New England Patriots: Who is their biggest AFC East worry?

The New England Patriots have been dominating the AFC East for years and picking a rival is tough but with others making changes, it could spell trouble.

It’s hard to say the New England Patriots are poised for success. For the past 10 years or so, they’ve been dominating their division. Even though they might have some missteps, it ends up working out for them. As for the rest of the AFC East, not so much.

This is where it gets tricky in picking a rival for them. Each year, it’s a carousel between the 3 teams who can finish second. However, 2018 could bring a huge misstep for the team as they lost some of their wide receivers and no longer have backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

The rest of the AFC East is no better, but they still have a chance. Heading into the 2018 regular season, who is the Patriots biggest worry in the AFC East?

Usually, this is where the weakest team would go. Deciding on the weakest team is a bit tough as each has made significant changes. Basically, it’s hard to tell which team is going to improve and which will stay the same. Nevertheless, it’s worth a try.

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Between the three teams, the New York Jets seem to be the weakest. Despite some big-name free agents and a new quarterback, it’s a steep climb. There’s no telling how or when Sam Darnold will play. Additionally, the team has a carousel of free-agent quarterbacks as well.

Stepping away from their quarterback situation, the Jets lack a solid offensive playmaker. Thankfully, they do have some solid defensive players such as Leonard Williams, Jamal Adams and J.J. Wilcox. Of all the teams, I see them struggling the most against the Patriots.

The remaining two teams are hard to peg down. Each year, they start by getting a lot of hype but it usually dies down by mid-season. One does stand out a bit more but the AFC East is always a surprise. Next up is the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins are another team who has the pieces, but they can’t seem to fit right. In 2017, they lost quarterback Ryan Tannehill, resulting in a poor season coupled with trading Jay Ajayi, it was a wash. Even so, the promise of a healthy Tannehill helps the team immensely.

The team also has Danny Amendola now and drafted a lot of defensive help. It will all hinge on which Tannehill can stay healthy and the defense can make plays. Between the three teams, they definitely pose a threat to the Patriots and have a chance at the AFC East.

As for the team, the Patriots should be most worried about, it’s the Buffalo Bills. In 2017, the team finally made the playoffs and proved nearly everyone wrong. They had an excellent record, good offensive rhythm and a much-improved defense.

The team looks to ride that wave into 2018 despite some key losses. Most notably, the team traded away Tyrod Taylor in favor of Josh Allen. Even so, there’s promise with Sean McDermott at the helm, an improved defense and offensive playmakers.

Next: NFL 2018: Ranking the 50 best pass rushers

Even though the AFC East seems like a wash, the Patriots aren’t invincible. They have some room for improvement their division can take advantage of. Regardless, the Patriots are still a favorite for winning the AFC East.

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