It’s a new era in the AFC East. Tom Brady finally left the division. The Bills look poised for a sustained run of competency. The Dolphins appear to have a bright future. And the Jets … well, they’re still the Jets.
For the first time in two decades, the Patriots aren’t the overwhelming favorites to win the division. But it’s really a two-team race in 2020. If it’s not the Patriots coming of out the east, it will surely be the Bills, right?
Well, there’s at least one prominent analyst who sees a third team entering the fray this season. Peter King made his predictions for the 2020 season Monday, and he went with a dark horse pick to win the AFC East.
Here is how he sees the playoff field shaping up, via NBCSports.com:
1. Baltimore
2. Kansas City
3. Tennessee
4. Miami
5. Indianapolis
6. Buffalo
7. Las Vegas
Spicy!
I don’t know if NFL fans are ready for a Patriots-less postseason, but that’s exactly what King is predicting with the Raiders grabbing the final playoff berth.
The best part is, King doesn’t even explain why he picked the Dolphins to win the AFC East, as if it’s a thing we’d all just accept. This is really all he gave us on Miami:
The Tua Tagovailoa watch is on in Miami. But if the Dolphins win 10 games as I think they can, the more important additions will come on defense, in corner Byron Jones and versatile linebacker Kyle Van Noy.
Even weirder: King follows that up by picking Mike McCarthy, and not Brian Flores, to win the Coach of the Year award. Look, if Miami does somehow make the playoffs, Flores is winning that damn award.
While I did pick the Dolphins as a potential playoff sleeper during the offseason, I can’t actually envision it happening. The offensive line is a mess and there isn’t much of a pass rush, so the team is not built to win in the trenches. It’s not really built to win a finesse game either with a young and unproven receiving corps. As fun as Ryan Fitzpatrick is to watch, he’s not a quarterback capable of elevating that team. Outside of the secondary, there isn’t a whole lot to get excited about … yet.
A 7-9 record is feasible for this Miami team, but the playoffs? I don’t know if the most optimistic Dolphins fans would even co-sign that pick.
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