah Fitzpatrick, the secondary looks shaky if it is leaning on Duck and Rasul Douglas. This group is a liability, and in the AFC, that is a major problem.
Do the Dolphins Have Reliable Receivers?
Tyreek Hill wants out, his legal issues are never-ending, and his attitude is wearing thin. Jaylen Waddle has the talent to take over, but he has struggled to stay healthy, and more targets usually mean a higher chance of injury. Beyond them, there is not much. If Hill and Waddle falter, this offense has no clear Plan B.
The Verdict
This roster feels like it is on the verge of being torn apart. Hill is unhappy, Tua is fragile, and McDaniel looks like he has lost some of his spark. If this team stumbles early, expect major turnover in Miami by the end of season.
2025 Projected Record: 7-10 (Season O/U: 8.5)
2025 AFC East Projection: 3rd
New York Jets
The Aaron Rodgers experiment was a flop. Add in the failed midseason trade for Davante Adams, and it is hard to see this era as anything but wasted. Now, both are gone, and the Jets are left with very little optimism.
Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner are the lone stars, but Wilson is limited by shaky quarterback play, and no one expects much from Justin Fields. Once again, the Jets are stuck in limbo while the rest of the division moves forward.
Which Breece Hall Shows Up?
After a breakout 2023, Hall looked like a star. Then he regressed in 2024, with drops across the board in rushing yards, receiving yards, touchdowns, and yards per carry. Dysfunction on offense played a role, but things are not looking much better now. Fields’ style forces defenses to load the box, which will make life even tougher for Hall this year.
Do the Jets Tank or Trade?
Fields has not impressed in camp, which raises the inevitable question: do the Jets tank for a quarterback or try to trade for one? The 2025 draft offers names like Cade Klubnik and Garrett Nussmeier, but neither is a sure thing. Arch Manning is unlikely to leave Texas quite yet. On the trade market, Kirk Cousins looms as the type of short-term move owner Woody Johnson has made before. Either way, the Jets need a real solution at quarterback.
The Verdict
This season looks bleak. Fields is certainly not the answer, Wilson and Gardner are stars but need more help to shine consistently, and first-year head coach Aaron Glenn has a brutal task in front of him. It unfortunately looks to be another season of pain for Jets fans.
2025 Projected Record: 4-13 (Season O/U: 5.5)
2025 AFC East Projection: 4th
Final Thoughts
The AFC East in 2025 is loaded with intrigue. Buffalo remains the team to beat with Josh Allen keeping them in the Super Bowl hunt, but the clock is ticking and expectations are higher than ever. New England is starting to stir again under Mike Vrabel and rookie quarterback Drake Maye, while Miami looks like a roster on the edge after back-to-back playoff runs. The Jets are still searching, with holes across the board and no clear direction.
From Allen’s push to finally break through, to Vrabel trying to restore Patriot pride, to the Dolphins and Jets fighting to define themselves, this division has plenty of storylines worth tracking.
