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AFC East 2025 Preview: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots Predictions
The AFC East was top-heavy in 2024. The Bills dominated the field, going 5-1 in divisional games on the way to a 13-4 record and the AFC’s No. 2 seed.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins, Jets and Patriots all struggled offensively, finishing in the bottom third of the league in points scored.
DAZN News ' Gavin Babbitt breaks down the 2025 AFC South and predicts how the standings will unfold.Buffalo Bills
DAZN BET Division Odds: 1/3
2024 Record: 13-4
Josh Allen and the Buffalo offense were outstanding on the way to his first MVP . The offense was efficient and executed in the red zone. Buffalo’s defense consistently turned opponents over, as the team led the league in turnover margin (+24).
Sean McDermott has five division titles with the Bills ahead of his ninth season with the team. Josh Allen will set the tone after signing a $330 million extension . All five offensive linemen return after allowing the fewest sacks in the NFL last year. Prepare for another fantastic campaign from Allen through the air and on the ground in his age-29 season.
The Bills bring a balanced, but deep receiving corps to 2025. Khalil Shakir has the best chemistry with Allen, catching more than 80% of his career targets. The Bills acquired Josh Palmer in free agency to play outside with Keon Coleman. Look out for a bounce-back season from Dalton Kincaid at tight end.
James Cook is set as the lead back after receiving a contract extension this offseason. He will be a big part of this scheme, carrying the ball as well as being targeted out of the backfield . Ray Davis will back him up.
Buffalo retained its core on defense, extending cornerback Christian Benford, linebacker Terrel Bernard, and key pass-rusher Greg Rousseau.
Defense was the focus of this team’s draft . The Bills also signed Joey Bosa and Michael Hoecht in free agency. This is a deep front seven.
Tre’Davious White is back in Buffalo to play opposite Benford at corner. If White returns to form, the Bills will be tough to throw on. Taylor Rapp is a sure-tackling safety with plus coverage on the back end.
The outlook in Buffalo is simple: Super Bowl or bust.
Miami Dolphins
DAZN BET Division Odds: 7/1
2024 Record: 8-9
The Dolphins started slow last year after Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in Week 2. He returned midseason, and Miami went 6-3 down the stretch. They ran out of games, and the offense finished below expectations.
The Dolphins’ offense looks to reestablish itself as one of the NFL’s best, as it was in 2023. Tagovailoa appears healthy in camp , leading a unit that returns Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle on the exterior, and De’Von Achane in the backfield.
Explosive is an understatement when this group is right. The Dolphins must replace Terron Armstead at left tackle, who retired in April. Patrick Paul will backfill Armstead as this line welcomes second-round pick Jonah Savaiinea and James Daniels at guard.
If the offensive line melds early on, the upside for this offense is significant. It will incorporate one of the NFL’s most creative schemes with big-play volume.
Defensively, the hallmark addition is safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who came over in a trade with the Steelers in June . However, the deal cost Miami standout corner Jalen Ramsey.
Kader Kohou is done for the season with an ACL injury, making for a complete overhaul in the secondary. Free-agent cornerback Rasul Douglas was signed to a one-year deal to fill in. The Dolphins will lean on Fitzpatrick and corner Ashtyn Davis on the back end, but will likely be exposed.
The Dolphins’ pass rush is equipped for a comeback. Bradley Chubb returns after missing 2024, looking to recapture the form that led to 13 sacks in 2023. Chop Robinson and Zach Sieler were last season’s team sack leaders and are paired on the left side. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks and first-round DT Kenneth Grant will focus on stopping the run. Grant is a big nose tackle who is light on his feet.
The Dolphins are a playoff-caliber team in a competitive AFC. They cannot allow big plays and must rebound offensively. Miami must win high-scoring contests to be successful.
New York Jets
DAZN BET Division Odds: 18/1
2024 Record: 5-12
The Jets had a turbulent 2024. Robert Saleh was fired after Week 5, with Jeff Ulbrich taking the helm. The team struggled on both sides of the ball and went 2-6 from Weeks 10-18.
Aaron Glenn is in as head coach , and Justin Fields will start at quarterback in New York. Fields has Breece Hall and Braelon Allen at running back.
Three starters return on the offensive line, and will be helped by the addition of first-round pick Armand Membou . With his size and athleticism, Membou will help protect Fields in the passing game and the Jets' ground game with blocking on the edge. Fields’ running aptitude adds a decoy on the ground, priming Hall and Allen for a big season.
Garrett Wilson has three straight 1,000-yard seasons. He will lead the Jets in targets and inevitably make it four. Allen Lazard and Josh Reynolds are veterans, but their catch volume is scarce. Second-round tight end Mason Taylor must impact this group to take some attention off Wilson.
The Jets’ defense has been remade. Will McDonald and Quinnen Williams return to lead a pass rush that enjoyed success last season, but it's a unit that lost Javon Kinlaw and Haason Reddick. The linebacking group lost C.J. Mosley, but retained excellent run-stoppers Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams.
Sauce Gardner will pilot a renovated secondary that signed Andre Cisco and Tony Adams at safety, and Brandon Stephens at corner. The group must familiarize itself with each other, but has obvious potential.
The Jets need Justin Fields to be the dual threat he was at times in Chicago. It will take him at least a season to get acclimated. New York is unlikely to make the playoffs, despite having an intriguing defensive group.
New England Patriots
DAZN BET Division Odds: 5/1
2024 Record: 4-13
The Patriots were overhauled after a 4-13 performance last season. New England was 3-9 against the AFC and dead last in passing yardage per game.
Mike Vrabel returns to Foxboro as head coach in Drake Maye’s second season at quarterback. The Patriots’ offensive line was a problem in 2024 but has been revamped. New England added left tackle Will Campbell in the first round, along with Garrett Bradbury and Morgan Moses in free agency. Maye saw plenty of pressure as a rookie, but will have more breathing room in 2025 .
The Patriots have three running backs, including Rhamondre Stevenson, rookie TreVeyon Henderson and Antonio Gibson. Stevenson and Gibson performed well last year, creating impressive yardage after contact. This running game has potential.
Stefon Diggs is the key addition at receiver. He joins DeMario Douglas and tight end Hunter Henry in the passing game. Diggs is certainly the best pass-catcher Maye has had in the NFL.
The 2025 New England pass rush has a different look. Milton Williams came from the Eagles on a big contract , and the group hopes to keep Christian Barmore healthy. Together, this front will be effective as the two join 2024 sack leader Keion White and free-agent signee Harold Landry, who has 34 sacks over the last three seasons.
The Patriots invested heavily at linebacker and cornerback, bringing in Robert Spillane and Carlton Davis. These two should combine with All-Pro corner Christian Gonzalez to bring about improvements. New England’s defense was already a top-10 unit in passing yardage allowed per game last year.
This team is perhaps the league’s top candidate for a turnaround season. Maye has more weapons, and the Patriots' defense has the potential to be excellent. With health, they will compete for second place in this division.
Summary
The AFC has one true Super Bowl contender in the Bills.
The other three teams have plenty to prove. The Dolphins are looking to reclaim their identity as a playoff team, while the Patriots are embarking on a new era.
The Jets are starting over in many ways and are on a longer road to contention.
Projected 2025 standings
- Bills: 12-5
- Dolphins: 9-8
- Patriots: 8-9
- Jets: 6-11
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