AFC EAST
RYAN
TANNEHILL
LESEAN
MCCOY
ROB
GRONKOWSKI
RYAN
FITZPATRICK
REX RYAN TRYING TO RESURRECT DOLPHINS CONTINUE TO SWIM
BILLS
UPSTREAM
PATS START SEASON WITHOUT
BRADY
JETS MOVE FORWARD AFTER SIGNING
FITZPATRICK
Coach: Rex Ryan
2015 Record: 8-8
Are the Bills building something in
Buffalo under Rex Ryan? While much
of the attention in Buffalo is paid to
running back LeSean McCoy and
receiver Sammy Watkins, what should
not be overlooked is the solid 2015
productivity of quarterback Tyrod
Taylor. He threw for more than 3,000
yards and 20 touchdowns with just 6
interceptions, earning him a Pro Bowl
appearance in place of Cam Newton.
If Ryan can work his defensive magic,
the Bills could be a tough out.
Coach: Bill Belichick
2015 Record: 12-4
Right or wrong, it looks like Tom
Brady will start the season on the
sideline as he serves a four-game
suspension for his alleged role in
“deflategate.” This will hopefully be
the last anyone hears of the scandal
while the Pats get a good idea of
what life will one day be like without
Brady. Tight end Rob Gronkowski
should remain a key target for
viable backup quarterback Jimmy
Garoppolo, keeping New England on
pace in the AFC East.
Coach: Todd Bowles
2015 Record: 10-6
Just prior to training camp the Jets
finally agreed to terms with veteran
quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, a deal
that will likely get them through this
season. They’ve still got to figure out
what to do with former starter Geno
Smith, 2015 draft pick Bryce Petty and
newly drafted Penn State quarterback
Christian Hackenberg. Oh so close a
year ago, if the Jets again get solid
defensive play and Fitzpatrick can
avoid costly interceptions, this is a
potential playoff team.
Coach: Adam Gase
2015 Record: 6-10
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has a
big arm and puts up big numbers;
throwing for over 4,000 yards the
past two seasons along with a pile of
touchdowns. But it doesn’t reflect in
the win column. He starts this season
without receiver Greg Jennings,
who recently retired, and running
back LaMar Miller who departed to
Houston. With a lot of new faces,
including the head coach, things
could get worse in Miami before they
get better.
AFC WEST
PHILLIP
RIVERS
VON
MILLER
ALEX
SMITH
SUPER BOWL CHAMPS START OVER AT CHIEFS DEFENSE KEY TO IMPROVING
QUARTERBACK
IN ‘16
Coach: Gary Kubiak
2015 Record: 12-4
The Super Bowl 50 champs begin
anew without Peyton Manning. Their
biggest offseason move was making
linebacker Von Miller, who anchored
the league’s best defense, the highest
paid defender in NFL history. The
Broncos hope to dominate defensively
while the offense figures out the
quarterback situation. Veteran Mark
Sanchez comes from Philadelphia to
battle with Trevor Siemian. However,
many expect first round pick Paxton
Lynch out of Memphis to eventually
win the job.
pg 4 2016 NFL PREVIEW
Coach: Andy Reid
2015 Record: 11-5
The AFC West could be up for grabs
this season and many expect the
Chiefs to move up from the wild
card and take the division. With
quarterback Alex Smith consistently
running the offense, that is not
an overly great expectation. The
defense, however, is the issue in KC,
where safety Eric Berry, who got the
franchise tag, has been holding out
and injuries already plague one of
last year’s least productive units.
DEREK
CARR
DEL RIO, CARR TURNING THINGS
AROUND IN OAKLAND
Coach: Jack Del Rio
2015 Record: 7-9
The Raiders haven’t had a winning
season since 2002 but with the
maturation of Derek Carr and a
continuously improving roster, there
is hope for the silver and black. Carr
has wideouts Amari Cooper and
Michael Crabtree to choose from, while
Latavius Murray made the 1,000 yard
rushing mark in 2015. In the draft,
coach Jack Del Rio used his top three
picks on defensive players before
taking Michigan State quarterback
Connor Cook as a likely backup to Carr.
CHARGERS PUTTING DISMAL 2015
SEASON BEHIND THEM
Coach: Mike McCoy
2015 Record: 4-12
As quarterback Phillip Rivers enters
his twilight years, he’s eager to get
the Chargers back in winning form.
He could use some help from second-
year running back Melvin Gordon,
who no doubt underachieved in his
rookie season. On the defensive side
of the ball, third overall draft pick Joey
Bosa is expected to be an immediate
improvement in the sack department.
The Chargers are a better team than
last year’s record and could easily win
their division.