The NFL season is around the corner, and all 32 teams are on equal footing for now. Let’s take a look at the past season for each AFC East team, including predictions for each team heading into the 2024-25 season.
AFC East BetMGM
Best Bets
AP Offensive Player of the Year: Tyreek Hill (+750)
AP Comeback Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers (+175)
AFC East – Winner: Dolphins (+210)
New England Patriots
Season Recap
This was the Patriots 54th season in the NFL and 24th and final under head coach Bill Belichick. The team started 1-5 for the first time since 1995. Following a Week 12 loss to the New York Giants, the Patriots failed to improve on their 8-9 record from the season prior. The team’s misfortune does not end there. This was the team’s first back-to-back losing seasons since 1992-1193. They also missed the postseason for the second consecutive year (and third in four seasons). After losing to the Buffalo Bills in Week 17, the Patriots finished last in the AFC East for the first time since 2000.
Major Offseason Moves
The Patriots gained Commanders running back Antonio Gibson, Vikings wide receiver K. J. Osborn and Raiders tight end Austin Hooper. They lost wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, defensive tackle Lawrence Guy and safety Adrian Phillips.
Make/Miss Playoffs: Miss
Miami Dolphins
Season Recap
This was the Dolphins’ 54th season in the NFL and second under head coach Mike McDaniel. After a Week 15 win over the New York Jets, the Dolphins improved upon their 9-8 record from the prior season. The Next week, they clinched a playoff spot for the second consecutive season. The Dolphins faltered late in the season, while the Bills were on the rise until they took the division in a Week 18 matchup. In the playoffs, the Dolphins failed to win a playoff game again, not having done so since 2000. On the bright side, their Week 3 70-20 victory over the Denver Broncos meant the Dolphins were the first NFL team to score 70 points in a game since 1966.
Major Offseason Moves
The Dolphins gained defensive tackle Robert Cooper, offensive lineman Chasen Hines and wide receiver Mike Harley Jr. They released defensive tackle Teair Tart, cornerback Xavien Howard and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah.
Make/Miss Playoffs: Make
Buffalo Bills
Season Recap
This was the Bills 54th season in the NFL and seventh under the head coach/general manager tandem of Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane. Despite their mid-season slump that resulted in the team failing to improve on their franchise-best 13-3 record from the previous season, the Bills surged towards the end of the season to give them a push to win the AFC East title. They clinched their fifth consecutive winning season after beating the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16. The team went on to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-17 in the Wild Card Round. Their late-season resurgence came to an end when they were defeated at home by the eventual back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24 in the Divisional Round – marking their third consecutive loss in the Divisional Round and third time in four seasons they were eliminated by the Chiefs.
Major Offseason Moves
The Bills gained Steelers quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, Chiefs safety Mike Edwards and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Thy lost defensive tackle Andrew Brown, safety Jordan Poyer and running back Nyheim Hines.
Make/Miss Playoffs: Make
New York Jets
Season Recap
This was the Jets’ 54th season in the NFL and third under head coach Robert Saleh. Their season started off as a major disappointment as they lost quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the first game and ended the season with a 7-10 record. While the team managed a 4-3 record to start, they suffered a five-game losing streak before going 3-2 in their final five games. This means that the Jets missed the playoffs for the thirteenth consecutive season, extending the longest active postseason drought in the NFL.
Major Offseason Moves
The Jets gained tight end Anthony Firsker, quarterback Adrian Martinez and offensive lineman Kohl Levao. They lost defensive back Tae Hayes, running back Markese Stepp and defensive lineman Manny Jones.
Make/Miss Playoffs: Miss
Division Winner Prediction
I have the most confidence in the Miami Dolphins to win the division. I think all of the other three teams are quite shaky and inconsistent, but I think the Dolphins have something brewing that will catapult them into playoff conversations after the season kicks off.
First & Jenn 
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