NFL Odds & Picks for AFC East Preview

The AFC East has in many ways been the most boring division in football this century. That’s because the New England Patriots almost always win it since Tom Brady became the team’s starting QB. Does any other team have a realistic shot in 2016? I’d say yes because of Brady’s four-game suspension to start the year. Here are the NFL betting lines for each team to win the AFC East.

Here’s Our Insiders NFL Odds & Picks for the AFC East Preview

New England Patriots (-210)

Brady is appealing the NFL’s successful appeal of his four-game Deflategate suspension. And we might finally have a resolution once and for all very soon. If initial projections by some legal experts are correct, this could be the week that the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules on Brady’s request for an en banc hearing. Most of these requests don’t last longer than five weeks and this is the fifth week. If Brady’s appeal will be heard by the full court, his suspension will likely be lifted until the hearing is concluded. Thus Brady could potentially play another season while the NFL fights the decision. But most analysts believe that the NFL is going to finally win this time.

Buffalo Bills (+600)

The big question for Buffalo is whether the team will decide to sign quarterback Tyrod Taylor to a long-term deal during the season. Even though the final year of his contract voided due to incentives reached, Taylor will make less in 2016 than many backup quarterbacks. The two sides continue to negotiate and could still strike a deal ahead of Week 1, but the Bills likely want to see if Taylor can carry his 2015 over into a second-straight season to prove it wasn’t an outlier year. Taylor looked improved in the spring. If he starts the season strong, Taylor’s price tag will only rise. Taylor threw for 3,035 and 20 touchdowns last season, adding 568 yards and four scores with his legs, making him one of the top rushing quarterbacks in the NFL.

NY Jets (+700)

The Jets still haven’t re-signed last year’s starting QB, Ryan Fitzpatrick. He comes off his best season but the Jets want to make sure that’s not a one-year wonder type of thing. Reportedly Fitzpatrick is willing to take a one-year, $12 million deal, about $4 million less than his original asking price. With their bloated salary cap, the Jets have balked at slapping such a gaudy price tag on Fitzpatrick for 2016. The lasting effects of a 2015 spending spree, a combined $11.5 million paid this offseason to Matt Forte, Ryan Clady, and Steve McClendon, and a $15.7 million franchise-tag offer extended to Muhammad Wilkerson (he hasn’t signed) have left the Jets with just over $3 million in projected cap space heading into this fall.

Miami Dolphins (+800 on NFL betting lines)

New head coach Adam Gase said the team wants to have an attacking defense. “It pretty much sums it up,” Gase said. “I mean, I’m sure that we’re making it easy as far as what we’re saying, but for the most part that’s what we want our guys to do.” Miami also plans to employ “Wide 9” principles on the defensive line as they attempt to create more pressure. Miami needs to improve after finishing bottom 10 in total defense, takeaways, and sacks last season. The Fins also have questions at running back after losing starter Lamar Miller in free agency to Houston. Second-year Jay Ajayi is the likely starter. But he dropped several passes out of the backfield and wasn’t a sharp route-runner at OTAs.