A look at AFC East O-line stability
November, 27, 2009
11/27/09
1:13
PM ET
By Tim Graham | ESPN.com
The AFC East features both ends of the spectrum when it comes to offensive line stability.
The New York Jets are one of three teams that has started the same five offensive linemen all 10 games. The Buffalo Bills will use their league-leading seventh different starting lineup Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
The Bills have used as many offensive line combinations as the Jets (1), Dolphins (2) and New England Patriots (3) combined.
Bills right guard Eric Wood, who started the first 10 games, was placed on injured reserve this week with a broken left leg.
The Bills were tied with the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks at six different line combinations apiece. But the Packers and Lions started the same units Thursday that they had in the past.
ESPN Stats & Information poured through the lineups for every game and found the Bills' most frequent combo -- left tackle Demetrius Bell, left guard Andy Levitre, center Geoff Hangartner, Wood and right tackle Jamon Meredith -- started together just three games.
The Dolphins started the same five O-linemen through their first eight games until left guard Justin Smiley suffered a shoulder injury.
The Patriots had the same lineup for their first five games until left tackle Matt Light went down with a knee injury. Right guard Stephen Neal missed the last game with a head injury.
The New York Jets are one of three teams that has started the same five offensive linemen all 10 games. The Buffalo Bills will use their league-leading seventh different starting lineup Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.
The Bills have used as many offensive line combinations as the Jets (1), Dolphins (2) and New England Patriots (3) combined.
Bills right guard Eric Wood, who started the first 10 games, was placed on injured reserve this week with a broken left leg.
The Bills were tied with the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks at six different line combinations apiece. But the Packers and Lions started the same units Thursday that they had in the past.
ESPN Stats & Information poured through the lineups for every game and found the Bills' most frequent combo -- left tackle Demetrius Bell, left guard Andy Levitre, center Geoff Hangartner, Wood and right tackle Jamon Meredith -- started together just three games.
The Dolphins started the same five O-linemen through their first eight games until left guard Justin Smiley suffered a shoulder injury.
The Patriots had the same lineup for their first five games until left tackle Matt Light went down with a knee injury. Right guard Stephen Neal missed the last game with a head injury.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the NFL and NBA for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. He's a Temple graduate and Hyattsville, Md. native who lives in Miami.
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