2023 NFL Standings Predictions: AFC East
The NFL regular season is less than a month away, so it’s time to put rubber to the road and officially make predictions for the 2023 NFL standings.
Today, we move over to the AFC East, a division that may contain the most overall talent in the entire league.
Buffalo Bills (13-4)
- W @ NYJ
- W vs. LV
- W @ WSH
- W vs. MIA
- W vs. JAX (London, U.K.)
- W vs. NYG
- L @ NE
- W vs. TB
- L @ CIN
- W vs. DEN
- W vs. NYJ
- L @ PHI
- BYE
- W @ KC
- W vs. DAL
- W @ LAC
- W vs. NE
- L @ MIA
It’s about “put up or shut up” time for the Buffalo Bills. The team has been a Super Bowl contender for each of the past three seasons, but they have failed to make it past the divisional round in two of them.
Once again, this team looks ready to compete for a Super Bowl, and they seem to have fixed many of the issues that plagued them in years past. Damien Harris and James Cook will make a strong 1-2 punch at the running back position, and new guard O’Cyrus Torrence has allowed just one pressure in 32 pass-blocking snaps through two preseason games.
Then on defense, they will hopefully be able to raise their sack total with a healthy Von Miller on the roster along with growth from Gregory Rousseau. Perhaps the loss of DC Leslie Frazier and play-calling duties going to head coach Sean McDermott causes a slower start, but the personnel is solid enough that it shouldn’t be too concering.
Oh, and they still have Josh Allen at quarterback. Being able to play the Jets on the road in Week 1 before Aaron Rodgers and Co. can work out all the kinks is a sneaky benefit as well.
2. New York Jets (11-6)
- L vs. BUF
- L @ DAL
- W vs. NE
- L vs. KC
- L @ DEN
- W vs. PHI
- BYE
- W @ NYG
- W vs. LAC
- W @ LV
- L @ BUF
- W vs. MIA
- W vs. ATL
- W vs. HOU
- L @ MIA
- W vs. WSH
- W @ CLE
- W @ NE
The New York Jets are the team that everyone has been talking about this offseason, and to be completely honest, it scares me to put them this highly in the standings. On top of that, they have a gauntlet of a schedule to go through in the first six weeks before their bye which could prove to be very difficult.
However, this is still a team that has one of the best defenses in the entire league, and they should be ready to compete from the jump. It may take a few weeks for the offense to catch up (as has been the trend for Rodgers-led teams in recent years), but eventually, they should turn into a very strong group as well.
The addition of Dalvin Cook gives them a great security blanket at RB too, and they now have the option to let Breece Hall rest a few extra weeks if needed and come back at 100% later this season. This team went 7-10 last year with one of the worst QB situations in the league, so if Aaron Rodgers can be even 75% of what he was in Green Bay, that should be enough for double-digit wins.
Miami Dolphins (10-7)
- W @ LAC
- L @ NE
- W vs. DEN
- L @ BUF
- W vs. NYG
- W vs. CAR
- L @ PHI
- W vs. NE
- L @ KC (Frankfurt, Germany)
- BYE
- W vs. LV
- L @ NYJ
- W @ WSH
- W vs. TEN
- W vs. NYJ
- L vs. DAL
- L @ BAL
- W vs. BUF
It is very easy to root for this Miami Dolphins team. Tua Tagovailoa has been through a ton in his young NFL career, and the front office has done a great job of putting some ridiculous talent around him over the past couple years.
However, everything in Miami comes down to health. Jalen Ramsey is out until December at least, and Terron Armstead is already going through injury troubles as well. If Miami can’t protect Tua this fall, they won’t be able to fully unleash their offense on the rest of the league.
Additionally, it feels like this team could be very different at home versus, say, playing in New York or Baltimore down the stretch of the season. They are a track offense that will put up some ridiculous totals in Miami (hence their predicted 8-1 record at home), but a tough road schedule could become their downfall.
4. New England Patriots (6-11)
- L vs. PHI
- W vs. MIA
- L @ NYJ
- L @ DAL
- W vs. NO
- W @ LV
- W vs. BUF
- L @ MIA
- L vs. WSH
- W vs. IND (Frankfurt, Germany)
- BYE
- L @ NYG
- W vs. LAC
- L @ PIT
- L vs. KC
- L @ DEN
- L @ BUF
- L vs. NYJ
New England’s path towards success is managing to find a more efficient offense with Bill O’Brien taking over the offensive coordinator job after a couple years at Alabama in the same role. For whatever it’s worth, O’Brien and Mac Jones did not cross paths in the program.
Regardless, though, this feels like a team that is multiple pieces away from contending in the AFC, including possibly the QB spot. Jones had a strong rookie campaign, but in 2022, he threw for under 3000 yards and had just 14 passing TDs compared to 11 INTs over 14 games.
Defensively, Christian Gonzalez looks like a stud in the secondary, and this group could be relied upon to keep them in games once again. Ultimately, consider the Patriots a feisty team once again in 2023, but their offense will fall just short in many of these tough games down the stretch of the season.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.