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We are now getting to the top of "Walker's Fab 40." All week, the AFC East blog ranked the top players in the division.

Here are Nos. 9-12:

No. 12: Jake Long, LT, Miami Dolphins

2012 stats: 12 starts

Analysis: It was just a couple of seasons ago when Long was arguably the best left tackle in the NFL. But those times have changed after back-to-back struggling seasons and numerous injuries. Long is on the decline but he's still better than 80 percent of starting left tackles. That will make Long one of the more interesting unrestricted free agents this offseason. Reportedly, Long is seeking $10 million per year. The Dolphins know better than anyone that is a high price for a struggling and injury-prone player. But that doesn't mean another team won't offer Long a large contract based on past performance and name value.

No. 11: Antonio Cromartie, CB, New York Jets

2012 stats: 35 tackles, three INTs

Analysis: Sometimes adversity brings out the best in a player, and that was apparent in 2012 with Cromartie. He raised his game to a new level after star cornerback and teammate Darrelle Revis went down for the year with a knee injury. Cromartie proved he can still be a No. 1 cornerback and guarded the opponent’s best receivers most of last season. Thanks to Cromartie, New York was second in the NFL in pass defense despite not having Revis most of the season. Cromartie's length and athleticism consistently gave receivers fits. He even showed the willingness to lay a few big hits, which is not his strength. The performance landed Cromartie in the Pro Bowl and also could lead the Jets to putting Revis on the trade market.

No. 10: Aaron Hernandez, TE, New England Patriots

2012 stats: 51 receptions, 483 yards, five TDs

Analysis: New England tight ends just could not stay healthy this season. When Hernandez was out, teammate Rob Gronkowski was healthy. But when Gronkowski was out, Hernandez was healthy. Neither tight end really caught their stride in 2012, although the Patriots' offense did fine shuffling them in and out of the lineup. Still, Hernandez is a unique and versatile talent. He has a knack for making dynamic plays and is surprisingly elusive for his size. Hernandez and Gronkowski, also known in the AFC East blog as the "Boston TE Party," will be a matchup problem for opponents for many years to come.

No. 9: Logan Mankins, G, Patriots

2012 stats: 10 starts

Analysis: Mankins had arguably the toughest season of his career, but it was still enough to get voted into the Pro Bowl. Mankins is one of the toughest players in the NFL. He returned early from a torn ACL and made it back for Week 1 of the regular season. Mankins also suffered through hip and calf injuries that hampered his play. Still, Mankins remains one of the top guards in the NFL. He just needs to get back to 100 percent for the Patriots.

The New England Patriots' offensive line has played well this year. But they know a big challenge is ahead Sunday when they face the defensive line of the Houston Texans, led by Pro Bowl defensive end J.J. Watt.

New England did a solid job keeping the Texans off Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the first meeting in Week 14. Houston only sacked Brady once and was trounced by the Patriots, 42-14. Brady had plenty of time in the pocket and threw for four touchdowns.

But New England veteran guard Logan Mankins doesn't expect things to go as smooth in the rematch. He knows the Texans' defensive line will be much more determined.

"Well, it’s going to be really tough," Mankins said "You have probably the best D-lineman in the league in J.J. Watt and then you’ve got Antonio Smith, another very good defensive lineman. So those two together are very tough and then you put all four of them out there at one time and they’re a tough matchup for anyone.

"You see the problems they give teams every week. Cincinnati scored six points on offense, so that says a lot right there, to hold a team to six points in the playoffs."

The Patriots had a lot more success against Houston. New England head coach Bill Belichick did a masterful job of scheming against Watt by keeping extra running backs and tight ends in to protect Brady. Watt was active and still had four tackles and a forced fumble.

Watt is one of the game-changers for Houston who is capable of making huge plays to win this game. And if Mankins says Watt is the best defensive lineman in the NFL, that's very high praise from a credible source.

"It starts with he’s got all of the physical tools: he’s big, strong, fast and then he plays relentless," Mankins explained. "He's a high-motor guy that hustles a lot and he's got a great playing style, so that’s why he's good."

» NFC Pro Bowl: East | West | North | South » AFC Pro Bowl: East | West | North | South

Perfect sense: Most of the seven New England Patriots were easy calls. Quarterback Tom Brady and receiver Wes Welker were immensely productive, as usual, and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork was stout once again. Even Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski made the Pro Bowl despite missing five games with a broken forearm. But Gronkowski still leads AFC tight ends with 10 touchdowns. He averaged a touchdown per game this season. Miami defensive end Cameron Wake made his second Pro Bowl after leading the Dolphins with 15 sacks. Wake also doesn't get enough credit for holding his own against the run in Miami's stout front seven. This nod was well deserved. It also was good to see Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie get credit for his good year by making the Pro Bowl as a reserve. Cromartie really stepped up his game in Darrelle Revis' absence and showed that he is still capable of being a No. 1 corner.

Made it on rep: Most of the selections for the AFC East were solid. However, Patriots guard Logan Mankins wasn't his usual self this season. He came back early from ACL surgery and was bothered by other injuries. Mankins missed six games but was still voted as a starter. Jets safety LaRon Landry has been a bright spot, but I didn't think he had a Pro Bowl year. Still, Landry's 95 tackles, four forced fumbles and two interceptions are proof that he stayed around the football this year. He will be a free agent this offseason and his price tag for the Jets just went up. New York will have salary-cap issues and could have a hard time keeping Landry.

Got robbed: You would be hard pressed to find a center who had a better season than Mike Pouncey of the Dolphins. Pouncey made tremendous strides in his second year but was snubbed in favor of his twin brother, Maurkice Pouncey, of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chris Myers of the Houston Texans. Mike Pouncey was pivotal in Miami rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill's rapid development and tailback Reggie Bush being on pace for his second consecutive 1,000-yard season. Dolphins punter Brandon Fields is another major snub. Fields has been underrated for years and continues to boom kicks. Fields averaged a career-high 50.3 yards per punt and had 26 land inside the 20. Fields was beaten out by Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt. I also tend to have a soft spot for Buffalo Bills tailback C.J. Spiller. After watching him all season, the eye test tells me Spiller is one of the most dynamic talents in the NFL. But his numbers (1,185 yards, six touchdowns) aren't overly impressive because Spiller didn't get enough opportunities. The Bills are the only AFC East team without a Pro Bowl player.

Click here for the complete Pro Bowl roster.

Winning and popularity often go hand and hand.

Want proof? Look no further than the NFL Pro Bowl voting.

The reigning AFC champion New England Patriots are dominating the fan voting from the division. They have two of the top-seven players overall in quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski. Fans also have three New England players voted in the starting lineup: Gronkowski, linebacker Jerod Mayo and guard Logan Mankins. Brady is the second-leading vote getter but trails Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning at his position.

One of the more interesting fan votes is Miami Dolphins punter Brandon Fields. He's been underrated for years and is finally getting noticed.

Fields, who averages 50.4 yards per punt, is trying to make his first Pro Bowl this year.

Here are the most interesting stories Wednesday in the AFC East:

• Is the New England Patriots’ offense built for success in the playoffs?

Morning take: New England’s offense struggled in Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins. But this is a versatile unit that is dangerous in a lot of areas. Once tight end Rob Gronkowski and guard Logan Mankins come back, this group will at full strength.

• Hall of Fame coach Don Shula sees good things ahead for the Dolphins.

Morning take: This offseason will be huge for Miami. The team has the draft picks and cap room to make a jump. But general manager Jeff Ireland must make wise decisions.

• After calling the people who run the New York Jets "idiots,” receiver Braylon Edwards was waived, with an injury designation, by the Seattle Seahawks.

Morning take: I’m not sure if that was a coincidence -- but Edwards would have been better off leaving the Jets comments to himself. At least we know a Gang Green return is not in the works.

• Buffalo Bills tailback C.J. Spiller says everything starts with the running game.

Morning take: Buffalo’s chances of winning increases when the ball is in the hands of Spiller and fellow tailback Fred Jackson. With the elements at play in December, Buffalo should focus on running the ball.

The reigning AFC champion New England Patriots pummeled the rival New York Jets, 49-19, in a snoozer on Thanksgiving. The game was a further indication of how significant the gap is between the Patriots and the rest of the AFC East.

New England will win the division again this season. But there are still five games left to play until the playoffs.

Here are some things New England must take a look at moving forward:

Chase down Houston or Baltimore

The chase for the top two seeds in the AFC is going to be exciting down the stretch. New England (7-3) trails both the Houston Texans (9-1) and Baltimore Ravens (8-2).

Houston is two games up but must play the Patriots in December on “Monday Night Football.” The Ravens beat New England earlier this year and own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

All the Patriots can do is keep winning and hope one of those two teams slip up down the stretch. But New England is guaranteed a home playoff game by locking up the AFC East.

Continue to improve secondary

New England’s struggling secondary is most likely the biggest thing that could derail the team this season. But this group has made strides the past two games.

The trade for talented but troubled cornerback Aqib Talib is paying some early dividens. Talib already has a pick six in his first two games and should only get better once he fully gets used to the system. Rookie cornerback Alfonzo Dennard also is playing well and showing some confidence.

Get healthy for stretch run

It is scary to think that New England is playing this well while not at full strength. Key starters like Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski (arm), Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins (calf) and rookie defensive end Chandler Jones (ankle) are all sidelined with injuries.

The Patriots have performed well through injury and expect all these key plays back by December. This will allow the team to mesh well at full strength before the postseason.

The New England Patriots (7-3) and New York Jets (4-6) released their final injury report for the Thanksgiving game. Here is a look at who is expected to miss the AFC East showdown and what it means for both teams:

Patriots

Out: TE Rob Gronkowski (arm), DE Chandler Jones (ankle), G Logan Mankins (hip, calf)

Questionable: TE Aaron Hernandez (ankle), LB Tracy White (foot), WR Wes Welker (ankle), OT Sebastian Vollmer (back, knee), LB Brandon Spikes (knee), DL Nick McDonald (shoulder), WR Brandon Lloyd (knee), LB Dont'a Hightower (hamstring), S Steve Gregory (hip), G Dan Connolly (back), S Patrick Chung (hamstring), DL Ron Brace (elbow, shoulder)

Probable: WR Julian Edelman (hand), DL Kyle Love (knee), LB Jerod Mayo (elbow)

Analysis: Gronkowski is obviously the big injury for New England. He is expected to miss several weeks with a broken forearm. However, the NFL Network reports Hernandez, who is listed as "questionable," will return from his ankle injury on Thursday. That would be a big boost for New England’s top-rated offense. Jones is a loss, as well. But it’s best for him to sit this game and utilize the long week to try to get back for the next game. The Patriots have a ton of players questionable, but that’s always the case. New England coach Bill Belichick likes to keep opponents (and the media) guessing on who will play.

Jets

Questionable: DL Sione Pouha (back), DL Kenrick Ellis (knee), RB Joe McKnight (ankle), LB Bart Scott (toe), WR Jeremy Kerley (hamstring), DB Aaron Berry (quad), QB Tim Tebow (ribs)

Probable: RB Bilal Powell (shoulder), QB Mark Sanchez (back), OL Brandon Moore (hip), OL Matt Slauson, DL Mike Devito (finger), WR Clyde Gates (shoulder), TE Jeff Cumberland (wrist), LB Calvin Pace (shoulder), WR Stephen Hill (ankle), S LaRon Landry (heel), C Nick Mangold (thumb)

Analysis: The Jets are getting healthier, and they need all their weapons to upset New England. Ellis re-injured his knee last week against the St. Louis Rams and could be the biggest question mark. But I expect pretty much all hands on deck for this game. Everyone practiced at some point during this short week and it’s a huge game. A loss would put to rest any chance of the Jets making the playoffs.

Tom Brady was on injured reserve with a knee injury the last time his New England Patriots visited the Seattle Seahawks.

The year was 2008.

The Seahawks had a 2-10 record. Seneca Wallace was their starting quarterback. Mike Holmgren was their coach. Pete Carroll was at USC.

Now, for the really different part: The Seahawks' defense, currently ranked No. 1 in yards allowed, ranked 30th back then. It had allowed six total rushing and passing touchdowns in its previous two games, one more than the 2012 team has allowed in five games this season.

Brady is back and leading the NFL's top-ranked offense against Seattle's top-ranked defense in Week 6. The teams kick off Sunday afternoon at CenturyLink Field, Brady's first road start against the Seahawks. The matchup has us talking already.

Mike Sando, NFC West blog: The last time an NFC West team drew New England, Arizona pulled off one of the more shocking upsets of the season, holding Brady to 18 points and leaving Gillette Stadium with a 20-18 victory. New England lost Aaron Hernandez to injury in that game. The Patriots have regrouped. They've scored 113 points in three subsequent games. Was that Arizona game an aberration, or should the Seahawks' defense expect similar results?

James Walker, AFC East: It feels like two different offenses since New England’s loss to the Cardinals, Mike. New England looked shell-shocked after losing Hernandez in that game. He's usually such a big part of the Patriots’ game plan that they had trouble adjusting on the fly. But New England made the proper changes. Tight ends no longer are the first option; now receiver Wes Welker is the top target. New England is no longer passing the ball 60 or 70 percent of the time; its run-to-pass ratio was 54-31 this past week against the Denver Broncos. The Patriots also used a no-huddle offense in all four quarters for the first time in that game. Can New England keep up that kind of pace, especially on the road? The Patriots are concerned about crowd noise in Seattle. Will the 12th man affect this game?

Sando: Yeah, the crowd will be a factor because the defense is good enough to make it one. Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo combined for 19 points in Seattle. Brady and the Patriots are playing better offensively than Green Bay or Dallas, though. One key will be whether Brady can get the ball out to Welker quickly enough to avoid Seattle's pass-rushers. Bruce Irvin, Chris Clemons and Jason Jones could have big games against the Patriots' offensive front if Brady holds the ball. But Welker should have a big advantage against nickel corner Marcus Trufant. Welker leads the NFL with 24 receptions from the slot over the past three games. Seattle's opponents haven't gone after Trufant all that much, but St. Louis slot receiver Danny Amendola did give him some problems. Welker is a tough matchup for everyone and should be a tough one for the Seahawks.

Walker: Seattle’s pass rush is the biggest concern for New England. Brady’s sack totals have gone up each of the past three seasons, and he already has been sacked 12 times in five games. Brady is not a young pup anymore and only has so many hits left in his 35-year-old body. New England’s pass protection hasn’t been the same after losing left tackle Matt Light and Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters in the offseason. Right tackle Sebastian Vollmer and guard Logan Mankins also have played hurt this year. The Patriots have done things schematically to counter their shaky pass protection. New England is running the ball more, and the no-huddle has slowed down opponents. But you wonder whether the inconsistent pass protection eventually will catch up to New England this season, especially this weekend against a good Seattle defense.

Sando: Seattle's defense was good last season, and it's better in 2012. This is a legitimate top-five defense with big, pressing cornerbacks and the potential for a strong pass rush, particularly at home. The Seahawks are allowing 3.2 yards per carry overall and 3.0 when we remove quarterback scrambles (Brady isn't exactly a running threat). There's speed at every level of the defense. Holding the Patriots' offense to a reasonable level -- say, somewhere in the 20-point range -- should be realistic as long as Seattle fares OK against Welker. The bigger question is whether Seattle's offense can score enough points to win the game. Russell Wilson is coming off his best game, but the offense isn't putting up enough points.

Walker: New England’s defense has improved in a lot of areas. The front seven is more physical and the pass rush is better, specifically with the addition of first-round pick Chandler Jones. However, New England is still 30th against the pass and continues to give up chunks of yards through the air. The safety play has been horrific at times. I think Seattle’s best chance to win is using play-action over the top. Patriots coach Bill Belichick usually tries to take one thing away, and I assume the focus this week will be Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. There will be plenty of opportunities in the passing game if Wilson can take advantage. Speaking of taking advantage, your NFC West division has crushed the AFC East at nearly every turn. What is going on here? Is this a special year for the NFC West, and will Seattle repeat what the Cardinals did by knocking off the top dog in the AFC East?

Sando: I've gone into several of these nondivision games a little skeptical about whether the NFC West team would score enough to win. The offenses in Arizona, Seattle and St. Louis lag in the rankings. But the defenses and special teams have more than made up the difference. I think Seattle has a winning formula and a good shot at pulling it off, but I still think Brady is more likely than Wilson to reach 20-plus points.

I've had similar thoughts before and been wrong. I really thought some of these top opposing quarterbacks would enjoy greater success against the NFC West. Brady, Jay Cutler, Rodgers, Michael Vick, Robert Griffin III, Romo, Cam Newton and Matthew Stafford are a combined 2-8 against the division, and both victories were against St. Louis. Those quarterbacks have seven touchdown passes and nine picks against the division. Outside the division, NFC West teams have gone 10-0 at home and 11-3 regardless of venue.

I'll probably wind up picking the Patriots, but Seattle's defense gives the Seahawks a good chance.

Walker: It looks as if the AFC East is having a second consecutive down year, and the arrow is certainly pointing up for the NFC West. But the Patriots are a legit team. Barring significant injuries, I expect New England to carry the banner for the division all season. I’m 15-2 predicting AFC East games this year, so I feel pretty confident in my picks. I think New England will pull this one out. The Patriots’ offense is very balanced, and their tempo puts a lot of pressure on teams. If they score points early, it could put too much pressure on Wilson to answer. Wilson has beaten Rodgers, Romo and Newton this year. But I don’t think Wilson will add Brady to that list.

Here are seven notes and observations on Week 4 in the AFC East:

• I liked how the Patriots stashed rookie free-agent running back Brandon Bolden on the roster. Starting tailback Stevan Ridley and backup Shane Vereen were garnering all of the headlines in training camp. But Bolden quietly impressed the Patriots and made the 53-man roster. New England didn't use Bolden much in the first three weeks and suddenly unleashed him against the Buffalo Bills. Bolden led New England with 137 yards and a touchdown. There was little film on Bolden and he caught the Bills off guard.
• Our friend and colleague Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com brought up a good point Sunday about Patriots Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins. Reiss pointed out that Mankins is extremely tough. Since the hip injury kept Mankins out of a big game, it makes you wonder if this is a multigame injury. Mankins didn't make the trip to Buffalo or practice all week. But the Patriots' offensive line stepped up without Mankins and showed they can produce without their best O-lineman.
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  Rick Stewart/Getty ImagesRyan Fitzpatrick had an up-and-down day, throwing four touchdown passes to go with four interceptions.
  It’s gut-check time for the Buffalo Bills. The Bills were embarrassed by the 52-28 loss to New England, and their upcoming schedule is not easy. They play on the road in four of the next five games, and all four road games are against teams with winning records. It starts next week when Buffalo travels to the West Coast to face the San Francisco 49ers (3-1). The Bills then will travel to play the undefeated Arizona Cardinals (4-0), at home against Tennessee (1-3), then on the road against Houston (4-0) and New England (2-2).
• Here is a stat that will scare Bills fans: Buffalo has been outscored 100-56 in two AFC East games against the Patriots and New York Jets. The Bills are just 2-12 against division foes under coach Chan Gailey and look to be far from competitive again in the AFC East. The Bills know they have little chance of getting over the hump if they can't beat teams they play twice a year.
• The Miami Dolphins' run defense continues to amaze. Yes, they lost in overtime for the second straight week. But the Cardinals averaged 1.9 yards per carry on 15 attempts. It got to the point where Arizona basically stopped trying against Miami, which has the top-ranked run defense in the NFL. Defensive tackles Paul Soliai and Randy Starks are two of the best at stuffing the run. They don't make a lot of tackles, but they have good technique and rarely get pushed around. That allows the linebackers and ends to fly to the football. If you like defensive football, it's enjoyable to watch Miami play the run week in and week out.
• Perhaps no player in the AFC East has come further since training camp than Dolphins receiver Brian Hartline. He was virtually forgotten in Miami as a new coaching staff had to do without him most of the offseason due to a calf injury. Hartline slid down the depth chart. But once Hartline got healthy, it was hard for Miami to keep him out the lineup. Hartline took over the starting job in Week 2 and never looked back. He set a Dolphins record Sunday with 12 receptions for 253 yards against the Cardinals. Hartline, who has 455 receiving yards on the season, is just 94 yards shy of last year's total.
• It’s a little too early to bench New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, but the leash gets shorter every week. The bottom line is the Jets are 2-2 and tied for first place in the AFC East. That's enough for Sanchez to keep his job. Yes, Sanchez had a horrendous game against the 49ers. But he's also had two winning performances. The key for Sanchez is not to suffer a long losing streak. The second the Jets lose three in a row, that is when the team will consider backup quarterback Tim Tebow. Thinking back to last year, Kyle Orton of the Denver Broncos lost his job to Tebow in Week 5. Sanchez must have a bounce-back game against the Texans this year in Week 5 to keep Tebow at bay.

It was only the preseason. But in limited time, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady took enough shots this summer to be concerned about the offensive line heading into the regular season.

Brady is 35 and cannot get knocked around at that rate for 16 straight games if New England wants to be successful. But according to Brady, he’s not worried about his pass protection heading into Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.

“Whoever is out there is out there, and whoever’s out there has earned that position,” Brady said in his weekly news conference. “They’ve done what the coaches have asked them to do and there’s a lot of confidence that they’ll be able to do their job. My focus is on quarterback and I’ve got enough to worry about as is.”

New England has few weaknesses on offense. But getting to Brady is the best way to disrupt the Patriots’ high-powered attack. The Patriots hope the healthy returns of right tackle Sebastian Vollmer (back) and an improving Logan Mankins (knee) will lead to more chemistry and better play up front.

Brady is coming off astounding numbers in 2011 where he passed for 5,253 yards and 39 touchdowns. He has the most weapons of his entire career at receiver and tight end and could have another big year. But Brady needs time to find his skill players like receiver Wes Welker and tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

“It’s not like I figured everything out the past four weeks either, so I’ve got to go out there and try to do what my role is and that’s play quarterback,” Brady said. “I let those guys really do what they do -- and they do a good job of doing that and playing offensive line.”

Here are the most interesting stories Monday in the AFC East:

• New England Patriots Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins (knee) is off the physically-unable-to-perform list.

Morning take: This is a great sign for Mankins and the Patriots. I had a lot of questions about Mankins making it back for Week 1, but it looks like there's a solid chance. Mankins surely is needed.

• When will the New York Jets go to their Wildcat package?

Morning take: The Jets are going vanilla in the preseason. Perhaps they prefer to wait until Week 1 to unveil Tim Tebow and Wildcat against the Buffalo Bills. But that would mean only running the formation in practice.

• Bills coach Chan Gailey says Donald Jones still has the edge as the No. 2 receiver.

Morning take: This decision likely won't be made until the final preseason game. But Jones has some starting experience and the deep speed Buffalo needs.

• Miami Dolphins starting linebacker Kevin Burnett was scratched for unknown reasons from the first preseason game.

Morning take: The Dolphins haven't been very forthcoming with injuries. Burnett's is another instance in which we are not sure how or when a player was injured. It's been a rough few days overall for Miami.

The reigning AFC champion New England Patriots began their 2012 preseason with a 7-6 win over the New Orleans Saints.

Here are some notes and observations:

What I liked: It was an impressive night for New England's running game. Second-year tailbacks Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen both were stellar in the Patriots’ preseason debut. Ridley got off to a good start, rushing for 40 yards on eight carries with the first team. Vereen showed his big-play ability by leading New England with 64 yards on 11 carries against the backups. Both tailbacks are pushing for the starting job. There are a lot of questions about New England’s youth at running back, but the preseason opener erased some of those concerns.

What I didn't like: I did not like what I saw from New England's starting offensive line. For now, the Patriots must rely on new faces with the status of right tackle Sebastian Vollmer (back) and guards Logan Mankins (knee) and Brian Waters (personal) up in the air. But the replacements looked out of sync with penalties and missed assignments. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was crunched in the first quarter on a sack and fumbled. He finished 4-of-7 for 30 yards and a fumble.

Rough day for Solder: Continuing on the trend of the offensive line, it was a tough start for second-year left tackle Nate Solder. He had two holding calls in the first quarter. Solder is an important member of the offensive line -- his job is to protect Brady’s blindside, and he has to play better.

Rookies shine: The Patriots' two first-round picks have looked impressive in training camp, and it was a good sign to see that carry over to the preseason opener. Patriots rookie defensive end Chandler Jones and linebacker Dont'a Hightower played well in their NFL debut. Both were active and combined for four tackles. Jones and Hightower are trying to carve out their roles in the defense.

Safeties first: New England's starting safeties both recorded turnovers. Patrick Chung and Steve Gregory both had interceptions. This is a good sign for New England's 31st-ranked pass defense from a year ago. Gregory was a free-agent addition and seems to be meshing well with Chung.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- You would think there was a playoff game at Gillette Stadium this week.

In front of a packed house, the New England Patriots hosted the New Orleans Saints for a pair of high-quality joint practices. Even famous musician Jon Bon Jovi and supermodel (and Tom Brady's wife) Gisele Bundchen showed up for a glimpse of the action.

The talent on the practice field was immense. You had future Hall of Famers Brady and Drew Brees at quarterback, Pro Bowl tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham and two hungry defenses eager to improve. The tempo was fast and intense.

The Patriots could have easily practiced against themselves this week like the rest of the league. But there is a method to Bill Belichick's madness. It's Super Bowl or bust for New England. And even in August, the Patriots want to test themselves as much as possible against another playoff contender.

"We know that there are a lot of other great organizations and teams and players and coaches out there," Belichick explained. "It’s a good challenge every week, and certainly the Saints are one of the top teams in professional football. As I said, they're well-coached, they have great talent, good players, good scheme [and] they win a lot of games. We played against them two years ago, practiced against them two years ago in their championship season. There isn’t any team we have more respect for than the Saints from top to bottom."

The reigning AFC champions are loaded. Their roster is deeper and more talented than last year's team that finished 13-3. With the easiest strength of schedule in the NFL, the Patriots are expected to match or surpass last season's win total. Some pundits even believe a 16-0 regular season is within reach. But let’s not get too ahead of ourselves.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. How much better is the defense? The Patriots' defense has improved. New England was ranked 31st in total defense and 31st against the pass in 2011. So the Patriots cannot get much worse.

The Patriots invested all their draft picks except a seventh-rounder in defense. The biggest coups were first-round picks Dont'a Hightower at linebacker and defensive end Chandler Jones. Both rookies received a lot of reps with the first team this week and appear to be learning fast. They also provide athleticism and aggressiveness to New England's front seven.

Second-round pick and defensive back Tavon Wilson also has looked better than advertised. Belichick received a lot of criticism for drafting Wilson that high when most projected him to be a fifth- or sixth-round pick. Free agent Steve Gregory also is New England's starting safety and is an upgrade over the rotating door New England had at the position last year.

With a high-powered offense, the Patriots don't need a top-10 defense. But if the defensive-minded Belichick can get this group in the top 20, New England will be very hard to beat.

"We're just trying to be aggressive and be competitive in everything out there," Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty said of improving. "From the front all the way throughout the secondary, guys are just trying to develop an attitude. Defense has a lot to do with attitude and how you approach the game, so we’re trying to keep attitude and trying to do it day in and day out."

2. Who will man the offensive line? It is difficult to gauge the performance of the offensive line in training camp. About half of training camp practices are in shorts, and that significantly reduces contact in the trenches. But replacements need to be ready because four of New England's starters from last year are injured, retired or contemplating retirement.

New England's offensive line is a M.A.S.H. unit. Starting guards Logan Mankins (knee) and Brian Waters (personal reasons) have yet to practice with the team, and starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer has a back injury. Longtime starting left tackle Matt Light retired, and so did free-agent signee Robert Gallery.

The Patriots are trying to find the right combination up front in training camp in preparation for Week 1 of the regular season. So far, the best lineman in camp has been second-year left tackle Nate Solder, who gained some starting experience last year in his rookie season.

Holdovers such as guard Dan Koppen, Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell and Marcus Cannon are all trying to carve out roles -- at least until starters Mankins, Vollmer and (maybe) Waters return. Brady and the Patriots will pass the football a lot this year, so development of the offensive line is important.

"We're going to play whoever is here, and whatever happens, we're going to be here working hard," Solder said this week.

3. Who will run the football? Dependable tailback BenJarvus Green-Ellis bolted to the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency. That leaves second-year tailbacks Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen trying to pick up the slack in 2012. Neither player has much experience. Ridley did pretty well in limited playing time his rookie year, amassing 441 yards and a touchdown. Vereen was injured most of his rookie season and wasn’t a factor.

Ridley has the inside track and has looked impressive. He has good vision and burst. Ball security has been the only question. But Ridley believes he made rookie mistakes that he will fix in Year 2.

"This year I'm going to go and do the best that I can to keep the ball high and tight," Ridley said. "I know that if I can keep the ball in my hands, I'm going to be on the field. So my work is cut out for me."

Backup running back Danny Woodhead also will assist Ridley and Vereen, particularly on third downs.

Reason for optimism

This is the best collection of talented skill players Brady has ever had. If everyone stays healthy, I do not see any reason the Patriots cannot be near the top of the league in scoring and passing offense. New England should average at least 30 points per game.

Brady has a Pro Bowl tight end in Gronkowski, a Pro Bowl receiver in Wes Welker, a top-five tight end in Aaron Hernandez and a much-needed deep threat in Brandon Lloyd. The Patriots' passing game should be able to do it all. Brady can go underneath to Welker and Gronkowski or deep to Lloyd and Hernandez. It will be very difficult for opponents to game plan.

"We're not taking anything for granted," Brady said. "We're trying to come out and string practices together."

Reason for pessimism

I'm still not confident in New England's secondary. This was the weakest part of the Patriots last year, and 2012 could be a repeat.

Cornerbacks McCourty, Kyle Arrington, Sterling Moore and Ras-I Dowling all have question marks. The Saints’ offense had their way with New England’s corners during this week’s joint practices. No one among the Patriots’ corners made enough plays to really stand out.

Perhaps the biggest problem is New England's corners are not shutdown, man-to-man defenders. That forces New England to play a lot of zone to try to get stops. That leads to a bend-but-don’t-break mentality we saw last year.

Expect many opponents to attack New England's cornerbacks until this group proves it can cover and shut down receivers consistently.

OBSERVATION DECK

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AP Photo/Robert E. KleinNot many tight ends have the athletic ability to be a punt returner. The Patriots' Aaron Hernandez does.
• Speaking of McCourty, he is playing exclusively at corner in training camp. It shows the coaching staff is comfortable that McCourty will bounce back from a shoulder injury and poor play that led to a position change to safety late last season. McCourty is competing hard and trying to get back to his rookie form, when he made the Pro Bowl in 2010.
• How athletic is Hernandez? New England is experimenting with its No. 2 tight end at punt return and running back. Hernandez did a good job running the football in the Patriots' playoff win over the Denver Broncos. It was a nice wrinkle added by Belichick. Hernandez is elusive in the open field and has good hands, so returning punts could make sense as another way to get the ball into Hernandez's hands.
• I'm not sure why more teams do not have joint practices in training camp. Both the Patriots and Saints gave rave reviews of how well things went this week. It was well organized; both teams got a lot of work done; and there were no injuries. Most importantly, it is a change of pace from hitting your teammates the entire summer. In talking with players, they got a kick out of practicing against an unfamiliar opponent.
• The Brady-to-Lloyd combination is still a work in progress. Brady missed Lloyd on several opportunities this week, as the first-time teammates continue to work on their chemistry. Lloyd is the best deep threat Brady has had since Randy Moss. Brady and Moss got on the same page quickly in their first season together. Brady hopes for the same results with Lloyd.
• Keep an eye out for undrafted rookie defensive end Justin Francis. I wasn't familiar with the Rutgers product before my training camp visit, but after a few practices, I noticed Francis stood out. Francis has a good motor and athleticism for a defensive end. Francis is a sleeper pick to make New England's 53-man roster, but he must show that he can translate his play on the practice field to the preseason games.
• The No. 2 quarterback race between Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett favors Hoyer at this stage of camp. Hoyer had a solid week of practice leading into Thursday's preseason opener. Hoyer was more accurate and made some nice throws. Mallett has a lot of physical ability but has a lot to work on. He had trouble with taking some of the velocity off his passes when needed. The preseason games will matter most, but Hoyer has the lead so far.
• Linebacker Bobby Carpenter has been a pleasant surprise for New England. The former first-round pick has underachieved at his previous stops in Dallas, Miami and Detroit. But Carpenter has fit in well as a backup linebacker for the Patriots in training camp and is in good shape to make the team. Carpenter even got a little work with the first team this week because of injuries.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Offensive linemen are dropping like flies around New England Patriots left tackle Nate Solder.

Veteran free agent Robert Gallery retired over the weekend. So did Matt Light. Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins (knee) is on the physically unable to perform list, and fellow guard Brian Waters' playing status is still to be determined. Right tackle Sebastian Vollmer also is dealing with a back injury, leaving Solder as one of the few starting and healthy linemen from February's Super Bowl team.

"I think it's a team effort, and I’m just one of the parts to that," Solder said Monday after practice. "It takes all five of the O-lineman. It takes all of the wide receivers and everyone working together. We’re going to play whoever is here, and whatever happens, we’re going to be here working hard."

Solder entered the offseason as a young, budding left tackle. Now, he's being relied upon in training camp as though he's one of the veterans.

Solder has one of the most important responsibilities on the team protecting quarterback Tom Brady's blind side. But you wouldn’t know it from Solder's mentality. He is calm and low key. Solder says he's taken this important second season day by day, which is exactly how the Patriots like their players to think.

All indications are that Solder has been the most consistent lineman in training camp. Part of it is due to injuries to veterans. But the second-year tackle also is meeting -- and perhaps exceeding -- expectations as a 2011 first-round pick.

"We thought Nate was a good football player when we drafted him,” Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio said. "He’s come in and had a decent first year. And the most important thing with any player is you try to improve on a day-to-day basis and become a more consistent player."

Solder isn't backing down in training camp. He got into a big scuffle in practice last week with Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes. When we asked about it Monday, Solder chuckled and said, "We're moving on."

Solder has a lot to look forward to. It began the day Light announced his retirement. That catapulted Solder into the starting left tackle role full time in just his second season. The Patriots are legitimate Super Bowl contenders and Solder has a big responsibility in that.

"My reaction [to Light retiring] was it's time for me to get better and work harder," Solder said. "I want to contribute to this team anyway I can. I feel blessed with my opportunities here and it’s worked out phenomenally. But it's up to me to really step up and play well."

The AFC East blog is having a great time visiting every training camp in the division. We started with the Miami Dolphins, then hit the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets last week.

Next up are the reigning AFC champion New England Patriots. We are en route to Foxborough, Mass., where we will join the Patriots for a fun string of practices this week.

Here are some things we are looking for:

• The offense gets all the publicity. But I know that side of the football will be fine. I will be paying attention to the Patriots’ defense. New England was ranked 31st last year and made a lot of additions via the draft and free agency. The Patriots are hoping additions like rookies Dont'a Hightower and Chandler Jones and veteran Steve Gregory help. The defense is getting a good test every day against New England’s offense.
• We’re really looking forward to New England’s scrimmage this week against the New Orleans Saints. It’s not something has happens often these days. The Patriots have been fighting a lot in practice recently, and this chance to hit someone else comes at the right time. New Orleans has had a ton of offseason issues. But the Saints are talented, particularly on offense, and they will give New England a nice test on the practice field before the teams meet Thursday in the preseason opener for both.
• I have a lot of questions about New England’s offensive line. The guard position, in particular, is very thin. Robert Gallery just retired. Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins is on the physically-unable-to-perform list after knee surgery, and guard Brian Waters’ status is still unknown. The Patriots also have health issues with Sebastian Vollmer. A lot of players have to step up.
• Finally, it’s almost decision time for the Patriots at running back. New England has to choose among Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen and Danny Woodhead by the end of the preseason. Ridley and Vereen, both second-year players, are the favorites. This is the time for one of these young running backs to step forward.