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This week the AFC East blog will look at each division team and examine the biggest needs entering free agency and the draft. On Tuesday we start with the New York Jets, who finished 8-8 last season.

No. 1 need: Safety

Analysis: The Jets are hurting badly at safety. Opponents found the weakness in New York's defense last season by avoiding corners Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie and attacking the middle of the field. The Jets allowed several big games by tight ends last season. Starting safety Jim Leonhard is coming off a season-ending knee injury and is a free agent. He probably won't find a job until he's 100 percent again, which could be several months down the line. The other starter, Eric Smith, struggled mightily in 2011. The Jets need upgrades at both safety spots, making it doubly tough to fill this position. Look for New York to address this need in both the draft and free agency. Fortunately for New York, there are plenty of good safeties entering free agency this year.

No. 2 need: Right tackle

Analysis: The Jets surprised many by guaranteeing Wayne Hunter’s contract for 2012, but that doesn't guarantee he will be a starter. Hunter was very inconsistent last season, and the Jets need help at right tackle to give quarterback Mark Sanchez enough time in the pocket. Hunter was better in a backup role than as a full-time starter. Perhaps getting help at right tackle would upgrade the starting position and help Hunter, who would be in a more comfortable role.

No. 3 need: Receiver

Analysis: With starting receiver Plaxico Burress about to hit free agency and unlikely to return, the Jets need to find another starting-caliber receiver for their 25th-ranked offense. Jeremy Kerley (a 2011 draft pick) showed flashes last season. He caught 29 passes for 314 yards and one touchdown. But Kerley may not be ready for a starting role. The Jets could use a big and fast receiver via the draft or free agency to pair with Santonio Holmes.

That is our list. But feel free to let the AFC East blog know what you think New York's biggest need is by voting in our SportsNation poll.

The New York Jets have a lot of questions entering free agency. They have a lengthy list of names about to hit the market, spelled out clearly by Brian McIntyre of the well-respected Mac's Football blog.

Here's the list:

Restricted

• TE Matthew Mulligan
• LB Aaron Maybin
• LB Jamaal Westerman
• CB Marquice Cole

Unrestricted

• QB Mark Brunell
• QB Kevin O'Connell
• RB LaDainian Tomlinson
• WR Plaxico Burress
• OL Robert Turner
• DT Sione Pouha
• LB Bryan Thomas
• CB Donald Strickland
• S Jim Leonhard
• S Brodney Pool
• K Nick Folk

Analysis: There are not many "must-haves" on this list. The Jets already are strapped for salary-cap space and had locker-room issues. I expect plenty of turnover in free agency. Big names like Tomlinson and Burress are not expected to return on offense, and injuries suffered by Leonhard (knee) and Thomas (Achilles tendon) will hurt their chances to come back on the defense. If I had to pick two players from this unrestricted group who could return, it would be Folk and Pouha. But both would have to be at the right price. In terms of restricted players, I think Maybin is a guy the Jets will keep. They found a niche for him in New York and gave him a chance to jumpstart his career. Maybin also was one of the team's best pass-rushers last season.

Free agency begins in less than two months. Teams around the league are planning their strategies and figuring out which big names to pursue.

But where teams stand with the $120-million salary cap next season will be an indicator of which will be aggressive and which won't.

Let's take an early look at the projected 2012 cap numbers in the AFC East:

Buffalo Bills (6-10)

Projected cap: $105.5 million

Key free agents: WR Steve Johnson, TE Scott Chandler, K Rian Lindell

Analysis: The Bills are looking pretty good entering free agency. General manager Buddy Nix says the team will spend to the cap this year. The first order of business is deciding on Johnson's future. The two sides are still a ways apart and I think it's a 50-50 proposition. With or without Johnson, Buffalo has the space to acquire impact players. We mentioned Houston Texans defensive end/linebacker and unrestricted free agent Mario Williams as a possibility to help the Bills' pass rush. But getting Williams -- or any top free agent -- to come to Buffalo will be a tough sell.

Miami Dolphins (6-10)

Projected cap: $114.3 million

Key free agents: DT Paul Soliai, G Vernon Carey, QB Chad Henne

Analysis: The Dolphins are in decent (but not great) shape with the cap. There will be an interesting dynamic in Miami to keep an eye on this offseason. Usually when a new coach comes in, there is huge turnover in the coach's first season. But that probably won't happen with general manager Jeff Ireland still in charge of the 53-man roster. Ireland is not going to cut many of the players he helped bring to Miami. But the Dolphins would have to do something if they want to make enough room to make a splash for a big free agent. Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn is a good example.

New England Patriots (13-3)

Projected cap: $99.9 million

Key free agents: WR Wes Welker, DE Andre Carter, WR Deion Branch

Analysis: It's amazing that the best team in the AFC East also is in the best shape with the cap. The Patriots have done a masterful job and have plenty of money to spend in free agency if they choose. A big chunk of it will go to Welker, who is due for a nice payday. New England won't let Welker slip away. The Patriots also have the tools to acquire defensive help in free agency, as well as sign their two first-round picks and two second-round picks in the draft. The Patriots are in position to be a major force again next season.

New York Jets (8-8)

Projected cap: $125 million

Key free agents: WR Plaxico Burress, DT Sione Pouha, S Jim Leonhard

Analysis: The Jets are the only AFC East team projected to be over the cap. This was a team built to win now and it didn't work out; now New York has to make some trimmings on the roster if it wants to do anything in free agency. There's a good chance Burress and Leonhard won't return. Pouha is a good player and could come back at the right price. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson also is a free agent. But his role was drastically reduced this past season and it's unlikely he will return. Tomlinson is contemplating retirement.

Plenty of focus this week has been on the New England Patriots, who are the only division team remaining in the playoffs. However, let's briefly put the spotlight on the other three teams already planning for the offseason ahead.

Here is one free-agency question we have for each team.

1. Will the Miami Dolphins go after Matt Flynn?

Analysis: Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was clear in saying the team needs a long-term franchise quarterback to make it to the next level. Matt Moore is a great backup and part-time starter. But he is not capable of leading Miami to a Super Bowl. Unfortunately for Miami, the team is in a tough spot trying to find a starting quarterback. The Dolphins will pick No. 8 or No. 9 in the NFL draft, depending on a coin flip with the Carolina Panthers. Miami’s pick will be too low to land Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck or Baylor’s Robert Griffin III in April’s draft. It’s possible the Dolphins could look to move up into the top three picks. But there are no guarantees. Moving up would be costly and other quarterback-needy teams could be interested in doing the same. Something the Dolphins could control is pursuing pending Green Bay Packers free-agent quarterback Matt Flynn. He has been Aaron Rodgers' backup for four years and is looking to get his own opportunity next season. Flynn looked great in limited playing time. He threw for 480 yards and six touchdowns in Green Bay’s Week 17 victory over the Detroit Lions. That performance will make Flynn a lot of money if he hits the open market. The Dolphins should be one of the first suitors in line.

2. Do the New York Jets need two safeties?

Analysis: It’s easy to focus on the quarterback position. But any chance of the Jets trading for or signing Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is mere speculation unless he becomes available. But what is clear is New York needs a lot of help at the safety position. Starter Jim Leonhard and top backup Brodney Pool are both free agents, and Eric Smith struggled last season. The Jets may need to sign and/or draft two starting-caliber safeties next season. Opponents eventually figured out you can attack New York’s defense by avoiding the corners and throwing over the middle. Tight ends, in particular, had huge days against the Jets’ defense. Teams will continue to attack the Jets over the middle next season unless they drastically upgrade at safety.

3. Will the Buffalo Bills really chase big names?

Analysis: I like what I’m hearing from Buffalo general manager Buddy Nix. According to Nix, Buffalo can -- and will -- spend to the salary cap this offseason. That should be music to Bills fans’ ears. Buffalo has been notorious for not doing much in free agency. Nix and head coach Chan Gailey both know 2012 is a big year for the current regime. The Bills are showing slight improvement (4-12 in 2010, 6-10 in 2011) but need to make a bigger jump next season. Spending to the cap would help. The Bills have big holes at several key positions and there are a lot of players available. A pass-rusher is perhaps the Bills’ biggest need. One player I’d like to see on Buffalo’s radar would be Houston Texans defensive end/linebacker Mario Williams. The former No. 1 overall pick will be an unrestricted free agent coming off a season-ending pectoral injury. Houston’s defense finished second in total defense and looked fine without Williams. If the Texans aren’t willing to pay a huge extension or give Williams the franchise tag, he could provide the pass rush the Bills need.

Here are seven notes an observations on the AFC East in Week 15:

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Ron Chenoy/US PresswirePatriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, 81, had nine catches for 129 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.
• With Rob Gronkowski's emergence with the New England Patriots, you almost forget how good fellow tight end Aaron Hernandez is. The Denver Broncos certainly forgot about Hernandez in coverage. He led the game with nine receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown. It was clear Denver's strategy was to stop Gronkowski, who is having a monster season. That didn't bother Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who went away from "Gronk" and targeted Hernandez a team-high 11 times. Gronkowski only caught four passes for 53 yards and had his touchdown streak end at six games. But Hernandez also is a top-10 tight end. He's just not as consistent as Gronkowski and had a few drops this season. But Hernandez needs to stay ready, especially in the playoffs, if future opponents decide to put most of their attention on Gronkowski.
• The Patriots won convincingly, but their run defense in the first quarter was atrocious. The holes, missed tackles and not getting off blocks Sunday was the worst I’ve seen from New England all season. Fortunately, quarterback Tom Brady and the offense scored enough points to force Denver to throw the ball in the second half. The Broncos rushed for 252 yards, including 167 in the first quarter. If it was a closer game, New England’s defense could have allowed 300-plus yards on the ground.
• The New York Jets clearly missed injured safety Jim Leonhard in Sunday's 45-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. New York blew a lot of coverages over the middle and could not guard Eagles tight end Brent Celek. Philadelphia’s tight end had a monster game, with five receptions for 156 yards and one touchdown. Celek’s longest catch was for 73 yards. Teams have been attacking New York’s defense over the middle this season, because its corners are so good. But there is a big drop off at safety, especially when Leonhard is out of the game. The Jets need to consider this in the offseason when Leonhard becomes a free agent.
• Right tackle is definitely a spot the Jets need to upgrade next season. Right tackle Wayne Hunter has struggled in nearly every Jets game I’ve seen in person. Philadelphia defensive end Jason Babin took Hunter to school Sunday to the tune of three sacks. Hunter does not have quick feet and gets pushed around too often. New York drafted Vladimir Ducasse in the second round in 2010 with hopes that he could develop into a starter. But Ducasse remains a raw project, and the team cannot afford to wait another year. The Jets need to find someone on that side of the offensive line to protect Sanchez.
• The Buffalo Bills' were horrendous on third downs in a 30-23 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The Bills were 0-for-11 on third-down conversions. Buffalo also was 0-for-12 on third downs against Miami in its first meeting in Week 11. It's scary to think the Bills couldn’t get a third-down conversion all season against the Dolphins.
• The Buffalo News reported this weekend that Bills receiver Steve Johnson could be seeking a contract worth $8.5-$9 million per season. If that's the case, the Bills should let Johnson test the open market. I expect Buffalo to make a push to keep Johnson this offseason but only at a price the team is comfortable with. The Bills know Johnson's strengths and weaknesses, and they most likely agree he's not a $9-million-a-year player. Johnson is a good player and a good teammate. But he's not an elite No. 1 receiver who can single-handedly take over games. Johnson only has one 100-yard game all season. Plus, receiver is one of the easiest positions in the NFL to replace.
• If the season ended today, both the Dolphins (5-9) and Bills (5-9) would have top-10 picks. Buffalo would own the 10th overall pick. The Dolphins would draft ninth, despite sweeping Buffalo this season, because they had the easier schedule. Both teams would be in position to land a top prospect. But Miami is starting to hurt its chances of landing a top quarterback.

The New York Jets are in an eerily similar spot this year without starting free safety Jim Leonhard.

The quarterback of New York’s secondary will miss the final stretch of games for the second consecutive season following a knee injury Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Leonhard was put on injured reserve.

In 2010, Leonhard broke his shin in practice before Week 13 and things didn't go well for New York's defense. The Jets were just 2-3 without Leonhard and, according to ESPN's Stats and Information, allowed 5.4 more points per game.

The difference this year is the Jets (8-5) did not get off to a fast start. The Jets are fighting for their playoffs lives and cannot afford to lose three games down the stretch like they did last season. New York controls its own playoff destiny but has to win out to guarantee the sixth seed in the AFC.

Beackup safety Brodney Pool has the important assignment of filling in for Leonhard the rest of the year. Pool is the team’s most athletic safety. But the team loses versatility and deep knowledge of the defense without Leonhard.

As expected, the New York Jets placed injured safety Jim Leonhard (knee) on injured reserve, ending his 2011 season. Leonhard had his leg twisted following a second-quarter interception in Sunday’s 37-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Leonhard will be replaced by backup safety Brodney Pool for the rest of the year. New York (8-5) currently holds the final wild-card spot in the AFC and has won three straight games.

The New York Jets' locker room didn't seem optimistic about Jim Leonhard's knee injury after Sunday's 37-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. And according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, it was for good reason.

Mehta reports that Leonhard will be out for the season with a knee injury. Leonhard's leg was twisted after making a second-quarter interception that led to a New York touchdown.

This is an important loss for the Jets. Leonhard played for several years in head coach Rex Ryan's system with the Jets and Baltimore Ravens. In many ways, Leonhard was the quarterback on the back end and New York's best safety.

Brodney Pool will fill in for Leonhard and combine with safety Eric Smith.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Jets lead the Kansas City Chiefs, 28-3, at intermission.

Here are some notes at halftime:

• With the game already in hand, the biggest news is the injury to Jets starting safety Jim Leonhard. He injured his right knee following a second-quarter interception when his leg was twisted on the tackle. He was unable to put any weight on his knee and was carted to the sideline. Leonhard won't return in this game. The Jets may have to play without him for an extended period.
• Jets running back Shonn Greene is having a good game. Green’s first carry went for 31 yards. He has 67 yards rushing, 58 yards receiving and a touchdown. Greene now has four touchdowns in his last two games.
• The Jets are confusing Chiefs quarterback Tyler Palko. New York has kept players in his face all first half and has three sacks. The Jets also rushed Palko into a key interception to Leonhard that led to a second-quarter touchdown. Palko is 3 of 8 for 11 yards and the turnover.
• New York (7-5) isn't getting much help in the wild-card chase. The Cincinnati Bengals (7-5) hold the final wild-card spot and lead the Houston Texans, 16-3, at halftime.

Here are the most interesting stories Tuesday morning in the AFC East:

• Buffalo Bills coach Chan Gailey says his 2011 team is better than last year's team.

Morning take: I agree with this statement. Buffalo was just 4-12 last season and already surpassed that win total. But Bills fans would feel better if they finished strong.

• Two teams reportedly have expressed interest in former Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher.

Morning take: Could the Miami Dolphins be one of those teams? Miami owner Stephen Ross isn't tipping his hand. Ross will wait until after the season to make his decision.

• New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady wasn't happy with the way they finished against the winless Indianapolis Colts.

Morning take: It is Brady's responsibility as a leader not to be happy. New England clearly let up. The Patriots allowed 21 fourth-quarter points to an inferior team. But I think they learned their lesson.

• New York Jets safety Jim Leonhard is taking over punt return duties.

Morning take: With big games and bad weather, this is the time of year when ball security is essential. The Jets have been fumbling around a little too much on special teams, and Leonhard is their most sure-handed returner.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- For everyone who wrote off the New England Patriots after a rare, two-game losing streak, shame on you.

For those who thought Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was no longer capable of winning big games, shame on you, too.

For those who thought Patriots coach Bill Belichick couldn't find a way to improve the NFL's worst defense, how could you do such a thing?

I tried to warn you. Until further notice, the AFC East remains the "Brady and Belichick division." It's been that way for the past decade, as New England's power pair led the Patriots to eight division titles the past 10 seasons.

New England is well on its way to clinching its ninth division title in 11 seasons following Sunday night's convincing 37-16 victory over the New York Jets.

The Patriots essentially hold a two-game lead with seven games remaining. New England also has the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL. Barring an unexpected collapse, the Patriots will be adding another AFC East title to their collection and hosting a playoff game in January.

Even Jets coach Rex Ryan was willing to concede the division afterward.

"It looks doubtful right now," Ryan said candidly. "What am I going to say? Maybe I should guarantee the fact that we’re out of it. The last time I did that, we made the playoffs. Yeah, we don't have a chance."

Surprised? You shouldn't be. All you have to do is remember your history.

The Belichick and Brady-led Patriots always respond well to adversity. They like being the underdogs. They thrive on it.

New England also is a great team late in the season. The Patriots improved to 54-13 in the second half of the regular season since 2003.

This was the first time in years New England was being counted out. The Patriots had lost two straight, the defense was awful, and the Jets were the hot team and 4-0 at home.

The Patriots were being written off as has-beens, a relic of the past.

“That doesn't matter, people can say whatever they want," Patriots left tackle Matt Light said. “[The media] can keep writing bad things or good things, it won't affect us. We will be all right."

The Patriots are more than all right, especially when Brady is playing at his usually Pro Bowl form.

Brady was stellar against New York's talented pass defense. He made all the key throws when the Patriots needed it, particularly in the second half. Brady threw for 329 yards, three touchdowns and had a 118.4 passer rating.

New England's offensive line didn't allow a sack, and a comfortable Brady picked the Jets apart. He spread his 26 completions among six receivers. Even Chad Ochocinco got into the act with two catches for 65 yards, including a 53-yard play in the second quarter.

Brady continually put pressure on the Jets' offense to respond. Eventually, New York and quarterback Mark Sanchez couldn't keep pace.

Belichick drew up a great scheme on defense. New England entered the game ranked last in total defense and pass defense. But the Patriots came hard after Sanchez.

New England registered five sacks -- 4.5 by defensive end Andre Carter -- and hit Sanchez nine times total. The pressure eventually forced Sanchez into costly errors, such as his pick-six to Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich in the fourth quarter to seal the game.

The Patriots' defensive performance provides momentum for the second half of the season. Sixteen points is tied for the fewest points allowed by New England this season.

"Any given Sunday we have a chance to showcase what you're about defensively," Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington said. "This was one of the biggest stages -- Sunday night football -- and for us to come out and play relatively well, it's monumental. It speaks volumes."

Belichick's explanation for New England's improved defense was simple, as usual.

"We did a good job of winning one-on-one matchups," Belichick said. "There's no magic wand or anything."

The Patriots aren't perfect. But they are significantly better than the rest of the AFC East.

New York is a very flawed team. The offense has a leaky line and is inconsistent in both the running and passing games. Sanchez also has a lot left to prove. The Jets' strength is defense. But even that unit fails to show up every week. The Jets often looked confused and disorganized against the Patriots.

The third-place Bills are 2-4 in their last six games and sinking fast. Buffalo was trounced Sunday by the Dallas Cowboys, 44-7. The Bills’ defense needs a lot of work, and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is too streaky for Buffalo to be considered a legitimate threat to win the AFC East. The Bills beat New England in the first meeting. But Buffalo has a lot of work to do to remain in contention by the time these two teams meet again in Week 17.

Jets players, like their head coach, were talking in the locker room as though the AFC East race is over.

"Obviously, there is a lot of frustration," Jets safety Jim Leonhard said. "It was a big goal of ours to go ahead and win this division and we put ourselves in a hole again. I'm not saying it can't happen, but it's unlikely to happen at this point."

The Jets have seen this story unfold before. The Patriots -- thanks to Brady and Belichick -- still own the AFC East.

The rematch between the New England Patriots (5-3) and New York Jets (5-3) will take place Sunday night in prime time. It is one of the NFL's best rivalries, and first place in the AFC East will be on the line.

Jets starting safety Jim Leonhard spoke with New York reporters Monday and provided some early thoughts on New England.

(On being tied for the AFC East lead)

Leonhard: We've known all along that it's going to come down to November and December. We had our rough patch earlier this year, but we came out of it and now everything's in front of us. We know we need to play well. They are who they are. They're a great football team and we need to come out and play well.

(On whether he's surprised New England lost two in a row)

Leonhard: It happens. They're not invincible. They're a great football team, but they've got beat by some pretty good teams, as well. I don't think they're going to panic up in New England, and we're not going to feel sorry for them, either.

If you thought last week was wild in the blog with Jets-Bills, wait until this week with the Patriots-Jets grudge match.

Stay tuned.

We have a big, cross-division meeting between two familiar foes in Week 4.

Using our SportsNation poll, we ask who will win Sunday's prime-time matchup between the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens? Take your pick.

Both teams are 2-1 and have similar philosophies. The Ravens and Jets thrive off their physical defenses.

New York is coming off a road loss to the Oakland Raiders. Will Jets coach Rex Ryan be able to rebound against his former team? Ryan and other former Ravens such as linebacker Bart Scott, safety Jim Leonhard and receiver Derrick Mason will be fired up for their return to Baltimore.

Or will the Ravens beat the Jets for the second time in as many seasons? Baltimore looked impressive last weekend, crushing the St. Louis Rams, 37-7. Baltimore also beat the Jets, 10-9, in the 2010 regular-season opener.

Take your pick between these two AFC contenders. You can also share your thoughts and provide a score in the comment section below.

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.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills signed veteran linebacker Kirk Morrison on the same day they placed Reggie Torbor on injured reserve due to pain in his shoulder. The Bills also added free-agent wideout Ruvell Martin.

Why didn't the Bills, a team in dire need of offensive line help, make a play to sign former Pro Bowler Bryant McKinnie, who signed with the Ravens this week?

Miami Dolphins

Cornerback Vontae Davis claims he and fellow corner Sean Smith make up the "best tandem in the league."

Tony Sparano isn't buying the idea that the AFC East is a two-horse race between the Jets and Patriots. Sparano: "I think we’re one of the good teams in this division, and I think anybody that doesn’t believe that is probably going to make a big mistake."

New England Patriots

Andre Carter has never seen a coach as hands-on as Bill Belichick. Carter: "I've probably had five or six head coaches and that's a lot of head coaches in 11-year span. But, by far, I see why he's successful, why he's an X's and O's guy. From special teams to position meetings to just detail in general, I've never seen a coach so hands on."

Belichick took his team on a field trip to watch "The Fighter," a movie based on the life of Lowell, Mass., native Micky Ward, who was on hand to speak with the players and tout his message of perseverance.

New York Jets

Derrick Mason has sky-high expectations for the Jets' offense. Mason: "I think with the personnel we have, the coaching we have, we can be one of the top-scoring teams in the NFL."

The Giants and Jets have moved up the start of their preseason game on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 2 p.m. because of the threat of Hurricane Irene.

Safety Jim Leonhard looks back on the busted play during last season's Jets-Giants preseason game in which Giants quarterback Eli Manning lost his helmet and came away with a nasty gash requiring 12 stitches.