Buffalo Bills

Key Additions: Drayton Florence (CB), Terrell Owens (WR), Seth McKinney (G), Dominic Rhodes (RB), Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB), Geoff Hangartner (C), Pat Thomas (LB)

Key Losses: Jabari Greer (CB), Robert Royal (TE), Derrick Dockery (G), Angelo Crowell (LB), Duke Preston (G), Jason Peters (T), John DiGiorgio (LB), Melvin Fowler (C), J.P. Losman (QB)

Draft Picks: Aaron Maybin (DE-Penn State), Eric Wood (C-Louisville), Jairus Byrd (CB-Oregon), Andy Levitre (G-Oregon State), Shawn Nelson (TE-Southern Miss), Nic Harris (LB-Oklahoma), Cary Harris (CB-USC), Ellis Lankter (CB-West Virginia)

The Bills started off last season with a solid 5-1 record before completely falling apart and finishing the season 7-9. Many people point to the injuries the Bills suffered as a reason for their demise. While it's true that Trent Edwards went down again with an injury and J.P. Losman filled in so well that he literally ran himself out of the league, I think there was another factor in the freefall. For me, I point to the fact that in those first five wins the Bills beat teams with a combined record of 24-56 while their one loss was to the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals. Good start or easy schedule? I say easy schedule.

The Bills won't have that benefit this year as they face the AFC South and NFC South teams this year. Oh yeah, Tom Brady is back to face them twice, including the opening game in Foxboro on Monday Night football. However, this won't be the same Bills team either. After his third consecutive 7-9 season, the Bills finally fired Dick Jauron and hired a real coach. The Bills finally put themselves on the map by signing star wide receiver Terrell Owens and gave Trent Edwards a legitimate weapon opposite Lee Evans. On paper, this tandem could destroy defenses and light up scoreboards. Games aren't played on paper though so we'll have to wait and see if it works out. If anything, T.O. might finally be the person to light a fire in Buffalo, because lately it seems like everyone in and around the organization is way too complacent with mediocrity. So far in the preseason without Owens, things aren't looking good for the Bills offense.

The Bills also finally realized that they had a ton of dead weight on the roster and cut the main culprits; Derrick Dockery, Melvin Fowler, and Robert Royal. Also gone from the roster is former left tackle Jason Peters. Facing another possible long holdout, the Bills decided to cut their losses with Peters and deal him to Philadelphia where he promptly got the money he thinks he deserves. Frankly after last season, I was all for trading Peters. I wasn't a fan of his ridiculously long holdout and I wasn't a fan of him coming back completely out of shape and nearly getting Edwards and Losman killed on a weekly basis. If he is now willing to play up to his capabilities in Philly with his new contract, more power to him, but I'm glad he isn't in Buffalo anymore.

Marshawn Lynch will miss the first three games for Buffalo after another offseason of trouble, but like anybody who watched the Bills play last season will tell you, having Fred Jackson in the game won't be a huge drop-off. The Bills also signed Dominic Rhodes during the offseason so that combination should have zero issues covering for Lynch while he is gone. Also consider the fact that Lynch has yet to finish a full 16 game schedule in his two year career and this really shouldn't affect the Bills too much.

The Bills have an extremely difficult schedule this year and that will be their biggest obstacle as they look to make the playoffs for the first time in a decade. If they can get off to a strong start, maybe even shock the Patriots on opening day, who knows what will happen. I'm not going to lie, that is my most optimistic side talking. But with no meaningful games being played yet, I refuse to be overly negative and let that ruin my season before it starts. (Although that is very difficult)

Last Season: 7-9

2009 Prediction: 5-11

Miami Dolphins

Key Additions: Jake Grove (C), Jason Taylor (DE), Gibril Wilson (S), Joe Berger (G)

Key Losses: Vonnie Holliday (DE), Samson Satele (C), John Beck (QB), Andre Goodman (CB), Renaldo Hill (S), Derek Smith (LB)

Draft Picks: Vontae Davis (CB-Illinois), Pat White (QB-West Virginia), Sean Smith (CB-Utah), Patrick Turner (WR-USC), Brian Hartline (WR-OSU), John Nalbone (TE-Monmouth), Chris Clemons (S-Clemson), Andrew Gardner (T-Georgia Tech), J.D. Folsom (LB-Weber State)

The Dolphins shocked the football world last season when they went from 1-15 to 11-5 and won the AFC East. Last season did nothing but help cement the legacy of Bill Parcells even more. Cam Cameron was done after his one miserable season and Parcells brought in his guy, Tony Sparano. Without a set number one QB in the preseason, the Dolphins benefited from the Jets ridiculous move to bring in Brett Favre by signing Chad Pennington once he was released by New York. Pennington rewarded the Dolphins with his second career Comeback Player of the Year award and a playoff berth down in Miami.

It was a combination of Pennington's solid play, the Wildcat offense, Joey Porter's reemergence, and Tom Brady's injury that helped lead Miami back to the top of the division. With teams having a full off-season to prepare for the Wildcat, it might be a little bit harder for the Dolphins to pull off that stunt this season. Then again, they did draft Pat White from West Virginia so now they have a legit QB with a cannon of an arm to help run it. So far in the preseason it doesn't look that will be a real possibility for Miami.

After one failed season in Washington, Jason Taylor is back in the fold which just goes to prove that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. If he can stay healthy and play up to form, the Dolphins got a great deal by signing him after his release in Washington.

This appears to be a definite make or break season for wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. as he heads into his third full season in the NFL. After being drafted far too high by Cam Cameron, Ginn came on last season and proved he could also be an effective receiver. Now that he is the clear cut number one receiver Miami he will have to perform like it.

The Dolphins are going to have a tough time repeating this season. Like I said above, teams have had a full off-season to study their game and prepare for it. Last season I could argue that they took teams by surprise with the Wildcat and the fact that Pennington was signed by Miami after training camp had started. Don't get me wrong, the Dolphins won't be pushovers like they were two seasons ago, but they aren't winning the division again.

Last Season: 11-5

2009 Prediction: 9-7

New England Patriots

Key Additions: Shawn Springs (CB), Greg Lewis (WR), Leigh Bodden (CB), Joey Galloway (WR), Alex Smith (TE), Andrew Walter (QB), Fred Taylor (RB), Tully Banta-Cain (LB), Chris Baker (TE), Derrick Burgess (DE)

Key Losses: LaMont Jordan (RB), Heath Evans (RB), Larry Izzo (LB), Ellis Hobbs (CB), Kelley Washington (WR), Rodney Harrison (S), Junior Seau (LB), Jabar Gaffney (WR), Deltha O'Neal (CB), Roosevelt Colvin (LB), Tedi Bruschi (LB)

Draft Picks: Patrick Chung (S-Oregon), Ron Brace (DT-Boston College), Darius Butler (CB-UConn), Sebastian Vollmer (T-Houston), Brandon Tate (WR-UNC), Tyrone McKenzie (LB-South Florida), Rich Ohrnberger (G-Penn State), George Bussey (G-Louisville), Jake Ingram (LS-Hawaii), Myron Pryor (DT-Kentucky), Julian Edelman (RB-Kent State), Darryl Richard (DT-Georgia Tech)

Coming off their 18-1 season and looking to return to the Super Bowl yet again, the Patriots season took a turn for the worse when Tom Brady went down in Week One with a season ending injury. Despite most people claiming that if Brady went down the Patriots were finished, lifelong backup Matt Cassel was able to take over and lead New England to an 11-5 record, although they ultimately missed out on the postseason.

Cassel has moved on to Kansas City now that Brady is back and apparently 100% healthy. Most people still have concerns about whether or not he will return to form, but as evidenced by the trade of Cassel, the Patriots don't share those concerns. Randy Moss and Wes Welker are joined by veteran Joey Galloway which should only make their receiving corps that much more dangerous. Brady has been airing it out in the preseason so I don't expect much drop off when the regular season kicks off.

New England also added veteran back Fred Taylor to the mix as he will most likely share carries with Sammy Morris and Lawrence Maroney. The Patriots tend to use the running back by committee approach which makes the addition of Taylor that much more dangerous. Taylor's biggest concern during his career has been his durability. With him splitting time with multiple other running backs, he should be plenty healthy once the playoffs roll around.

Make no mistake about it, the Patriots are back. It says a lot about an organization that an 11-5 season is a down year, but that is just what last year was. As long as Tom Brady stays healthy, the Patriots will return to dominance and are currently my pick to win the AFC crown.

Last Season: 11-5

2009 Prediction: 13-3

New York Jets

Key Additions: Jim Leonhard (S), Larry Izzo (LB), Bart Scott (LB), Lito Sheppard (CB)

Key Losses: Laveranues Coles (WR), Mike Nugent (K), Hank Poteat (S), Abram Elam (S), David Bowens (LB), Eric Barton (LB), Kenyon Coleman (DE), Brett Ratliff (QB), Brett Favre (QB), Chris Baker (TE), Bubba Franks (TE), Ty Law (CB)

Draft Picks: Mark Sanchez (QB-USC), Shonn Greene (RB-Iowa), Matt Slauson (G-Nebraska)

So where do I start with the Jets? Well, they thought they were Super Bowl contenders and swung a trade to acquire Brett Favre last August. In doing so, they released their longtime QB Chad Pennington who subsequently led the Dolphins to the playoffs while Favre single handedly destroyed the Jets season down the stretch. As if that wasn't bad enough, it was fairly obvious from the start that Favre didn't even want to play in New York, yet the Jets didn't take that hint and flushed their season down the drain anyways. Good move.

Since that move failed, the Jets decided to start over this season and it started with the head coach. Gone is the "Mangenius" Eric Mangini and in is first time Head Coach Rex Ryan, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens. Ryan wasted no time making headlines in New York by proclaiming how the Jets will have more attitude and how he didn't come to New York to kiss Bill Belicheck's rings. While I somewhat like his style, I also think it probably wasn't the best course of action. I mean, he basically just pissed Bill Belicheck off and last time I checked, that usually never ends well for the other team.

The Jets traded up in the draft to take USC QB Mark Sanchez in the first round. Sanchez's former coach Pete Carroll argued that Sanchez should've probably stayed in school for another season but Sanchez still chose to take his game to the NFL. All eyes will be on Sanchez to see if he can handle the game, handle the New Jersey crowd, and handle the media storm that will ensue. He has shown some good things so far in the preseason but that is hardly enough to judge him on.

The Jets defense will be much more improved since that was Ryan's specialty in Baltimore. He brought over his old LB Bart Scott and S Jim Leonhard to help anchor the new look Jets defense and the team acquired CB Lito Sheppard from Philadelphia. Considering the fact that the offense will most likely struggle in at least the early parts of the season games will lean heavily on the Jets defense to hold them in contests.

The Jets will have a very solid running game to back them up however. Thomas Jones returns to New Jersey along with Leon Washington and new draft pick Shonn Greene. All three of these backs are capable of carrying the load, so if they run a committee approach it can easily wear down opposing defenses.

With the departure of Laveranues Coles at receiver, the Jets now have a glaring need at that position. Jerricho Cotchery returns as the number one receiver but he will most likely see ton more double coverage with Coles gone. His surrounding cast includes Chansi Stuckey, David Clowney, and Brad Smith. Uh…right. Good luck with that.

Even with an improved defense, I think that all of the questions on offense will lead to a season of rebuilding and frustration for the Jets. Very few rookie QB's come right into the league and find success and even fewer find that success with a bunch of number three and four receivers starting the game. Add to that the fact that TE Chris Baker is gone and Dustin Keller hasn't fully shown he can be the complete blocking TE; things could get messy for the Jets offense.

Last Season: 9-7

2009 Prediction: 6-10