Bills are gathering to another division title, but their debt is in the playoffs; Can the Dolphins return to playoffs?
There is no more favorite team to bring their division than Bills. The team of Sean McDermott The regular season will work to seek the best planting in the AFC taking advantage of the fact that in the west they squeeze Chiefsin the south, Houston I shouldn't have the bellows to improve the record of Bills and in the north Ravens It has a tougher calendar, a priori.
Then there are imponderables as injuries or surprises of teams and players, but this previous one works with 2024, template (including changes in the trainers staff) and the sensations after the low season.
Let's take a look at what the future holds the AFC is in the 2025 season of the NFL.
Another year, another season in which the Buffalo Bills fans expect this to be the good: getting to the Super Bowl is the next step and winning it a historical debt.
So each campaign in which Bills are eliminated feels as another course in which a generational talent was wasted, which of course is becoming old: Josh Allen He faces his eighth campaign at the NFL with 29 years, with a Liga MVP under his arm and recently married.
Bills 'problem' has not been the offensive led by Ja17. In 2024 it was the second offensive with the most scored points; Josh Allen was second in QBR behind Lamar Jackson. And in the AFC championship game they scored 29 points to Chiefs -such a better defensive defensive season. The problem was on the defensive and promptly in high school (Buffalo were fifths as soon as you pass the rivals, for example), which was reinforced via draft in the first round. However, Maxwell Hairstoncorner, is injured and will not play the first 4 games of the season.
But Bills 'problems' already wanted them in Browns or Jaguars or Cowboys to go to other latitudes. Let's see what happens in this 2025 with a team called to be, but it has not been …
What happened in low season
That Josh Allen signed a lucrative contract extension should not surprise anyone. He is the franchise player and one of the faces of the NFL today. But something that Allen needed and the offensive of the coordinator Joe Brady, was a proven corridor not to saturate Allen's legs and that the elusive and powerful Marshal is established as a double threat, not by design, but by improvisation.
So the extension of the contract of James Cook He became important to protect the huge investment in Allen. Cook comes from his best season with Bills, matching the TD brand in a season of the team with its 16th last year (tied with OJ Simpson). The corridor was fifth in yards by haul (4.9) and after contact (3.1). Brady trusted him in 2024 by increasing the workload, and this new contract supports the decisions of the Trainers Staff, and the runner's performance.
Player to follow
We do not forget that in low season it was signed to Joey Bosa. We have established that the weak side of the defensive was/is high school. One way to support the work of corners and deep is to avoid workload. And this is where Bosa enters.
Joey, signed for a season and 12.6 million dollars, has a key year in his future in the League. For him, from Chargers to Bills is a leap forward, no doubt; Now he plays in a seriously championship team. And it falls to him to prove that he is still an elite player, achieving captures and pressure to the marshal that vent the high school work. That would be a deep impact on Bills's defensive. Bosa is not lacking ability or instinct, but has been hit hard by injuries. He, Bills and his fans hope that the injuries have stayed far … in Los Angeles.
Key section in the calendar
5-1. Thus I should paint Bills's record after the first six weeks before the team's break. The Kick-Offo in Buffalo against Ravens is a hard set of reserved marker. However, the visit to Jets (S2), and then receive Dolphins (S3), Saints (S4), Patriots (S5) and finally travel to Atlanta (S6) are games that must fall into the left column of the record.
Such a margin brand for the trajín after the break, which includes visits to Miami, Houston, Pittsburgh, New England and three hard games in Buffalo: against Chiefs in week 9, against Bengals in 14 and in 17 Los Eagles. The section after the break consists of six visits for five at home.
Forecast
According to ESPN Bet, it is the clearest division in favor of a team. We do not surprise anyone by saying that it is Buffalo and that it will advance to the playoffs with a solid 13-4. Will you reach the first planting? The answer is between Kansas City and Baltimore.
It seems that the depth of the equipment will be quickly tested. High school has been beaten by injuries in recent days and we are very little to start the season. By the way, high school is a unit that has been totally renewed compared to the previous year.
And on the other side of the ball, Tyreek Hill It has been physically limited due to an injury. Nothing serious, but we could see a restricted Hill in terms of its participations so that it does not fall. That is when Malik Washington It should take greater prominence and become a reliable WR3 behind 'Cheetah' and Jaylen Waddle.
The Dolphins are third in ESPN BET to take the division (+900) and to play playoffs (+190), an instance in which they have not won a game since 2000, the longest active drought of the NFL. That is why Mike McDaniel is one of the chief coaches with the greatest focus. His future will be uncertain if Miami does not see postseason.
Player to follow
Tyreek Hill has something to demonstrate this 2025. It is not his ability as a receiver, of course. Is that you can work next to Backdault.
“It's a job in process,” said the TUA relationship in mid -July. Remember that Hill did not end very 'comfortable', to say at least, in Miami. He informed his disagreement and there were rumors about a potential exchange, something that General Manager Chris Grier in January.
The numbers are a reflection of disagreement: 81 receptions for 959 yards and 6 TD. Yes, the best of the team, but its third worst personal brand since it reached the League in 2016 and broke a four -seasons run above 1,200 yards. As for TouchDowns, he matched his worst brand (2016). It is very important for the team and personally to improve these numbers if both parties want this relationship to continue by 2026, the year in which the current receiver contract ends.
Key section in the calendar
It seems that Dolphins and Patriots will play a postseason position via wildcase. So we divide 'the key section' into two:
At the beginning, from week 1 to 4, Dolphins must take two key victories: vs. Pats in the 2 and against Jets in 4, at home. Additionally they must deal with all their might, available weapons and good luck, win the Kick-Off in Indianapolis
After their rest week, at 12, they return against the Saints. You must win yes or yes. He continues to visit NYJ with the look set in the victory and prepare hard games against Steelers (S15), Bengals (S16) and Buccaneers (S17) for a infarction closure in New England, a game to which they must reach 'alive'.
Forecast
10-7 would be enough to return to the playoffs. Win in playoffs? If the opponent in Commodines Ronda is Houston, hope is there. If for any reason it is Chiefs, Ravens, the options fader.
We already point out that it will be a contender for the Wildcard. There are renewal winds in Foxboro and it is Mike Vrabel in charge of leading the effort, recovering the competitive and winning culture of the franchise.
Vrababe will have a positive impact on the organization and the players are going to commit to this new project. But, it is the NFL and demands a degree of excellence that needs to work and cultivate.
Mike Reiss, a reporter of ESPN in New England, recently pointed out that a source of the NFL management that has followed the Patriots this preseason described them as follows: “They are improving, playing hard, but with few players in several positions beyond their starting alignment due to the unstable drafts of recent years, it has contributed to a template that will require more than one year to recover.”
Player to follow
Stefon Diggs. The veteran arrives to boost the aerial offensive, to Drake Maye Already himself. Diggs in Texans was almost an anecdote. Between the injury and what Nico Collins y Tank Dell They had a good year, Stefon was deflated.
New England, in the process of renewal, saw an opportunity to boost his young field marshal in the 10 -seasons receiver. And for Diggs it is also an opportunity, so everyone seems well encouraged. Maye, Diggs, and the offensive of Josh McDaniels (offensive coordinator) must overcome three metrics: 2,995 air yards of 2024, the worst mark of the League; the 5.2 yards won by the attempt to pass, fourth worst league brand; The 18 air scores, the second worst league brand. Reasonably improve that, it will be a step forward in the renewal project.
Key section in the calendar
The closure after week 14 (his break) is crazy. They receive Bills, go to Ravens, go to Jets and close at home against Dolphins. It is not crazy that by then they have 8 wins in their pocket. Two more losses are highly probable and then play the season in New York and against Miami. Infarction closure.
Forecast
It was a good 2025 renewal; to resume confidence and believe in the new VRABEL project. But the 9-8 does not seem sufficient in a conference in which they will be fighting the dolphins, Steelers, Bengals, Broncos, plus some surprise from the south or west. Remember 9-8 left Bengals out last year.
The Jets initiate the 5th regime change in 10 years and have the second lower projection of victories in the League in ESPN Bet: 5.5, only behind the 4.5 of Browns.
As with Vrababel, you can expect an improvement under the command of Aaron Glenn and the incorporation of Justin Fieldsbut the sowing never arrives before the crop, so we will have to wait for the new marsal to build the aerial relationship with Garrett Wilsonwhile the offensive coordinator of the first year, Tanner Engstrand polishes an offensive apparatus that is projected electrifying in the race.
Player to follow
Justin Fields is becoming an itinerant. Jets will mean its fourth different offensive system in five years. It can be anticipated that the 26 -year -old seafood will use the legs either by design or to escape, but the side to polish is the pin.
“I really like where Justin is in terms of pass concepts,” said Engstand. “Understand what we try to do. He understands how we attack, where the ball must go, and I think we show progress every day by Justin.”
Progress should be reflected in the percentage of Fields complete passes, which is currently 61% after four seasons.
Key section in the calendar
The last five games are interesting from a prospective point of view, since it can be an impulse, or declaration of intensions towards the following year. They start receiving Miami at 14, then they go to Jacksonville and New Orleans; They return in 17 to face Patriots and end in Buffalo.
Of these five games, four are 'won' and to make themselves clear that the campaign has worked: they have improved and fight for divisional victories and take visit victories against teams that began more or less in their same conditions. It would be an exciting advance to the Draft and 2026.
Forecast
They will improve for a game the brand last year and will be 6-11. But, we do see a team with better functioning.
