The AFC East is like no other division or conference in US sports insofar as its two decades of absolute one-team dominance.

Not only have the New England Patriots won 16 of the last 18 AFC East crowns, but they’ve also helped themselves to a record-equaling six Super Bowl victories in the process.

During this period, head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have entrenched themselves as two of the sport’s greatest figures of all time, while the franchise itself has become a world-wide template for organisational stability and innovation.

While the Patriots have prospered, the rest of the division has floundered.

In fact, since Belichick has ruled the roost in New England, the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets have cycled through no less than 20 different head coaches in a bid to keep up with their divisional behemoth.

Incredibly, and despite the Brady-Belichick partnership now entering its 20th season, the Patriots grip on the division is as tight as its ever been, with Buffalo, the Jets and Miami in various stages of what seems like a never-ending rebuild.

Before the 2019 NFL season, Stats Insider is previewing each of the NFL’s eight divisions, while asking one pertinent question for each team. 

- Inside the NFC SOUTH: Saints, Falcons, Panthers, Buccaneers
- Inside the NFC EAST: Cowboys, Eagles, Redskins, Giants
- Inside the NFC WEST: Rams, Seahawks, 49ers, Cardinals
- Inside the NFC NORTH: Bears, Vikings, Packers, Lions
- Inside the AFC SOUTH: Colts, Texans, Titans, Jaguars
- Inside the AFC NORTH: Ravens,Browns,Steelers,Bengals
- Inside the AFC WEST: Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos, Raiders 

Today, the AFC East.

Do the New England Patriots have any weaknesses?

Because of the omnipresence of Brady and Belichick, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing the New England Patriot’s dynasty is a two-man operation when the reality is anything but the case.

While Belichick and Brady have unquestionably been the franchise’s two standout figures, the true brilliance of the Patriots lies in its power of adaptation and flexibility.

With New England, the moment you think you have a grasp on what makes them so phenomenal, they morph themselves into an entirely different outfit with a new set of strengths.

New England has won NFL Championships with some of the greatest offensive units the league has seen, yet its teams have more often than not been propelled by incredibly lethal defences, as well as possessing an unwavering commitment to Special Teams excellence.

While, statistically, Brady had a relatively pedestrian campaign in 2018, tossing 11 interceptions while posting just his 8^th best QB rating (97.7), it was the Patriots' defense that fuelled its title run, punctuated by a remarkable Super Bowl display where they surrendered just three points and a measly 260 total yards to the Los Angeles Rams - a team which had been the NFL’s most potent attack over the previous two seasons.

However, if there’s one vulnerability concerning the Patriots in 2019, it pertains to their offensive line, and what will be the season-long absence of centre, David Andrews.

While the Patriots have long placed a premium on protecting Brady, predominantly under the elite tutelage of offensive line guru Dante Scarnecchia, there’s no denying the significance of the Andrews injury.

The former undrafted prospect out of Georgia became a favourite of Belichick, and has proven himself as a pivotal conduit between the front line, and Tom Brady’s 42-year old body.

He’s started 46 of the last 48 regular-season games while not missing a single playoff match. Last season, Brady was sacked just 21 times, a number bettered only by the Indianapolis Colts (18) and New Orleans Saints (20), while the Patriots as a team were one of only eight in the league to rush for more than 2,000 total yards.

The Patriots pride themselves on possessing one of the league’s deepest rosters, and while they will attempt to replace Andrews, his absence could well be the difference between the Patriots winning a record-breaking seventh Lombardi Trophy.

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How can the Buffalo Bills return to the NFL Playoffs?

In 2017, and in what was head coach Sean McDermott’s first year at the helm, the Buffalo Bills made an improbable return to the NFL Playoffs for the first time since 1999.

Prior to the 2017 season, the Bills had just two winning seasons from their previous 17 campaigns but stormed home to send their city into a frenzy.  

And while the Bills fell back to earth last year, finishing just 6-10 and scoring the third least amount of points in the entire league, they could once again hang their hats on their defense which from a DVOA perspective was ranked #2 overall, one spot behind the all-conquering Chicago Bears.

And, it is indeed the defense where Buffalo will be pinning their hopes if they’re any chance to make a return trip to the playoffs in 2019.

Rookie first-round linebacker, Tremaine Edwards led the way last season with 121 tackles while veteran Jerry Hughes registered his seventh consecutive season of double digit hits on the quarterback, along with seven sacks.

Both were instrumental in Buffalo conceding just 4.9 yards per play, ranking them third in the league behind the Baltimore Ravens and Chicago who were both tied at 4.8ypp.

Yet the most impressive aspect of the Bills organisation is their commitment to continually adding defensive talent through the draft.

Over the last five NFL drafts, the Bills have bought in five defenders with their first and second overall picks, most recently nabbing one of college football’s most destructive forces, Houston Cougar, Ed Oliver, with the #9 pick.

If quarterback, Josh Allen can continue to progress in his second year, while also getting better production at running back out of their two free agent additions in Frank Gore and change of pace TJ Yeldon, the Bills may well feel that they are first in line in the AFC East, should the Patriot train ever come off the rails.

What should we expect from the most recent New York Jets revolution?

Over the last three seasons, only the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns have won fewer games than the New York Jets, while their present 8-season playoff drought is the longest ‘Gang Green’ has endured since the 1970s.

At some point, all the Jets losing had to give way to change and it did in a profound way, with an off-season overhaul as comprehensive as any franchise in the NFL.

Out went head coach Todd Bowles, replaced with Adam Gase. Just after the draft, General Manager Mike Maccagnan was shown the door with Howie Roseman disciple, and lone time Ravens' scout, Joe Douglas, bought in as his replacement. Gregg Williams was also introduced as Defensive Coordinator, ending the four-year reign of Kacy Rodgers.

The Jets even shelled out some free agency money too, landing 2x Pro-Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell on a four year, $52 million contract, while also bringing in Jamison Crowder from Washington, making him the team’s highest-paid receiver with a three year, $28 million deal.

And it is indeed offensively where the Jets are going to have to catch fire quickly if they are to make any progress in 2019, as they are coming off a truly dreadful season on defense.

The 441 points the Jets conceded were the second-worst in franchise history while they were one of just four teams in the league (along with the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and the Kansas City Chiefs) to concede more than 4,000 yards through the air, as well as more than 2,000 yards on the ground as well.

From a pure talent perspective on defence the Jets are also quite thin, with little else outside of Leonard Williams and Pro Bowl safety, Jamal Adams to be excited about.

The Jets did, however, draft the highly rated Quinnen Williams out of Alabama with the #3 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft, and who is expected to immediately make an impact upon the defensive line.

New York are coming from a long way back with four last-place division finishes over the past five seasons, though the sheer level of change has given their fans something to smile about.

The Jets will likely lose more games than they win in 2019, however, all eyes will be on how much progress this essentially brand new team can make.

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Are the Miami Dolphins even trying to win? 

After years spent miles away from contention and with a squad sorely lacking in talent, the Miami Dolphins seem to have transitioned toward what so many ailing NBA franchises do: embark upon a full-scale tank period.

From a team that went 10-6 in 2016, making just their second playoff appearance in 17 years, today's Miami roster is now almost unrecognisable.

Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is now in Tennessee. Their best receiver that season, Jarvis Landry, was traded to Cleveland, while their premier running back, Jay Ajayi, is now basically out of the NFL entirely.   

Their defensive stars from that season, Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake have also departed the franchise, while the roster purge has continued in the lead up to their season opener, with the Dolphins last week trading Kiki Alonso to the New Orleans.

However, Miami saved its biggest trade for the last minute, jettisoning perhaps the team’s most valuable assets, former first-round left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and deep-threat wideot Kenny Stills to Houston for the kind of draft haul even the Oklahoma City Thunder's Sam Presti would be proud of.

Indeed the Dolphins have plotted their own brazen path to destruction, and the potential of premium draft picks on a scale not seen in the NFL previously - at least not this early in the season.

It is this environment new head coach and former New England Patriots Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores will now be stepping into.

To say it’s been a baptism of fire would be an understatement, with Flores’ 53-man roster consisting of 30 players under the age of 25, including 13 rookies.

It promises to be a long, long season on South Beach, yet like the New York Jets and increasingly many of the NFL’s perpetual bottom-dwellers, a path (of sorts) has been mapped out, rather than wishing and hoping their way out of bad times.

With that said, Dolphins' fans could be forgiven if they're a little more interested in college football, rather than the big leagues this season.

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