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

• Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is off and running with quarterbacks coach David Lee.

Morning take: Mechanics have been the offseason focus. Fitzpatrick threw a lot of interceptions last year, and some of that was attributed to rushing and bad fundamentals.

• Miami Dolphins left tackle Jake Long checked in at No. 59 in the NFL top 100.

Morning take: Long is the first Dolphin to make the list. I can't imagine another Miami player ranked ahead of Long, because he is clearly the best player on the team.

• The New England Patriots brought in a trio of offensive linemen for tryouts.

Morning take: New England has seen some changes on the offensive line with left tackle Matt Light retiring. The Patriots are turning over every rock to add depth to the group.

• The New York Jets signed free-agent fullback Fui Vakapuna.

Morning take: The Jets have a good fullback in Jon Conner. Vakapuna is a long shot unless the Jets decide to keep two fullbacks, which most likely won't be the case.

The New England Patriots have played in five Super Bowls -- winning three -- since they drafted quarterback Tom Brady in the sixth round in 2000. They also have eight division titles in that span, and Brady and coach Bill Belichick recently became the winningest quarterback-coach combo in NFL history.

But all of that comes to an end when Brady retires.

Brady, who turns 35 in August, says he wants to play in New England until he's 40. That is great news for the Patriots, because they will struggle the second the future Hall of Famer hangs it up.

Things that have become foreign to New England the past dozen years will become routine again. New England will have down years and miss the playoffs -- just like everybody else. The Patriots won't survive various injuries -- just like everybody else. The Patriots also will run through a few quarterbacks -- just like everybody else.

On Wednesday, ESPN.com examined potentially dominant teams in 2015 . At that point, I think New England's easy run over the AFC East will be a thing of the past.

Here are four reasons New England will struggle in the post-Brady era:

No. 1: Patriots won't immediately find Brady's replacement.

Brady's story is once in a generation. He's a former sixth-round pick who slipped through the cracks to become one of the top five quarterbacks of all time. Brady had the drive and “it" factor to become the greatest player in franchise history. Brady often is compared to Joe Montana, because they share a similar story about 20 years apart.

The chances of New England finding another Brady anytime soon are slim.

Patriots fans will scream that Ryan Mallett is a future franchise quarterback. But how does anyone really know, considering the 2011 third-round pick hasn't thrown an NFL pass?

What about Brian Hoyer? The undrafted quarterback has shown small flashes but certainly not enough to warrant Pro Bowl status. The drop-off going from Brady to 99 percent of other quarterbacks will be steep.

Even if Mallett or Hoyer turns out to be a viable starting quarterback, neither will be nearly as good as Brady. Is Mallett or Hoyer a future Hall of Famer? Probably not. Will either quarterback perennially make the Pro Bowl? Not likely.

New England has been able to overcome poor defense, injuries and at times average receivers to still be competitive. Brady was great enough to carry the Patriots through various weaknesses. That no longer will be a luxury in New England. It will be much harder to get everything right with other areas of the team, especially if the quarterback position is in flux.

No. 2: The offense is old.

Brady is turning 35 in August. No. 1 receiver Wes Welker is 31. Starting receiver Brandon Lloyd is 30. Longtime left tackle Matt Light just retired this offseason. Guard Brian Waters might follow, if not this year, then soon after.

When Brady is gone, it's likely all these important offensive pieces will be gone as well. A Patriots offense without Brady, Welker, Lloyd, Light, Waters, etc., means New England is virtually starting over in a few years.

The Patriots still have a couple of young stars in tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. But consider this: One tight end probably will bolt in free agency. Both Gronkowski and Hernandez -- two of the top five players at their position -- have rookie contracts set to expire in two years. Both will be looking for huge paydays, and New England can't do that with two players at the same position.

New England most likely will throw the money truck at Gronkowski, perhaps making him the highest-paid tight end, and let Hernandez walk. Brady also will be 37 and possibly retired or on his last legs by the time both tight ends will look for extensions. Returning to New England's offense long term won't be as attractive two years from now for a pending free agent such as Hernandez.

No. 3: Sun is setting on Belichick.

Belichick just turned 60 years old. How much longer will he coach the Patriots?

He has coached in the NFL in some capacity for 37 years. He is approaching his fourth decade in the league.

Even head coaches have a shelf life. Belichick currently is the NFL's fourth-oldest head coach behind Tom Coughlin (65) of the New York Giants, Romeo Crennel (64) of the Kansas City Chiefs and, by a few months, Chan Gailey (60) of the Buffalo Bills. Perhaps we are also witnessing the last few years of Belichick roaming the sidelines.

A good debate topic in New England would be who contributed more to the Patriots' dynasty the past dozen years: Brady or Belichick? Both are Hall of Famers. But in my opinion, Brady's development and dominance at quarterback are stronger factors in New England's success. Belichick would not have won all those games, division titles and championships in New England with shoddy quarterback play. Brady remained dominant and kept the team afloat, even when Belichick struggled coaching the defense, which is Belichick's specialty.

No. 4: The rest of the AFC East will catch up.

I often call the AFC East the "Brady and Belichick division." They're the great equalizers who keep the Patriots on top.

But without Brady in a few years, and perhaps Belichick, all four teams are back to an even playing field. Who will be the top quarterback in the AFC East when Brady retires? Ryan Tannehill? Mark Sanchez? Tim Tebow? Someone else?

Maybe all four teams will have average quarterback play. That means the Patriots, New York Jets, Bills and Miami Dolphins must rely on other areas to be successful and win the division.

Can the Patriots rely on their defense to lead the way? Not right now. Not even close. New England is in no position to overcome poor quarterback play, and that probably won't change overnight.

I expect Brady to play at least two more years (2012 and 2013) at an elite level. He might opt to play beyond that. But after age 37, there's no guarantee Brady can continue to take the physical pounding and play at the high level to which we have become accustomed. We've already seen nagging injuries bother Brady more than ever over the past couple of seasons.

Brady is a special talent the organization probably will never see again. So enjoy the success now, Patriots fans. New England will come back to earth and be an ordinary team again in three to five years.

Retired New England Patriots left tackle Matt Light made a trip to ESPN headquarters this week. He recently played a game of percentages on "NFL Live" and had some interesting things to say.

Percentage chance Tom Brady plays for 10 more years

Matt Light: "One hundred percent. If you said 20 years, I’d probably give you 100 percent. I mean, they’re going to have to cart him off. ...He could be playing to 55, maybe even 60."

Percentage chance Bill Belichick wins another Super Bowl

Light: “We’ll go 50-50. The one thing that you hear from a lot of guys that come in from other organizations is that ‘I just wanted to come here because I just want a shot at winning.’ I think they bank on the fact that because of the system and the dedication of the coaching staff, the owner and everything else, they’re going to have that opportunity. So, each year 50-50.”

Percentage chance of Wes Welker signing a long-term deal before the season starts

Light: “Can we say zero on that? That’s a tough one. Let’s go with five percent.”

Percentage of caveman in tight end Rob Gronkowski

Light: “A solid 87. It’s a good caveman.”

Percentage chance of Light returning to the football field

Light: “Zero percent. Not in a bad way but when you close the door, it’s always good to keep walking.”

» NFC pressure points: West | North | South | East
» AFC pressure points: West | North | South | East

Examining who faces the most challenging season for the Patriots and why.

It's hard enough to replace a New England Patriots legend. It's even harder when you're stepping into one of the most important jobs on the team.

That's the situation facing the Patriots' new starting left tackle, Nate Solder. The 2011 first-round pick is entering his second season, and his first as the full-time protector of quarterback Tom Brady's blind side.

Solder did a good job in relief of injured right tackle Sebastian Vollmer last year. Solder showed good movement and footwork in pass protection, and New England's elite offense didn't miss a beat. This year, he'll be replacing three-time Super Bowl winner Matt Light on the left side, which is more challenging. Light retired this year after 11 seasons. He started in his fifth Super Bowl last season, capping a great career.

Now, Solder will be facing the best pass-rushers the NFL has to offer. Brady will be 35 in August and needs to take as few hits as possible. Solder was taken in the first round to eventually replace Light. That time came a little sooner than expected, but Solder has to be ready.

I remember interviewing Matt Light in the New England Patriots' locker room this past January after their playoff win over the Denver Broncos. Light was funny, engaging and most importantly calm and at peace, which is not the norm in the playoffs.

Two weeks later, Light was preparing for Super Bowl XLVI against the New York Giants. I spent time at his podium with other media twice in Indianapolis. Again, I was pleasantly surprised how relaxed Light was in such a high-pressure situation. The biggest game of the year was upcoming, and Light was the left tackle responsible for protecting quarterback Tom Brady against the NFL's most formidable defensive line.

Although I didn't know it at the time, it didn't surprise me when reports began to surface that Light would retire after 11 seasons. Light made it official Monday with a formal ceremony in Foxborough, Mass.

Light is a rarity in the NFL, because he knew when to walk away. He's 33, appears in good health and has the rest of his life ahead of him with his family and children. Light also is a three-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Pro Bowler.

"When you know it's your time, you just know," Light said, according to ESPNBoston.com.

Light could have played another year or two at a high level. He was under contract with the Patriots one more season and had a starting job waiting for him. Light wasn't forced to retire, like so many former NFL players. Light chose to retire.

At a time when football injuries, concussions and post-NFL life are being put under the microscope, Light provides a beacon of hope that retired players can walk away from the game they love just fine. The key is for players to be mentally and physically prepared for the next phase, which is not always easy.

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

• In the first day of rookie minicamp, New York Jets first-round pick Quinton Coples was impressive.

Morning take: Jets head coach Rex Ryan says Coples could've had several sacks in his first practice. Coples is being moved around, which could be a preview to his role this season.

• Miami Dolphins second-round pick Jonathan Martin looks the part of a starting offensive tackle in rookie in minicamp.

Morning take: Martin has a lot of attributes Miami likes, but strength could be a concern.

• Speaking of offensive linemen, Buffalo Bills general manager Buddy Nix says second-round pick Cordy Glenn can play offensive tackle in the NFL.

Morning take: Glenn played most of his career at guard but finished at left tackle. Buffalo needs a tackle more and will give Glenn a chance on the left side.

• New England Patriots left tackle Matt Light will hold a press conference Monday to officially announce his retirement.

Morning take: This has been in the works for weeks. Light had a stellar career with New England and could have finished out the final year of his contract. But Light is ready for life after football.

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

• Are the Buffalo Bills "very interested" in Alabama safety Mark Barron?

Morning take: In the week of the draft, this has smokescreen written all over it. Buffalo has two starting-caliber safeties and other needs, such as left tackle, receiver and corner. This sounds like drumming up interest for the No. 10 overall pick.

• New England Patriots left tackle Matt Light was officially put on the team's reserve/retired list.

Morning take: Light made up his mind that he's calling it a career. The Patriots are well-prepared after taking first-round pick Nate Solder in 2011.

• New York Jets are expected to part ways with college scouting talent evaluator Jerry Clinkscales after the draft.

Morning take: Clinkscales had his hits (Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis) and misses (Vernon Gholston) in New York. But it appears he is taking his talents to the Oakland Raiders.

• Miami Dolphins linebacker Cameron Wake was the only no-show for Tuesday's start of voluntary minicamp.

Morning take: Wake's show/no-show routine might get interesting. It appears things will get resolved. But I don't think this issue goes away until Wake gets a new contract.

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

• Will the Buffalo Bills find a difference-maker with the No. 10 overall pick?

Morning take: That is the hope. But a difference-maker is easier to find at a skill position like wide receiver or linebacker. The Bills could use help at those positions.

• New England Patriots left tackle Matt Light has made a decision on his future but doesn't want to make it public.

Morning take: If Light was coming back, there would be no reason to be secretive about it. It appears Light is most likely ready to hang it up.

• Could former North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples fall to the New York Jets?

Morning take: Probably not at No. 16. The Jets drafted a defensive end in the first round last year and probably would address another position.

• Here is a simulated seven-round draft for the Miami Dolphins.

Morning take: As usual, Tannehill is at the top of Miami's board. I am not sure Miami needs to draft a player in the first round who will hold a clipboard, but the team does need hope for the future.

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

• ESPN's Todd McShay thinks the Buffalo Bills are in a tough spot at No. 10.

Morning take: Buffalo may need to slightly overdraft a player like receiver Michael Floyd or left tackle Riley Reiff. But if the player turns out to be a franchise building block, no one will care if he was taken No. 10 or No. 15.

• New England Patriots backup offensive tackle Nate Solder is ready to take over if Matt Light retires.

Morning take: The Patriots did a smart thing by grabbing Solder in the first round last year. Solder is a good, developing player and will plug in well if needed.

• Former New York Jets star running back Curtis Martin likes the acquisition of quarterback Tim Tebow.

Morning take: Everyone has an opinion on how this will work. But this is a hit-or-miss experiment, which makes it so intriguing.

• The Miami Dolphins will be switching to more of a zone-blocking scheme in rookie coach Joe Philbin's West Coast offense.

Morning take: This means the offensive line will be asked to be more mobile this season. The Dolphins had more of a grinding running game up front. So there will be an adjustment.

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

• In a surprise move, the Buffalo Bills interviewed Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III at the NFL combine.

Morning take: I wouldn’t make too much of this if you’re a Bills fans. Buffalo has the No. 10 pick and just paid starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick $59 million. The interview was more for due diligence.

• Here is good news for the Miami Dolphins: The Green Bay Packers are not expected to use the franchise tag on quarterback Matt Flynn.

Morning take: This means Miami’s No. 2 target will certainly hit the open market. The Dolphins will explore Peyton Manning over the next few weeks. If that’s not an option, Flynn is next.

• Will New England Patriots left tackle Matt Light retire this offseason?

Morning take: Light is under contract for one more year and is considering it. But even if Light walked away, New England is well-stocked at offensive tackle with Sebastian Vollmer and Nate Solder.

• Is Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd a possibility for the New York Jets?

Morning take: Floyd was one of the stars at the combine, and he could be available to New York with the No. 16 pick. The Jets can go in a lot of different ways, but I think safety and right tackle are bigger needs.

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 is virtually in the bag for the New England Patriots. New England improved to 7-3 with an easy, 34-3, victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on "Monday Night Football."

New England now owns a two-game lead over the Buffalo Bills (5-5) and essentially a three-game lead over the New York Jets (5-5) after sweeping "Gang Green" this season. There's nothing to suggest the Bills or Jets, who are both struggling, can make up that deficit this late in the season.

The only question remaining for the Patriots is can they secure home-field advantage? New England is tied with the Baltimore Ravens (7-3), Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3) and Houston Texans (7-3) for the best record in the AFC. New England also has the easiest remaining schedule. The Patriots' final six opponents do not have winning records.

Texans starting quarterback Matt Schaub (foot) is lost for the season. Houston will likely be out of the running for the No. 1 seed.

New England's biggest competition is Pittsburgh and Baltimore. But the Ravens play the 9-1 San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving, in addition to a road game against the Cincinnati Bengals (6-4). The Steelers also play the Bengals and 49ers.

Pittsburgh holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over New England and would get the top seed if the Steelers win the AFC North and have a similar record. But, barring injury, the Patriots appears to be a lock for at least the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the AFC.

Here are seven notes and observations from Week 10 in the AFC East:

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William Perlman/The Star-Ledger via US PresswirePatriots defensive end Andre Carter had 4.5 sacks against Mark Sanchez and the Jets on Sunday.
• The New England Patriots received a lot of press for making big-name acquisitions like Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco. But New England's best offseason addition turned out to be an under-the-radar free agent. Veteran defensive end Andre Carter signed with the Patriots in August and didn't create many headlines. He was one of several defensive linemen added to the team for depth, which included Haynesworth and Shaun Ellis. But Carter is on a tear with the Patriots this season. He had 4.5 sacks in Sunday's important win against the New York Jets and is tied for fourth in the NFL with nine sacks. Carter is on pace to shatter his career-best total of 11 sacks from 2009.
• The Patriots have depth issues at several positions, but offensive tackle is not one of them. New England flexed its muscle at tackle against the Jets and didn't allow any sacks on quarterback Tom Brady. Left tackle Matt Light and right tackle Sebastian Vollmer got the start and played great, while rookie first-round pick Nate Solder was used as a sub in heavy packages and temporarily when Vollmer was hurt. Both Vollmer and Solder were questionable heading into the game. The Patriots also have a young offensive tackle on their practice squad in Matt Kopa who has potential. The second-year player from Stanford could be additional insurance if New England has any major injuries at the position.
• The Jets (5-4) are essentially two games back in the AFC East and could run into issues in the wild-card race. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head meetings, and the Jets lost to a pair of wild-card contenders in the Baltimore Ravens (6-3) and Oakland Raiders (5-4). New York has to hope the Ravens and Raiders win their divisions. The Jets also have to worry about the Cincinnati Bengals (6-3) and maybe the struggling Buffalo Bills (5-4). The Jets and Bills could have an elimination game in two weeks at the Meadowlands.
• Speaking of Buffalo, a lot of pressure now is on Bills starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He was paid $59 million to be the long-term solution and face of the franchise. Fitzpatrick is no longer a cute, surprising story. With the $10 million per year price tag comes high expectations for Fitzpatrick to consistently produce. It's poor timing for Fitzpatrick to play his worst football of the season. He's thrown for 337 yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions the past two weeks. As a result, Buffalo has been outscored 71-18 in that span against the Jets and Dallas Cowboys. The bar has been raised and Fitzpatrick will get a lion's share of the blame when things don't go well. That's par for the course for other franchise quarterbacks around the league.
• Buffalo has a lot of issues defensively. But the biggest issue haunting the Bills is their lack of pass rush. Buffalo thought it fixed its pass-rush issues in Toronto after registering 10 sacks against the Washington Redskins. It was the second-most sacks in Bills history. But that proved to be a fluke. Buffalo has just one sack in its past two games, and quarterbacks are taking advantage. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo was very comfortable in the pocket. He was 23 of 26 for 270 yards and three touchdowns.
• Is winning the best thing for the Miami Dolphins? Miami fans have to be torn about the Dolphins' two-game winning streak. The Dolphins are finally playing well. But it comes after the team has no pressure and no shot at the postseason. On the flip side, it's a virtual certainty Miami played itself out of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. The Indianapolis Colts (0-10) cannot win three of their final six games. Miami (2-7) also would have to lose its final seven games. That doesn't appear likely, either.
• Next week's game between Buffalo and Miami will be more interesting than expected. The AFC East blog will be covering that contest next week at Sun Life Stadium. I think this is a must-win game for Buffalo. The Bills are in the middle of their three-game road trip, and this is the most winnable one on their schedule. Miami, meanwhile, will have a lot of say in who wins the AFC East. The Dolphins have four division games remaining and seem to be relishing their "spoiler" role. Miami can put a huge dent in Buffalo's season next week.

All four AFC East teams will be in action this weekend. The division is heating up, with the Buffalo Bills (4-1) and New England Patriots (4-1) leading the pack with eight combined victories.

Here are some underrated X factors who could make an impact in Week 6:

Patriots (4-1)

X factor: OT Matt Light

Analysis: New England's three-time Pro Bowler will draw a tough matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Light will see a lot of five-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware, who has five sacks in four games. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady noted his concerns about Ware this week. Look for Brady to get rid of the football quickly to his receivers this week. If Light can help neutralize Ware coming off the edge, New England will have an easier time going vertical downfield.

Bills (4-1)

X factor: WR Naaman Roosevelt

Analysis: Buffalo deep threat Donald Jones suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Philadelphia Eagles. Jones will be out for at least a month. That opens the door for Roosevelt. He played surprisingly well last week in relief of Jones and recorded five receptions for 41 yards. David Nelson moves outside, while Roosevelt takes the slot, which is an important position in Buffalo's spread offense. Roosevelt's production in the middle of the field will be key against the New York Giants (3-2).

Jets (2-3)

X factor: RB Shonn Greene

Analysis: If "ground-and-pound" is truly back in New York, Greene has to continue to raise his production. Green had his best game of the season in the Week 5 loss to New England, rushing for 83 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. New York's offensive line has struggled, but Greene hasn't helped, either. He hasn't broken many tackles this season and his longest rush is for 15 yards. Jets coach Rex Ryan is adamant about giving Greene and the running backs more opportunities to carry the offense. So expect Greene to see the ball a lot Monday against the Miami Dolphins.

Dolphins (0-4)

X factor: WR Brandon Marshall

Analysis: Marshall, the Dolphins' best receiver, could do new quarterback Matt Moore a huge favor by having a solid game. Marshall's assignment will be tough. He will be matched up against Jets corners Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie — a duo against whom very few receivers have success. But Marshall always is capable of making big plays; if he gets a few against the Jets, Miami has a chance for the upset.

Buffalo Bills

Speaking at a concussion-awareness event, former Bills and Patriots quarterback Doug Flutie said he suffered three concussions where he had memory loss during his career and that he avoided recovery testing. "I intentionally blew off the testing so I could get back on the field," Flutie said. "I was really playing with fire."

Tonight's preseason finale against the Lions will serve as a final audition for several players hoping to make the final roster.

The Bills have approached receiver Roscoe Parrish about a contract extension.

Miami Dolphins

During the team’s kickoff luncheon Wednesday, coach Tony Sparano quoted "Gladiator" in a fiery talk with invited fans and players. “If you win the crowd, victory belongs to you. ... This group will win the crowd. They’ll win the crowd. There’s no doubt about it. This team will win. And you should enjoy the journey,” Sparano said.

The Dolphins have a long list of players on the bubble.

In a video interview with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Omar Kelly, running back Reggie Bush admits he's on mission with Dolphins. "I definitely think coming into this organization I have something to prove,” Bush said. “I’ve been told plenty of times you can’t do this. You can’t do that. I definitely feel like there’ something to prove on a personal level and from a team standpoint.”

New England Patriots

Veteran wideout Chad Ochocinco is struggling to learn the Patriots' system.

Working his way back from shoulder surgery, Matt Light needs more repetitions to shake off the rust.

New York Jets

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson is trying to sell his San Diego-area house for $5.2 million.

Rex Ryan is psyched up by the energy and motivation his defense has shown this preseason.