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We are getting down to the very best players in the AFC East.

Here are "Walker’s Fab 40" Nos. 13-16:

No. 16: Mike Pouncey, C

Team: Miami Dolphins

Stats: 16 starts

Analysis: It's difficult to make a big impact at center. But Pouncey left an impression in Miami during his rookie year. Miami's 2011 first-round pick paved the way for Dolphins tailback Reggie Bush to have his first 1,000-yard season. Pouncey has a rare combination of size, speed and athleticism. His footwork is something you just don't see from most centers. Pouncey isn't as good as his twin brother Maurkice, but he's close. Both will be anchors for their respective teams for many years.

No. 15: Santonio Holmes, WR

Team: New York Jets

Stats: 51 receptions, 654 yards, eight touchdowns

Analysis: Do not be fooled. Despite a down year and chemistry issues, Holmes is still one of the top 15-20 receivers in the NFL. That was good enough to land Holmes at No. 15 in the division for "Walker's Fab 40." Holmes didn't get many opportunities to make big plays, but from my view he got open a lot. Oftentimes New York's protection didn't hold up or quarterback Mark Sanchez failed to make the throw. The combination wore on Holmes to the point that he imploded at the end of the season. But the issue was never talent -- Holmes is a former Super Bowl MVP. The issue is harmony and being on the same page with the offense and quarterback.

No. 14: David Harris, LB

Team: Jets

Stats: 86 tackles, five sacks, four interceptions

Analysis: Harris is another one of my favorites to watch in the division. He's one of the few quiet players on New York's defense, but Harris’ play speaks volumes. Despite not having the big name, Harris was New York's best linebacker last season. Harris was probably the most consistent player on the Jets' defense, outside of Pro Bowl corner Darrelle Revis. Harris stays around the ball and has a knack for making big plays. He is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. But this week Harris gets the respect he deserves in "Walker's Fab 40."

No. 13: D'Brickashaw Ferguson, LT

Team: Jets

Stats: 16 starts

Analysis: Ferguson had arguably his most up-and-down season, but he still made the Pro Bowl in 2011. Good left tackles are hard to come by. The Jets have many issues, but at least this isn't one of them. New York has a solid trio of offensive linemen in Ferguson, guard Brandon Moore (No. 37) and Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold (ranking TBD). The Jets need to do a much better job of coaching this group up and getting the best out of them.

The 2011 season was an interesting one filled with ups and mostly downs for the AFC East. Only one team finished with a winning record.

But that doesn't mean the AFC East lacked great individual performances. For example, the division produced an MVP candidate at quarterback who threw for more than 5,000 yards and another stellar season from the best cornerback in football.

Here is our All-AFC East Team for 2011:

Quarterback: Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Analysis: There is no question about this one. Brady set a new career-high with 5,235 passing yards, which surpassed Dan Marino's old record. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (5,476) finished with more yards and has the new record. Brady is the single biggest reason the Patriots are 13-3 and have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. His performance carried New England through injuries and inconsistencies in other areas. Brady will be chasing his fourth Super Bowl title in the playoffs.

Running back: Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills

Analysis: This might be a controversial pick, because two other running backs -- Reggie Bush and Shonn Greene -- had 1,000-yard seasons. But Jackson was the best running back I watched this season. He simply had some bad luck, suffering a season-ending leg injury. He was on his way to making his first Pro Bowl. Jackson rushed for 934 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games. He had an additional 442 yards receiving. His numbers would be off the charts if he'd played the final six games.

Fullback: Charles Clay, Dolphins

Analysis: Clay was one of the surprise rookies from Miami's draft class. He was a good blocker for Bush, has great hands and knows what to do with the football. Clay caught 16 passes for 233 yards. He averaged 14.6 yards per reception, which is astounding for a fullback. John Conner of the Jets is the best blocking fullback. But Conner is not a receiving threat.

Receivers: Wes Welker, Patriots; Brandon Marshall, Dolphins

Analysis: The best receivers in the AFC East this season are a pair of Pro Bowlers. Welker had an unbelievable year. He set a new career high with 1,569 yards. He also caught 122 passes and was one of the league's most sure-handed receivers. Marshall, in contrast, wasn't sure-handed. He had plenty of big drops, but still had a good season. Marshall caught 81 passes for 1,214 yards and six touchdowns. What's even more impressive is that Marshall put up big numbers despite Miami's in-season quarterback switch from Chad Henne to Matt Moore.

Tight end: Rob Gronkowski, Patriots

Analysis: Gronkowski showed flashes as a rookie. But no one knew he would explode the way he did in his second season. "Gronk" set an NFL record for tight ends with 17 touchdowns. He averaged more than one per game, despite many teams' focus on stopping him late in the season. Gronkowski finished with 90 receptions for 1,327 yards and made his first Pro Bowl. Considering he's only 22, it will most likely be the first of many Pro Bowls.

Center: Nick Mangold, Jets

Analysis: Jets head coach Rex Ryan says a lot of things. But we believe him when he says Mangold is the best center in the NFL. Mangold fought through an ankle injury but had another solid season. He was named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl. The Jets' offensive line was up and down but completely fell apart when Mangold missed two games. New York's entire running game and blocking scheme is built around its center -- and for good reason.

Guards: Logan Mankins, Patriots; Andy Levitre, Bills

Analysis: Mankins, who made his fourth Pro Bowl, stayed healthy right up until the end and played 15 of 16 games. He should be ready for the playoffs. Levitre was one of my favorite players to watch because of his versatility. He's a very good guard, a solid offensive tackle and struggled at center. Levitre was forced to play all three positions in Buffalo this season because of injuries.

Offensive tackles: Jake Long, Dolphins; Matt Light, Patriots

Analysis: Long played through injuries all season. His back bothered him, and he ended up on injured reserve after tearing his biceps. But Long at 80 percent is still better than most left tackles, and he was good enough to make his fourth Pro Bowl in four years. Light gets our last tackle spot over New York's D’Brickashaw Ferguson. The Pro Bowl nod went to Ferguson. But Ferguson struggled at times this season and didn't play up to his usual standards. I think Ferguson got in on reputation and name recognition.

Defensive ends: Andre Carter, Patriots; Mark Anderson, Patriots

Analysis: No one flinched when the Patriots quietly signed a pair of veteran defensive ends in free agency to bolster their pass rush. Most of the focus was on big-name acquisitions such as receiver Chad Ochocinco and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. But two of New England's best signings were Carter and Anderson. Each finished with 10 sacks, and Carter made the Pro Bowl despite a late, season-ending quad injury. For all of New England's issues on defense, arguably its biggest strength was rushing the passer. The Patriots registered 40 sacks, and Carter and Anderson combined for half of that total.

Defensive tackles: Vince Wilfork, Patriots; Sione Pouha, Jets

Analysis: Wilfork, 30, continues to improve with age. He combines strength and smarts to play defensive tackle/nose tackle. Wilfork finished with 52 tackles and 3.5 sacks. But it was his two interceptions this season that were most memorable. Wilfork rumbled for 28 and 19 yards, respectively, on his two picks. The second defensive tackle was one of the most difficult selections. But we went with Pouha over Miami's Paul Soliai. Pouha's numbers were more impressive for a nose tackle. He recorded 58 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. Soliai played well for Miami but registered only 27 tackles.

Outside linebackers: Cameron Wake, Dolphins; Calvin Pace, Jets

Analysis: It was a down year for outside linebackers in the AFC East. Wake and Pace were the best of a thin crop. Wake's sack numbers dipped from 14 to 8.5 this season. Teams put more focus on Wake, and he faced more double teams. Pace stayed healthy this season but recorded his lowest sack total (4.5) since 2006. Pace's backup, Aaron Maybin, led the Jets with six sacks.

Inside linebackers: David Harris, Jets; Karlos Dansby, Dolphins

Analysis: Harris continues to be one of the most underrated players in the NFL. Harris was the Jets' most consistent defensive player outside of Darrelle Revis. He was always around the football and recorded 86 tackles, five sacks and four interceptions. The second inside linebacker was another tough call. But we think Dansby had a slightly better season than New England's Jerod Mayo. A tailback getting 100 yards against the Dolphins' defense was rare, in large part due to Dansby. He established a physical presence in the middle for Miami and recorded 103 tackles and two sacks.

Cornerbacks: Darrelle Revis, Jets; Kyle Arrington, Patriots

Analysis: What more can you say about Revis? He had another great season for the Jets. He led New York with 21 passes defended, and tied for the team lead with four interceptions. One pick was returned 100 yards for a touchdown. Teams opted to attack Revis more this season, which allowed more chances for him to make big plays. Arrington was this year's version of Devin McCourty. New England gave up a lot of passing yards, but Arrington made the most of his interception opportunities. He led the Patriots with seven picks and had 88 tackles.

Safeties: Yeremiah Bell, Dolphins; George Wilson, Bills

Analysis: The safeties struggled in the AFC East this season. But Bell was probably the most consistent in the division. He led Miami with 107 tackles. He also had two sacks and one interception. Wilson played lights out at times, particularly early in the season. He set a career high with 106 tackles and tied a career mark with four interceptions. Wilson did all of this despite missing three games with injuries.

Punter: Brandon Fields, Dolphins

Analysis: Fields was spectacular this season. He averaged 48.8 yards per punt and had 32 punts inside the 20. Fields was the only Dolphins player exciting to watch during Miami's ugly 0-7 start. Fields had a Pro Bowl season. But Oakland Raiders punter and Pro Bowler Shane Lechler is probably the best punter in the NFL.

Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots

Analysis: Fantasy football players fell in love with Gostkowski this season. New England's high-scoring offense constantly put Gostkowski in position to rack up points, and he usually came through. Gostkowski led New England in scoring with 143 points. He made 28 of 33 field goals and all 59 extra points. The pressure of the playoffs always is different for kickers. But Gostkowski has shown no signs that he will be bothered by it.

Return specialist: Joe McKnight, Jets

Analysis: McKnight was a must-see because something exciting could happen every time he touched the ball. McKnight was fun to watch in the open field. He averaged 31.6 yards per kick return and is a Pro Bowl alternate on special teams. His longest of the season was a 107-yard touchdown return. The next step for McKnight is to develop as a running back. With LaDainian Tomlinson a free agent, McKnight could get a chance to backup Greene next season.

The AFC East had 13 players selected for the Pro Bowl this week. That is impressive, considering only one team from the division most likely is going to the playoffs.

But this time of year people like to talk about the Pro Bowl snubs as much as they talk about the players who are going to Hawaii. In our latest edition of “Poll Friday,” we want to know who was the biggest Pro Bowl snub in the AFC East.

Was it New York Jets linebacker David Harris? Outside of Pro Bowl corner Darrelle Revis, Harris has been the most consistent defensive player for the Jets this season. He recorded 84 tackles in addition to five sacks and four interceptions.

What about Miami Dolphins punter Brandon Fields? He has 31 punts inside the 20 and averages 48.9 yards per punt for Miami. He was the team’s only bright spot this year.

Was New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez snubbed? The Patriots already had eight players in the Pro Bowl and Hernandez could have been a victim of the numbers game. He’s the backup to Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski. It would’ve been odd to have the starter and backup from one team in the Pro Bowl, but Hernandez’s numbers (72 receptions, 772 yards) are impressive.

Finally, don’t forget about Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Andy Levitre. The versatile lineman started at tackle, guard and center this season. Perhaps not sticking to one position hurt his Pro Bowl chances.

Using our SportsNation poll, vote on the biggest Pro Bowl snub from the AFC East. You can also share your thoughts in the comment section below.

It was an up-and-down week for the AFC East. The New England Patriots (11-3) and Miami Dolphins (5-9) looked solid, while the New York Jets (8-6) and Buffalo Bills (5-9) were shaky.

But which player had the best individual performance in the division?

Was it Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez? With so much focus on fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski, Hernandez showed that he can be dangerous with nine receptions for 129 yards and one touchdown.

What about Reggie Bush? Miami's starting running back gained a career-high 203 rushing yards in a win over Buffalo and is only 27 yards away from his first 1,000-yard season. Linebacker David Harris of the Jets and running back C.J. Spiller of the Bills also played well in losing efforts.

Using our SportsNation poll, vote on the best performance in the division. You can also share your thoughts in the comments section below.

ORCHARD, PARK, N.Y. -- In a rare occurrence this season, New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan stepped to the podium Sunday with very little to complain about with his defense.

"We gave up an 80-yard drive at the end of the game there when we were up a bunch of scores," Ryan scoffed. "So that was disappointing."

Ryan pointed out the only blemish in an otherwise stellar day for New York's talented but, at times, underachieving defense. The Jets' strongest unit turned back the clock -- circa 2009 and 2010 -- to cruise to a 27-11 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

More than 70,000 Bills fans came to Ralph Wilson Stadium expecting a "whiteout." They nearly witnessed a shutout, as New York battered and confused Buffalo's offense for four quarters. The Bills turned over the football three times and gained only 287 total yards.

New York's defense officially has its swagger back. That could only mean trouble for the rest of the NFL.

Jets defensive tackle Sione Pouha even has a nickname for the defense regaining its identity.

"It's totally attitude -- it's 'Jetstitude' the way we look at it," Pouha said. "It's playing like a Jet, aggressiveness, going out there in attack mode. I think today kind of displayed just what Jet football is all about."

Although they don't always put it together, the Jets have the NFL's most talented collection of defensive players.

The cornerback tandem of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie is tops in the league. The linebackers, led by David Harris, Bart Scott and Calvin Pace, are physical playmakers. The safeties and defensive line play good, complementary roles when the Jets are at their best. All of those things came together in a big game.

"When everybody is rolling, this team is very hard to beat," Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson said.

It marked the first time Buffalo was held to fewer than 20 points this season. Afterward, the Bills sounded perplexed about how the game went downhill so quickly.

"If it was one thing, we could have solved that," Bills coach Chan Gailey said. "You can always solve one thing in a game. They would bring pressure, they would play coverage. ... They would give us something we hadn’t seen or they would bring an extra guy. It was a combination. They kept us off balance and that’s what we can’t allow to happen."

The Jets' defense took apart Buffalo's offense systematically. It started with punishing Bills tailback Fred Jackson.

Jackson has bullied defenders all season. But New York matched and exceeded Jackson's physicality. The Jets even knocked Jackson (82 rushing yards) out of the game temporarily in the second half with big hit that caused a fumble and shoulder stinger. Buffalo's offense never recovered from that blow.

With Jackson not his usually dominant self, the Bills couldn't get anything going offensively.

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had his worst game of the season. He threw for 191 yards, two interceptions and a late touchdown in garbage time. Most of the game the receivers were blanketed, and Fitzpatrick dangerously threw into tight coverage.

"For us, we were on our heels trying to figure out what they were doing and trying to figure out what was going on," Bills receiver David Nelson said. "It wasn't because of play calling or anything like that. We only had the ball twice in the first quarter and going three-and-out. We couldn’t get in rhythm."

It didn’t take long for several Jets players to turn toward the New England Patriots. The reigning AFC East champions are up next for the Jets with first place in the division on the line. The Patriots -- currently in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC East with the Jets and Buffalo -- beat New York 30-21 in the first meeting at Gillette Stadium.

Pardon me, but the Jets "can't wait" for next week's rematch at home.

“If you can’t get fired up and ready to play for this game, you shouldn't be playing," Jets tailback LaDainian Tomlinson said. "That's plain and simple."

Last month, New York was a team close to imploding during its three-game losing streak. This month, the Jets have their sights set on first place in the AFC East after a three-game winning streak.

It's a stunning turnaround for the Jets, who have found the winning formula with an aggressive defense and a ground-and-pound style on offense.

New York showed on Sunday it has as good a shot as anyone in the second half of the season.

"We know what we're capable of doing. We know we're not a team that's going to fold in the tank," Wilkerson said of the midseason turnaround. "We lost three in a row, but it's a long season. We kept preparing like we’ve always been doing, knowing that we'd get things turned around."

A quarter of the season is in the books. Here is our first report card of all four teams in the AFC East.

Buffalo Bills (3-1, first place in AFC East)

Offense: A

Defense: C-

Quarter-season MVP: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

Analysis: Fitzpatrick and tailback Fred Jackson were in consideration for Buffalo’s early-season MVP. But Fitzpatrick gets the nod, because he runs the show and is off to a hot start. Fitzpatrick has thrown for 1,040 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions. Even in his one bad game against Cincinnati, he didn’t commit a turnover. Buffalo is ninth in total offense but fourth in scoring. This group usually doesn’t settle for many field goals. The Bills are plus-seven in turnover ratio, because Fitzpatrick is smart with the football and the defense is opportunistic. Buffalo’s defense is tied for the NFL lead with eight interceptions and two returned for touchdowns. But the group gives up more than 400 yards per game. It's going to be hard for Buffalo to win every game via shootout.

New England Patriots (3-1, second place)

Offense: A

Defense: F

Quarter-season MVP: Quarterback Tom Brady

Analysis: Brady is an easy MVP pick, although receiver Wes Welker deserves a lot of credit as well. The difference is Welker wouldn't put up monster numbers without Brady. What more can you say about New England's offense? They are first in total yards (507.5 per game) and tied for second in scoring (33.8). But the defense has been horrendous this season. There were some signs of improvement last week against the Raiders. But New England’s defense remains 32nd in the NFL. Brady is so hot that, so far, it doesn't matter. But what happens in the playoffs if New England’s offense can’t light it up every game?

New York Jets (2-2, third place)

Offense: D+

Defense: B

Quarter-season MVP: Linebacker David Harris

Analysis: New York's MVP choice was a hard one. Several players are doing well, such as linebacker Bart Scott and tight end Dustin Keller. But I went with Harris. He has 22 tackles, one sack and an interception return for a touchdown. The offense, which is ranked No. 25 in the NFL, shows flashes of potential then disappears. There are games when quarterback Mark Sanchez throws for 300 yards and others when he gets pummeled. The running game has been non-existent and the offensive line has been the worst part of the team so far. The defense isn't as dominant as previous years, but it's still solid. The Jets are ranked eighth in total defense.

Miami Dolphins (0-4, fourth place)

Offense: C-

Defense: D-

Quarter-season MVP: Punter Brandon Fields

Analysis: I was struggling to pick an early MVP for the winless Dolphins. I was thinking on the lines of tailback Daniel Thomas, but he's been hurt and in and out of the lineup. Linebacker Cameron Wake has a team-high three sacks but only nine tackles. Quarterback Chad Henne has been decent but not spectacular. So I went to Twitter to see who Dolphins fans would pick. They hit the nail on the head: Punter Brandon Fields. He's been the most consistent player for Miami. He's averaging 51.6 yards per punt and landed seven kicks inside the 20. Miami's defense hasn't taken advantage. The Dolphins have gone from sixth last year to No. 30 this season. The offense has been decent but fails to execute at key moments and in the red zone. With Henne's injury, I don't know if this unit can get much better the rest of the season.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Mark Sanchez, Jets quarterback: It's an easy choice when you set a record for the lowest Total Quarterback Rating. Sanchez had a forgettable game against the Baltimore Ravens. He was 11-for-35 passing for 119 yards, three lost fumbles and one interception. What's worse is that three of Sanchez’s turnovers resulted in Baltimore touchdowns. The offensive line deserves a lot of blame as well. Still, Sanchez needs to do a better job of taking care of the football. The Jets will play the New England Patriots in a big AFC East game this Sunday.

2. Miami Dolphins on the road: Remember when Miami was a good road team? That was something Miami was counting on after its 0-2 start at home. But that plan backfired after the Dolphins dropped back-to-back road games against the Cleveland Browns and San Diego Chargers. Now, Miami enters its bye week 0-4 and out of contention. The Dolphins have lost seven straight dating to last season. They're also 1-11 in their past 12 home games. With that combo, it's going to be hard for Miami to turn things around.

3. Buffalo Bills: If Buffalo wants to be a serious contender, it needs to beat teams like the Bengals, especially when the Bills own a 14-point lead in the second half. Buffalo's offense shut down after intermission, and the defense couldn't make a big stop late. The good news is it's just one game. Buffalo remains in first place in the AFC East and tied for the best record in the AFC. But the Bills have to prove it in these next two games against the Philadelphia Eagles (1-3) and New York Giants (3-1).

RISING

1. Wes Welker, Patriots receiver: As good as quarterback Tom Brady has been for New England, Welker has been just as good at receiver. The pair is putting up monster numbers. Welker is leading the NFL in receptions and receiving yards through four games. I'm surprised by how often Welker gets open every week. Yes, it's hard to double-team receivers from the slot. But you figure teams know by now where the ball often goes.

2. David Harris, Jets linebacker: Harris was one of the few bright spots in New York's 34-17 loss to the Ravens. He recorded seven tackles and a pick six. Harris is a very good player who is somewhat underrated. He doesn't get mentioned as much as teammates Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, Bart Scott, Calvin Pace and others. But Harris is having a consistent season.

3. Stevan Ridley, Patriots running back: Ridley, a rookie third-round pick, is proving to be a good find for New England. He's given the Patriots a nice, three-headed attack in the running game if Danny Woodhead (ankle) stays healthy. Ridley rushed for a career-high 97 yards on 10 carries against Oakland, which has a solid front seven. This is just the kind of production the Patriots need to take some pressure off Brady and keep the defense off the field.

The AFC East struggled for the second week in a row. This time, only the New England Patriots walked away with a victory.

But that doesn't take away from some of the great individual performances the division had in Week 4. Vote for who deserves AFC East Player of the Week honors.

Was it Patriots receiver Wes Welker? He's been on a tear this year and leads the NFL in receiving. Welker recorded nine receptions for 158 yards and a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders.

Buffalo Bills safety George Wilson also had a solid game. He led the team with 12 tackles and recorded an interception in his second straight game.

Linebacker David Harris showed up to play for the New York Jets. The team struggled, but Harris recorded seven tackles and a pick-six off Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

Finally, Miami Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter was 3-for-3 on field goals, including a 51-yarder, in a loss to the San Diego Chargers. Cast your vote.

The New York Jets have agreed to a one-year extension with backup defensive end Ropati Pitoitua, according to various reports.

Pitoitua is in the defensive-line rotation in New York's 3-4 scheme. He recorded one tackle last week in the win over the Dallas Cowboys.

In other Jets news, No. 1 receiver Santonio Holmes (knee) and linebacker David Harris (toe) are active and will play Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Both players were listed as questionable.

Let's see who is rising and falling in the AFC East.

Falling

1. Miami Dolphins' halftime celebrations: Last time I checked, the Miami Hurricanes play football at Sun Life Stadium. That is why it's baffling that the Dolphins will honor the rival Florida Gators' 2008 championship team during halftime of the Dolphins-Broncos game on Oct. 23. Most Dolphin fans are Hurricane fans. So expect Tim Tebow and even current Dolphins center Mike Pouncey to get booed profusely. This won't end well. Miami is not Gator country. So the Dolphins should leave the Gators halftime celebrations to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

2. New York Jets offense: The Jets' first-team offense scored seven points on seven possessions last week. Quarterback Mark Sanchez connected with receiver Santonio Holmes for a 17-yard touchdown before halftime in a 17-3 victory over the New York Giants. But the Jets' other six possessions from the starting offense netted just 56 yards. The offensive line struggled with run blocking and the timing was off in the passing game. The Jets have to be more crisp offensively before their Sept. 11 regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

3. New England Patriots' pass defense: It's always risky to make too much of a preseason performance for a veteran team like New England. But it's hard to ignore the Patriots' shaky pass defense in a 34-10 loss to the Detroit Lions. Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford carved up New England's secondary. He was 12-for-14 passing for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Stafford was doing so well against New England that the Lions pulled him before halftime of the third preseason game.

Rising

1. Chad Henne, Dolphins quarterback: Is Henne turning the corner? Miami hopes last week's performance against Tampa Bay in the "dress rehearsal" game was a sign of things to come. Henne was 10-of-13 for 175 yards and a touchdown. He started hot right away with a pair of long connections to tight end Anthony Fasano and receiver Brandon Marshall. Henne capped the opening drive with a 60-yard touchdown to Marshall. This is a big season for Henne, who has to prove he's worthy of being Miami's starting quarterback.

2. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills quarterback: Fitzpatrick was nearly perfect in Buffalo's 35-32 win over Jacksonville. Fitzpatrick was 11-of-12 for 165 yards and two touchdowns. He had a 158.3 passer rating. Fitzpatrick was aggressive downfield. He connected with receiver Steve Johnson for several nice plays, including a 52-yard touchdown reception.

3. David Harris, Jets linebacker: Harris looks ready for the regular season. He had seven tackles, two pass defenses and an interception against the Giants. Harris' pick was a slick call by Jets coach Rex Ryan. The Jets sent a zone-blitz and dropped Harris into the flat. The blitz confused Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who threw the ball right into the zone Harris occupied. Harris returned the pick seven yards.

WHAT IT MEANS: So the New York Jets captured the Snoopy trophy as the winner of the first annual MetLife Bowl against the New York Giants. Yawn. Based on the way his team played, Rex Ryan should punt the trophy. Forget about the final score, 17-3; the Jets’ starters were badly outplayed in the first half, out gained 209 to 61. The offense was a disaster and the Jets made dumb penalties. Basically, they played like they didn’t give a hoot about the preseason.

WOE IS O: Mark Sanchez & Co. was brutal. Can you say “regression”? In seven possessions, the Jets’ starting offense punted five times, lost a fumble (Sanchez) and, somehow, saved face with a touchdown -- a 17-yard pass to Santonio Holmes. They probably wouldn’t have scored the touchdown if it weren’t for Antonio Cromartie, who set up the offense at the Giants’ 35 with a 70-yard kickoff return.

Sanchez (8-for-16, 64 yards) was off his game from the outset, appearing indecisive as he made his reads. But this mess wasn’t all his fault. The pass protection was shoddy and his receivers, namely Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason, couldn’t gain separation against the Giants’ cornerbacks. That could be something to watch, as Burress and Mason -- 34 and 37, respectively -- aren’t the fastest guys around.

The starters won’t play in Thursday night’s finale against the Eagles, which means the No. 1 offense scored only three touchdowns in 5 1/2 quarters for the preseason. Blech!

DUMB & DUMBER: The Jets were undisciplined, committing five major penalties. The biggest blunder came from rookie defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, who was ejected in the third quarter after taking a swing at running back Brandon Jacobs. Jacobs swung back, so he, too, was tossed. Wilkerson, whom the Jets are counting on to be a starter, deserves an earful from Ryan. That is unacceptable behavior.

But Wilkerson wasn’t the only guilty Jet. Right taclke Wayne Hunter (unsportsmanlike conduct), safety Brodney Pool (chop block on a punt), safety Emanuel Cook (facemask) and cornerback Donald Strickland (unnecessary roughness) all committed 15-yard penalties. Shame on them.

All told, the Jets had seven penalties for 79 yards, including a holding call on wide receiver Courtney Smith that nullified a touchdown run by backup quarterback Greg McElroy.

THE PLAX EFFECT: Burress doesn’t need to touch the ball to have an impact on the game. You saw that on Holmes’ touchdown reception. Burress lined up in the right slot, with Holmes on the outside, against the Giants’ three-by-two coverage. Safety Kenny Phillips rolled toward Burress, leaving Holmes in man-to-man against cornerback Corey Webster. Phillips tried to get back, but it was too late. Holmes ran a post route and got open in the back of the end zone.

Aside from that contribution, Burress’ anticipated matchup against his old team turned out to be a big zero -- as in zero catches. Burress, coming off his sensational debut against the Bengals, was targeted four times. In fact, Sanchez completed only four passes to his wideouts.

OPPORTUNISTIC D: For a team with a very good defense, the Jets made an alarmingly low number of interceptions last season (12). So far, they seem to be reversing the trend. Safety Jim Leonhard and linebacker David Harris intercepted two of Manning's passes, giving the Jets six picks in three games (two by Leonhard). Leonhard’s interception was set up by Harris, who came on an inside blitz and slammed Manning.

BEND BUT DON’T BREAK: Aside from the interceptions, the Jets’ No. 1 defense did some nice things in one half of play, holding the Giants to 2-for-8 on third down and 0-for-1 in the red zone. But -- and this is a big "but" -- they were pushed around between the 20s. The Jets allowed 209 total yards in the first half, uncharacteristic for a Rex Ryan-coached defense. Their conventional pass rush was nowhere to be found and there were a couple of missed tackles in the open field, including a big one by linebacker Bart Scott.

THE NEW BRAD: The Jets finally unveiled their 2011 version of the Wildcat, with rookie wide receiver Jeremy Kerley -- no surprise -- taking the direct snap and playing the role of Brad Smith. The Jets ran it four times, resulting in 39 yards. Kerley ran twice for 13 yards, handed off to Joe McKnight for eight and threw a pass -- yes, a pass! -- to Matt Mulligan for 18. That will give the Cowboys a little extra to think about as they prepare for the season opener.

Sean McCormick of Football Outsiders takes a look at the biggest remaining questions for each team in the AFC East in this ESPN.com Insider piece. Here's a snippet of what he thinks of each team:

Buffalo Bills:

There was simply no way the Bills were going to be able to adequately address all their holes in the space of a single offseason, and to their credit, they haven't thrown lots of money around trying to. Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't a long-term solution at quarterback -- he may not even be a short-term solution -- but there were no surefire prospects worth burning a top-five draft pick on, and the free agent pickings were slim, particularly if you didn't want to give away the farm for Kevin Kolb. …

The right tackle spot, however, isn't a hole but a canyon, and it doesn't look like Buffalo has done enough to address it. The Bills were 30th in adjusted line yards on runs off right tackle, but that doesn't begin to tell the tale.

Miami Dolphins:

If you were to simply look at the statistics, quarterback would not necessarily be the biggest hole on the Dolphins. Safety Chris Clemons struggled badly getting to the sidelines to provide help over the top and offenses frequently targeted him in isolation in the deep middle of the field; the interior line could use some more help even after Mike Pouncey is inserted into the starting lineup and of course, the special teams were consistently horrific from beginning to end. …

Of course, there are lots of things that statistics don't cover, and it's those things that turned Henne's season from disappointing to catastrophic. Brandon Marshall publicly allied with backup Tyler Thigpen, and took his grievances with Henne to the airwaves, complaining about Henne's refusal to throw him the ball with sufficient frequency. Henne was benched during the season, reclaimed his starting job only because of injuries, and then was injured himself.

New England Patriots:

The hot story out of Providence is that Bill Belichick seems to be abandoning his traditional 3-4 defense in favor of a 4-3, and that the Patriots have primarily been working with 4-3 Under and Over fronts in the first days of training camp. The release of Ty Warren and the trade for Albert Haynesworth could be viewed as additional evidence of a shift, as Warren is a prototypical five-technique while Haynesworth has done his best work in a 4-3 set. The real issue is finding someone who can rush off the edge, whether standing up or from a three-point stance.

New York Jets:

Aside from his foray into the Nnamdi Asomugha sweepstakes, general manager Mike Tannenbaum has largely been content to re-sign his players or to extend the contracts of younger stars. The big name was obviously Santonio Holmes, but Tannenbaum also locked up Antonio Cromartie and Eric Smith, extended David Harris another four years, and returned Donald Strickland, who had played for the team in 2009, to replace the departed Drew Coleman. Although maintaining continuity isn't always a good thing -- Carolina's decision to spend vast sums to return the young core of their 2-14 team comes immediately to mind -- the Jets fielded one of the most talented teams in the league last season, and the talent was fairly evenly distributed on both offense and defense.

If the Jets are going to take a step forward, they don't necessarily need to sign a bunch of free agents. What they do need is for Mark Sanchez to take another step forward in his development, and preferably a big step. So how best to ensure that your young quarterback has all the weapons he needs? How about signing a 34-year-old receiver who has been in jail for the past two years?

The countdown of my top 25 AFC East players concludes here ...

About the choice: Tom Brady was the unanimous MVP and received every All-Pro vote after leading the New England Patriots to a 14-2 record and another AFC East crown. He had one of his finest seasons despite an overhaul of the offense. The Patriots traded No. 1 receiver Randy Moss, relied heavily on rookie tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez and found ways to help undrafted running backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead thrive. Brady led the NFL with 36 touchdowns and threw just four interceptions. He threw an interception to New York Jets linebacker David Harris in the playoffs, but his NFL-record streak of 335 attempts without an interception technically remains intact heading into 2011. Also still intact is Brady's record of nine straight games with at least two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Brady became the sixth quarterback since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978 to throw a touchdown pass each game.

Key fact: Brady owns a 111-32 regular-season record, giving him the best winning percentage of any quarterback to begin his career in the Super Bowl era.

The complete rundown:

1. Tom Brady, Patriots quarterback
2. Darrelle Revis, Jets cornerback
3. Jake Long, Dolphins left tackle
4. Vince Wilfork, Patriots nose tackle
5. Nick Mangold, Jets center
6. Logan Mankins, Patriots left guard
7. Jerod Mayo, Patriots inside linebacker
8. Cameron Wake, Dolphins outside linebacker
9. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Jets left tackle
10. Santonio Holmes, Jets receiver
11. Kyle Williams, Bills defensive tackle
12. Brandon Marshall, Dolphins receiver
13. David Harris, Jets inside linebacker
14. Devin McCourty, Patriots cornerback
15. Wes Welker, Patriots receiver
16. Karlos Dansby, Dolphins linebacker
17. Fred Jackson, Bills running back
18. Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots right tackle
19. Steve Johnson, Bills receiver
20. Vontae Davis, Dolphins cornerback
21. Bart Scott, Jets inside linebacker
22. Randy Starks, Dolphins defensive lineman
23. Dustin Keller, Jets tight end
24. Kendall Langford, Dolphins defensive end
25. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots tight end

The countdown of my top 25 AFC East players continues, one weekday at a time ...

About the choice: Darrelle Revis is a superstar cover cornerback and the key to the New York Jets' defense. His lockdown skills allow the players in front of him to get creative in Rex Ryan's aggressive defense, but he's also solid against the run and is an efficient tackler. Revis has been voted to the Pro Bowl three years running and chosen first-team All-Pro the past two seasons, overcoming a hamstring injury that impaired him for the first two games and then forced him off the field until Week 5. But he rebounded to elite form. From Halloween through Thanksgiving, he limited Greg Jennings, Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson and Terrell Owens to nine catches for 74 yards.

Key fact: In their playoff game, Revis kept Indianapolis Colts receiver Reggie Wayne to one catch for 1 yard.

Hint about No. 1: If you don't know by now, then you shouldn't be trusted with a computer.

Previous picks:

• 3. Jake Long, Dolphins left tackle
• 4. Vince Wilfork, Patriots nose tackle
• 5. Nick Mangold, Jets center
• 6. Logan Mankins, Patriots left guard
• 7. Jerod Mayo, Patriots inside linebacker
• 8. Cameron Wake, Dolphins outside linebacker
• 9. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Jets left tackle
• 10. Santonio Holmes, Jets receiver
• 11. Kyle Williams, Bills defensive tackle
• 12. Brandon Marshall, Dolphins receiver
• 13. David Harris, Jets inside linebacker
• 14. Devin McCourty, Patriots cornerback
• 15. Wes Welker, Patriots receiver
• 16. Karlos Dansby, Dolphins linebacker
• 17. Fred Jackson, Bills running back
• 18. Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots right tackle
• 19. Steve Johnson, Bills receiver
• 20. Vontae Davis, Dolphins cornerback
• 21. Bart Scott, Jets inside linebacker
• 22. Randy Starks, Dolphins defensive lineman
• 23. Dustin Keller, Jets tight end
• 24. Kendall Langford, Dolphins defensive end
• 25. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots tight end

The countdown of my top 25 AFC East players continues, one weekday at a time ...

About the choice: Jake Long has lived up to the expectations of being the No. 1 overall pick of the 2008 draft. The Miami Dolphins' left tackle has been selected to the Pro Bowl each of his three NFL seasons and was voted first-team All-Pro last season. Long played with an injured shoulder that hindered his effectiveness for the final seven games. STATS Inc. had him down for six sacks and eight penalties (both career-highs), but he has been the sentry on an offensive line the Dolphins have over-tinkered with since he joined the club.

Key fact: Long is one of only three players since the NFL-AFL merger to be drafted first overall and chosen for the Pro Bowl his first three seasons. The others are running backs Earl Campbell and Billy Sims. Campbell is the only one to make four straight.

Hint about No. 2: It's either Darrelle Revis or Tom Brady.

Previous picks:

• 4. Vince Wilfork, Patriots nose tackle
• 5. Nick Mangold, Jets center
• 6. Logan Mankins, Patriots left guard
• 7. Jerod Mayo, Patriots inside linebacker
• 8. Cameron Wake, Dolphins outside linebacker
• 9. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Jets left tackle
• 10. Santonio Holmes, Jets receiver
• 11. Kyle Williams, Bills defensive tackle
• 12. Brandon Marshall, Dolphins receiver
• 13. David Harris, Jets inside linebacker
• 14. Devin McCourty, Patriots cornerback
• 15. Wes Welker, Patriots receiver
• 16. Karlos Dansby, Dolphins linebacker
• 17. Fred Jackson, Bills running back
• 18. Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots right tackle
• 19. Steve Johnson, Bills receiver
• 20. Vontae Davis, Dolphins cornerback
• 21. Bart Scott, Jets inside linebacker
• 22. Randy Starks, Dolphins defensive lineman
• 23. Dustin Keller, Jets tight end
• 24. Kendall Langford, Dolphins defensive end
• 25. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots tight end