AFC East: audibles 2

Audibles: AFC East Week 2 preview

September, 12, 2008
9/12/08
4:00
PM ET
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

New England Patriots (1-0) vs. New York Jets (1-0), 4:15 p.m. ET

When this game is over, everybody should be substantially more enlightened about the state of the AFC East.

We'll see how the Patriots are reacting to life without QB Tom Brady. We'll have a better idea if his replacement, Matt Cassel, can carry the load. We'll find out if the running game becomes the engine.

The Jets will educate us, too. After hanging on to beat the Miami Dolphins, QB Brett Favre will face a legitimate defense. The Jets' new-and-improved O-line will see how it matches up against an elite defensive front. The Jets' defense, particularly the secondary, will see if it has the talent to be great.

Most importantly, we'll learn if there has been a major power shift in the AFC East.

Although none of the other three teams will play the Buffalo Bills until Week 8, the Patriots and Jets should provide enough indication how much things truly have changed.

Buffalo Bills (1-0) at Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1), 1 p.m. ET

Because the Bills have the early game, they can make a resounding statement before the Patriots and Jets kick off in the Meadowlands.

The Bills are coming off the NFL's most complete Week 1 effort, a dismantling of the makeshift Seattle Seahawks. Few noticed because of Brady's injury and a slew of AFC upsets.

The Bills will face another hodgepodge opponent Sunday. The Jaguars won't have either starting guard or their center. That makes the revitalized Bills defense, especially former Jags DT Marcus Stroud, drool. He's coming off a two-sack, seven-tackle effort.

Buffalo's offense could get a boost. Pro Bowl LT Jason Peters is back after holding out the entire preseason in a contract dispute. He has been practicing with the first unit this week, but Bills coach Dick Jauron is being coy about Peters' availability in Jacksonville.

Miami Dolphins (0-1) at Arizona Cardinals (1-0), 4:15 p.m. ET

The Dolphins are trying to find an offensive identity. Their strength is RB duo Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown, but they totally abandoned their ground game in Sunday's 20-14 loss to the Jets. Dolphins WRs had six catches even though QB Chad Pennington threw 43 times. Their O-line looked mediocre, and rookie RG Donald Thomas is down for the season.

"We are still evaluating this football team and trying to find out who can do what and when and where, and how can we organize that to be in our best interests," Miami offensive coordinator Dan Henning said. "Obviously, we're not where we want to be."

The Cardinals haven't started a season 2-0 since 1991. History could be made Sunday.

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