NFL Divisional Finals Preview and Predictions: By Kyle Balfour

The Go For It On Fourth 32 for 32 Season Preview:

The 2017 AFC East:

For this season, we asked thirty two fans of each team a few questions on how last season was, what they expected from this season, their history with their own team, and much much more, and the answers were very wide, varied and very interesting. Today, we begin our season preview with the AFC East.

Buffalo Bills: Richard Dowling @richarddowling9

How was last season for you?

Last season started with optimism, which isn’t hard when you have an upbeat and fun Head Coach like Rex Ryan: claiming that 2015-16 would be the year that Rex does it all “his away” gave you some assurance that with the Bills being the top Rushing team in the league, a 100% Ryan defence would be surely all it takes to end that long 16-year playoff drought! Well, in 2016-17, they managed to retain the title as the top rushing offence, however, when you have one of the worst passing offences in the league, the two cancel each other out! The same can be said on defence, one of the best defences against the pass, but also one of the worst against the run. Throw in a few injuries and a lack of discipline at times and you have a very disappointing 7-9 season and a fired Head Coach.

With the offseason in the rear-view mirror, how do you believe your team fared in the draft and free agency? 

The 2017 Draft was a good one for the most part. New Head Coach Sean McDermott clearly has an emphasis on high character and mature players. There were a few glaring needs still required like Safety, right side of the offensive line and Linebacker, but a few smart trades gained some picks including a first rounder for next season. LSU Cornerback TreDavious White looks like a veteran out of the blocks and Wide Receiver Zay Jones is a talent that has Bills fans excited.

The man under centre: what’s your opinions on your starting quarterback for this season?

Tyrod Taylor is a guy that’ll win you some games with his escapability, but he’ll also lose you some games with his inability to pass over the middle and reluctance to take any form of risk with anticipatory throws. A very middle of the road QB.

Who would you say is the main man for your team beyond the quarterback?

The main man for the Bills has to be LeSean McCoy. It’s no coincidence that the Bills have led the league in Rushing 2 years in a row with LeSean in the backfield.

Which member of your team or coaching staff is under the most pressure in this coming season?

The men under pressure this year is new Head Coach Sean McDermott and new GM Brandon Beane. Both guys are new to the team and new to the role. The fans are hungry to win now!

How did you come to support your team?

My fandom of the NFL began in 2004, for the first six years I just watched any team and didn’t have any solid allegiance. I am however a big Clemson fan, and when CJ Spiller was drafted by the Bills I followed him to Buffalo, and that’s where I stayed. Since then, Clemson has continued to produce with the likes of Shaq Lawson and Sammy Watkins.

For any new fans coming into the league this year, why would you endorse your team to support?

New NFL teams should follow the Bills because they have the talent to win now, and with this new staff has come a feeling that we have not had in a long, long time. They are doing things differently, and at the moment, it feels like the playoffs may not be far off!

Give us reasons for optimism for your team this season?

Unlike every season for the last few years, there have been no catastrophic pre-season injuries (at least not yet!) and also there have been very few instances of idiot players doing idiot things off the field. With the addition of the draft picks and a few good free agents like Anquan Boldin and Micah Hyde we could turn that corner.

And what are your doubts for your team this upcoming season?

My doubts? We are one injury away at several positions from an absolute meltdown. Losing someone like Incognito, McCoy, Tyrod, TreDavious White or Micah Hyde could spell the end.

Name us one player within another team that you’d love to have at your club?

If I could bring any player to the Bills, it would have to be Aaron Rodgers. A solid pocket passer just hasn’t happened for the Bills since Jim Kelly, and he took them to four Super Bowls!

What are your thoughts on the Sammy Watkins trade, and can Jordan Mathews replace him successfully?

The double trade of Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby for Jordan Matthews and EJ Gains absolutely blew me away. I have never been as shocked over football as I was when I read that. At first I was all doom and gloom, but now I realise we’ve stocked up for next year’s draft and gained ourselves some serviceable players at the very least. Statistically Matthews is better than Sammie so we’ll see! We have most likely mortgaged this season for the sake of next season though.

What are your predictions for the upcoming season for your team? What do you think your record will be, and how far do you think you will go in the postseason, if at all?

Coming off a 7-9 season, despite my increased confidence and optimism, I still cannot see any more than a 9-7 season at very most. With the loss of Tyrod’s favourite receiver in Watkins, it could well be another 7-9 season. It’s also a tough schedule. Sorry, no postseason this year!

Who do you think will be lifting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season?
As much as it pains me to say it, until Brady breaks a hip or Belichick gets bored of winning and retires, I can only put my money on the Pats to win the Super Bowl.

Anything else you’d like to say about the upcoming season, or anything you’d like to plug or mention?

I’d like to plug the John Murphy Show Podcast, which is my main news outlet, which I listen to every day without fail. A must for any Bills fan.

Go Bills!

Miami Dolphins: Martin Lyddon @martinlyddon 

How was last season for you?

The season started with a lot of optimism with two good away games to Seattle and New England, both of which were winnable. Then a mediocre home performance against the Browns, followed by one of the worst games ever against the Titans (I was there!). Not happy. However, what a difference a week makes, and one player…Jay Ajayi…I watched our season turn around in one game. Superb performance and a changer for the season.

With the offseason in the rear-view mirror, how do you believe your team fared in the draft and free agency?

Free agency was as expected. We are trying to keep our own like Stills but also filled some gaps with Timmons and William Hayes, who has looked great at Training Camp. Draft as well, I like our picks, especially Raewyn McMillan in the second round. Unfortunately he got injured last week and is a big loss.

The man under centre: what’s your opinions on your starting quarterback for this season?

Jay Cutler…well, he knows Gase, knows his system, so in a short time-span, definitely the best option. He also had his best season ever under Gase…hopefully he can repeat that!

Who would you say is the main man for your team beyond the quarterback?

Main man has to be Ajayi at the moment, but expecting a lot from Davonte Parker this season. Make or break for him.

Which member of your team or coaching staff is under the most pressure in this coming season?

I think, if anyone, it has to be the O-Line coach. Protection for the quarterback is critical, but really I think most will be OK this year.

How did you come to support your team?

I came to support the Dolphins simply because my Mum and Dad bought me a t-shirt in 1981…then a certain QB came along!!! The rest is history.

For any new fans coming into the league this year, why would you endorse your team to support?

Supporting the Dolphins, you get glamour, sunshine, the greatest fans *laughs* and the only perfect team (1972 Miami Dolphins, only undefeated team). But most of all you get a rollercoaster ride as you never know what will happen with this team!

What are your doubts for your team this upcoming season?

That’s pretty easy – can Cutler actually “do it”?

Name us one player within another team that you’d love to have at your club?

Any player? Tough one that, but personally the first name that comes to mind…Russell Wilson. I just like the way he plays.

What are your predictions for the upcoming season for your team?What do you think your record will be, and how far do you think you will go in the postseason, if at all?

Post season? I wish! Very tough schedule…7-9 I reckon. No playoffs I’m afraid, but you never know.

Who do you think will be lifting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season?

Well I can’t say them from Boston! But realistically I think it’s New England and Oakland in the AFC…NFC stick my neck out and think Atlanta go all the way, and actually finish it this time!

Anything else you’d like to say about the upcoming season, or anything you’d like to plug or mention?

Really looking forward to the season, and I still really have no idea who will win, which is a fantastic thing about this sport! I would like to add a plug for my Dolphins fan group. We recently hosted a charity raffle for Dolphins Cancer Care and Great Ormond Street. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1145139892271274/

New England Patriots: Keith Tomlin @_keef1985

How was last season for you?

Pretty good to be honest. Starting the first four games without TB12 and going 3-1 with Jacoby Brissett playing two games as QB1 was pleasing. The Seahawks defeat aside, not losing another game was as good as it gets.

With the offseason in the rear-view mirror, how do you believe your team fared in the draft and free agency?

Relatively successful draft, very successful Free Agency. Bringing in Brandin Cooks was a great bit of business and replacing Marty Bennett with Dwayne Allen was solid thinking. Kony Ealy coming and going is pure Belichick. Tried it out, didn’t work, move him on.

The man under centre: what’s your opinions on your starting quarterback for this season?

What more can you say about Tom Brady that hasn’t been said? The man is a God on the field. When he finally hangs them up, he’ll be remembered as the greatest there ever was, and it’ll be a long time before anyone gets close.

Who would you say is the main man for your team beyond the quarterback?

I would have said Edelman, before his ACL tear. He was Brady’s clutch out route. 3^rd and long? Find Edelman. Now though, if he can stay fit, you’d have to say Gronk will be the go-to guy for passing routes. Mike Gillislee will see plenty of the ball as well as he’s proved effective so far in pre-season.

Which member of your team or coaching staff is under the most pressure in this coming season?

Bill Belichick is under pressure. It comes with the territory of being the best. He’ll cope though. I’d say coaching wise there’s pressure on Matt Patricia, as our defence isn’t as strong as the offence. On the playing side, there’s big pressure on Gostkowski, as he’s missed some important, high pressure kicks lately. How long will BB put up with failure? Not much longer if past performance is anything to go by. There’s no sentiment in Patriots football.

How did you come to support your team?

The simple reason was to annoy you! I asked who the Colts’ biggest rivals were and decided they were “my term” for the purposes of a wind up, but I never envisaged I would get this involved in it all!

For any new fans coming into the league this year, why would you endorse your team to support?

I dunno, it’s a bit of a glory-hunter route to pick the best, and I do feel a bit guilty about it. I’d say the best reason to pick the Pats is to annoy fans of other teams and be really smug about it. Also, you get to marvel at Tom Brady defying age, year after year.

Give us reasons for optimism for your team this season?

The offence looks, frankly, unstoppable. We should be looking to outscore every team in every game. If we can get the defence up to about 80% of that level, it’ll take something really special to stop us.

And what are your doubts for your team this upcoming season?

We’ve lost a couple of big players on defence, Rob Ninkovich and Chris Long, and it’s vital that the new guys are gelled together properly. That’s why there’s more pressure on Matt Patricia than 

anyone else.

Name us one player within another team that you’d love to have at your club?

JJ Watt. There’s better players in the league but I don’t think there’s a bigger defensive presence than him out there. Add him and I reckon we’d be odds on for a 19-0 season.

Now on the wrong side of 40, can Tom Brady be stopped, and can he lead the Patriots to a repeat and a sixth title?

You’d say with age, he’d be more susceptible to injury and a decline in form, but if anything, he seems to get stronger and better. Provided he doesn’t take too many sacks, you’d have to say we’re favourites to make it six.

What are your predictions for the upcoming season for your team? What do you think your record will be, and how far do you think you will go in the postseason, if at all?

I reckon we’ll probably win it. There’s good teams and a lot can change but right now, I can’t see anyone that can beat us if we’re at 100%. Saying that, I wouldn’t say we’re a 19-0 team yet. I’m going to go 13-3 regular season and enough for home playoff games all the way through to the Super Bowl.

Who do you think will be lifting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season?

As above, I think it’ll probably be us. The only serious challenge I can see to that is the Packers, because they’ve built up a ridiculously good offence round Aaron Rodgers. In the AFC, the Raiders are good but not quite at our level. They’ll be a force in the next few years though.

Anything else you’d like to say about the upcoming season, or anything you’d like to plug or mention?

More people should accept that cheese on toast is the greatest late-night snack there is. Or, GO PATS, or something like that.

New York Jets: Greg Smith @GregConnorSmith

How was last season for you?

Last season was the kind of season you come to expect as a Jets fan after coming off a winning season, especially when going into that year, you had zero expectations. You get all excited with most of the team from the previous year is intact, Mike Macagnan even added a few other veterans such as Matt Forte, and yet, we get held hostage by Ryan Fitzpatrick of all players throughout the entire summer. One awful thing led to another and the Jets finished 5-11 when really you were thinking playoffs after such a great 2015.

With the offseason in the rear-view mirror, how do you believe your team fared in the draft and free agency?

I’m not being biased when I say this, but the Jets had one of the best drafts this year. We managed to strike gold again with the fall of Jamal Adams, a player who was in conversation to go 2^nd overall. The same thing happened in 2015, Leonard Williams was expected to go in the top 3 and we got him 6^th overall. The Jets followed that pick with another safety in the 2^nd round, Marcus Maye. So, in the first two rounds, we’ve managed to completely rebuild the safety depth with these two studs who are projected to start as they did in week 1’s preseason opener. We managed to pick up solid depth in the later rounds with wide receivers and corners. Overall, another solid draft by Maccagnan. The focus was always on the draft this year, rather than free agency. We were busier unloading overpriced/ineffective veterans than looking to buy. Next year though, we’re looking at around $70-80 million available to spend.

The man under centre: what’s your opinions on your starting quarterback for this season?

There’s not a lot to say about Josh McCown. He’s a great leader to have around the kids including Christian Hackenberg, who was taken in the 2^nd round last year, and was red-shirted the entire season. He’s been in enough systems to pick up any offence thrown at him, so I don’t expect any problems with him adapting to the West Coast offence. He will manage games for you, but don’t expect him to win them for you. Think of McCown as a more reliable, yet more injury prone Fitzpatrick.

Who would you say is the main man for your team beyond the quarterback?

Leonard Williams, no question. Hands down the best player on this team. He was picked as the best player in the 2015 draft, and I think we’re beginning to see why. He’s already been to a Pro Bowl and I honestly believe he will be selected each year going forward. The man gives offensive linemen nightmares. Look for him to have over 10 sacks this season.

Which member of your team or coaching staff is under the most pressure in this coming season?

Now this may raise some eyebrows but hear me out. Mo Wilkerson. He went into last season coming off a broken leg he suffered in the 2015 season-ender against buffalo, yet because he registered over 10 sacks that season, he was given a new $80 million contract. Now last year, he struggled to bully O-linemen like he did in previous years, and because of that, only had 4.5 sacks. Now, the guaranteed money is finished in his contract, so he’s on a year-to-year basis, which means if he struggles again this year, the Jets can cut him for next to nothing in 2017. So if Wilkerson wants to see any more of that money, he needs to earn that cash and perform like he did 2 years ago. Easier said than done? What if Sheldon Richardson out performs him? Will we drop Wilkerson and give Richardson an extension? We’ll have to wait and see.

How did you come to support your team?

My Dad started watching the Jets in the late 70s. First game he ever watched was against the Dolphins, which we won. So since then, I grew up with him watching the Jets on Channel 4, Channel 5 and eventually Sky in the early 2000s.

For any new fans coming into the league this year, why would you endorse your team to support?

The future is bright. We have a very young team, average age of around 25. This season might not be a lot of fun, but we’re building a foundation, slowly adding the pieces to the puzzle. This team will be one to watch in the next 2-3 years.

Give us reasons for optimism for your team this season?         

The defence. Our offence will struggle majority of the time due to our depleted receiving corps and ineffectiveness at the quarterback position. The defence however, will keep us in games, enough to help us win a few anyway. Don’t expect the Jets to be world beaters, but don’t expect them to be the worst team in the league either.

And what are your doubts for your team this upcoming season?

The offence and the age of the team. We said goodbye to many fan favourites, who in reality, were either overpaid or slow which has left us with a youth infusion. It will pay off over the next few years, but with so many young faces on this team, we will not have the experience to achieve success this year. The offence will struggle to put up more than 17 points a game. We just don’t have the playmakers. We’re relying on a lot of new blood to step up. We’ll see if they’re up to the challenge.

Name us one player within another team that you’d love to have at your club?

I don’t care what other Jets fans say, you would give up your left testicle to have Tom Brady on your team, even if for one season. You’ve seen him win with nobodies, and turn them into superstars. He would do that with this offence.

With a lot of veterans out of the door in East Rutherford, can the Jets finally start the rebuilding process correctly?

I believe so. I know we’ve struggled to do it in recent years, but owner Woody Johnson was to blame for that. He’d be all for rebuilding one second, and then tearing it down immediately the following season following an outcry from the fans. He keeps informing us that patience is the key. And I agree. This is a project. It’ll take at least 3 years for the Jets to be even considered to be in the playoff picture. Under 2 drafts, we’ve picked up a few key players, we can only continue to do this and be careful going forward with free agency and try to not fall into the trap of picking up pricey veterans, just for a few extra wins that will only cripple our long-term success.

What are your predictions for the upcoming season for your team? What do you think your record will be, and how far do you think you will go in the postseason, if at all?

As I said before, we will win games. I don’t believe we’re terrible enough to tank. Our defence will be too good for that to happen. The Jets will be between 4 and 6 wins.

Who do you think will be lifting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season?

The Patriots will be my pick, although the Raiders are my dark horse.