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How does each AFC East team look at running back, and what still needs to be done?

Buffalo Bills: The Bills have one of the NFL’s strongest duos in C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. They complement each other very well. Spiller is a dynamic home run hitter, while Jackson runs hard between the tackles. Both players are also versatile enough to catch out of the backfield. Former Bills head coach Chan Gailey could never figure out how to effectively use both players. Spiller was mostly underused on Gailey’s watch until the second half of last season. New head coach Doug Marrone is expected to learn from Gailey’s mistakes. Spiller as the primary ball-carrier, with Jackson as the backup, would make a dangerous combination.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins have an intriguing situation at running back. After 2012 starter Reggie Bush left Miami for the Detroit Lions in free agency, the Dolphins are left with three relative unknowns at tailback. Second-year player Lamar Miller is the projected starter. He showed tremendous flashes during his rookie season and led Miami backs with 4.9-yards-per-carry average. Miller fits Miami’s West Coast offense well but needs to do a better job in pass protection as an every-down back. Backup Daniel Thomas never lived up to his high draft status but isn’t bad as a second or third option. Thomas will compete with 2013 fifth-round pick Mike Gillislee, who many think is a nice sleeper pickup for the Dolphins. This is an unknown group that could end up better than advertised.

New England Patriots: The Patriots are well-stocked at running back. It starts with starter Stevan Ridley, who led the Patriots with a career-high 1,263 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2012. Ridley fit in well with New England’s up-tempo, spread offense. Backup Shane Vereen is expected to fill the third-down role vacated by Danny Woodhead, who signed with the San Diego Chargers in free agency. New England also added burly tailback LeGarrette Blount, who can add toughness and help in short-yardage situations. Leon Washington is the fourth running back on the team but is primarily a kick returner. The running game could be even more important in 2013 now that New England had a major makeover at wide receiver and has injury concerns with tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

New York Jets: The Jets are in a tough spot at running back. Free-agent signee Mike Goodson was arrested last week and faces drug and weapons charges. He was expected to compete for the starting job in New York, but now his future with the Jets is uncertain. First-year general manager John Idzik is trying to change the culture in New York and could make an example of Goodson for poor off-the-field behavior. That would leave New York with a not-so-impressive trio that includes projected starter Chris Ivory and backups Bilal Powell and Joe McKnight. This is not a trio who will scare an NFL defense. The Jets are in the middle of a long rebuild, and that includes not having many weapons on offense.

» NFC Eight in the Box: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A look at a key player from each AFC East team who needs to show something in offseason sessions:

New York Jets: Perhaps no AFC East player has a brighter spotlight on him this offseason than embattled Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. Quarterback competitions are always interesting, but quarterback competitions in New York are taken to another level. Sanchez is in a five-way battle with fellow veteran David Garrard, highly touted rookie Geno Smith and backups Greg McElroy and Matt Simms. Sanchez is the incumbent looking to keep his job, which he’s had for four seasons. But Sanchez led the NFL in turnovers the past two seasons, which contributed to back-to-back non-winning seasons in New York. The Jets have treated Sanchez with kid gloves for a majority of his career and have not brought in legit competition before. But first-year general manager John Idzik did not draft Sanchez and has no ties to the 2009 first-round pick. The quarterback derby is wide open. Whoever can learn new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg’s West Coast system faster this offseason will have the inside track in training camp.

Buffalo Bills: Veteran quarterback Kevin Kolb is in a similar spot to Sanchez. Signed as a free agent, he has a chance to win the starting job but must compete with rookie first-round pick EJ Manuel and veteran Tarvaris Jackson. Kolb has had a lot of ups and downs in stops with the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. He will get his third opportunity to lead a team, this time under first-year head coach Doug Marrone. The competition is hard to predict. Kolb might be a slight favorite to win Buffalo’s starting job in Week 1 because of his experience. But if Kolb is beaten out by a rookie (Manuel) or a journeyman (Jackson) in training camp, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Bills cut ties with Kolb. A majority of Kolb’s two-year, $13 million contract is incentive based and not guaranteed.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins have put veteran cornerback Dimitri Patterson on the hot seat via the draft. Miami drafted two cornerbacks -- Jamar Taylor and Will Davis -- in the second and third rounds, respectively. The rookies will make the 53-man roster, but Patterson’s spot is not guaranteed. The former Cleveland Browns cornerback joined the Dolphins as a late-season waiver claim. Patterson didn’t get to show much in his two games with Miami last season and must really impress the coaching staff this offseason. Otherwise, the Dolphins could release Patterson and save on his $4.6 million salary. Agreeing to take a pay cut also would be an option for Patterson.

New England Patriots: New Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount was added this offseason to a crowded backfield. He was acquired in a draft-day trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a seventh-round pick and track standout Jeff Demps. Blount joins tailbacks Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen and return specialist Leon Washington. Blount could add power and a short-yardage threat to New England's offense, which needs both those things. But Blount fell out of favor in Tampa and has had issues in the past. The Patriots took a chance to see whether Blount could turn around his career. But New England also is never afraid to cut players who do not fit.

The New England Patriots are having an unusually raucous offseason. They made national headlines with their public split with Pro Bowl receiver Wes Welker and added a risky move to cut starting receiver Brandon Lloyd without a replacement on the roster.

Now, the Patriots have another dilemma on their hands with running back Jeff Demps. The second-year tailback and former track star said in a radio interview in Florida that he will most likely skip the start of the NFL season for New England to focus on track this year.

Demps was asked how he plans to explain his focus not being entirely on football to Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

"Listen, Coach, I want to do both, but in order for me to get to where I want to be on the track and field side, it'll take a full year of preparation,” Demps said. “And after the [track] season, if you guys are willing to let me come back, you know, probably midseason, and work out and train and get ready for the season, I'll be able to do that. If not, then I guess I'll just focus on running."

Demps’ statements are telling for a variety of reasons. Not only is track Demps' priority, but football appears to be a distant choice compared to Demps' first love. This is not what New England wants to hear.

I'm split on this issue. Part of me thinks the Patriots should just cut ties with Demps. New England, perhaps more than any other team, is a factory where the focus is strictly on football. The Patriots despise distracted players for any reason, whether it’s on the field, off the field or thinking about another sport.

On the other hand, what's the harm in keeping Demps around? The Patriots are not counting on Demps at running back. They have enough good players at the position with 1,200-yard rusher Stevan Ridley and speedy backup Shane Vereen. New England also signed exciting kick returner with Leon Washington in free agency. The Patriots won't miss Demps if he's out for the first half of the season.

Demps' situation will be an interesting case study for the Patriots, who like to collect and stash talent. The team thinks it could have something in the speedy Demps, but his heart isn't 100 percent into football.

Should the Patriots wait for Demps to get track out his system? Or are the Patriots wasting their time? This is for New England to figure out.

When reports recently surfaced that St. Louis Rams tailback and former Pro Bowler Steven Jackson will void his contract and become a free agent, the New England Patriots were one of the first teams mentioned as a possible landing spot.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick likes to add talented veterans at their lowest value. Sometimes it works well (Randy Moss, Corey Dillon), while other times it doesn’t (Chad Johnson, Albert Haynesworth).

Jackson, 29, seems like a Patriots type of pickup. He has suffered through injuries and is on the downside of his career. But Jackson still has something left in the tank when healthy and can contribute for a contender.

But this is one value find the Patriots should avoid. New England has good depth at tailback with starter Stevan Ridley and backup Shane Vereen. Ridley rushed for a career-high 1,263 yards in his second season, and should only get better. Signing a former Pro Bowler like Jackson would stunt Ridley’s growth and reduce his career. The same goes for Vereen.

The Patriots will be big players in free agency, especially after quarterback Tom Brady offered the team cap relief this week. But the Patriots do not need a third running back. New England should better spend its money boosting weak positions like cornerback, safety and wide receiver.

Last year in the AFC Championship Game, New England Patriots running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen were two rookies in street clothes -- and neither player was happy about it.

Ridley showed flashes in his first year with the Patriots by rushing for 441 yards and averaging 5.1 yards per carry. But fumbles in consecutive games landed him on the inactive list for the rest of the playoffs. Vereen had an injury-plagued rookie campaign, played in just five games and was never able to get on track.

But perseverance and dedication have changed the fortunes of New England’s second-year running backs. This season, Ridley played in all 16 games and led the Patriots with 1,263 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He carried the load for New England in the regular season. Vereen mostly stayed healthy in his sophomore campaign, playing in 13 games and adding 251 rushing yards off the bench.

But most importantly, the tailbacks have been double trouble in the playoffs. Ridley and Vereen combined for 219 total yards and four touchdowns in New England's 41-28 victory over the Houston Texans in the divisional round. The pair beat Houston on the ground and through the air, which was essential after the Patriots lost Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski (arm) for the playoffs.

After sitting on the bench last year against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC title game, both Patriots tailbacks will have significant roles in Sunday's postseason rematch.

“Last year, it was kind of devastating and heartbreaking to not be out there with the team in a big game,” Vereen said this week. “This year, I am able to contribute and I hope to help the team in the best way that I can.”

Trust is huge in New England. Ridley learned that lesson the hard way.

Talent was never an issue for the 2011 third-round pick. Ridley impressed coaches with his running style as a rookie and started to consistently earn double-digit carries in December.

But with more opportunities, Ridley had a couple of untimely fumbles. He put the ball on the ground in New England’s regular-season finale, which was recovered, then lost a fumble against the Denver Broncos in the first playoff game.

At that point, Patriots coach Bill Belichick had seen enough. Belichick clipped the already short leash with Ridley and made the rookie inactive in the AFC Championship Game and in Super Bowl XLVI against the New York Giants. Ridley understood the decision.

“This is an organization that is built on a lot of tradition, and they have been doing things the right way for a long time,” Ridley said. “If you don’t want to play football the [right] way, you’re not going to be here.”

Last season’s rookie disappointment motivated Ridley and Vereen to become better second-year players. The jump both players have made in Year 2 showed this past week against Houston.

New England started more experienced and sure-handed Danny Woodhead, who injured his thumb against the Texans on the first carry. Ridley and Vereen took over from there.

Ridley rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown. Vereen rushed for 41 yards, had five receptions for 83 yards and scored three touchdowns. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady called Vereen’s impressive, 33-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter to put the game out of reach a coming-of-age moment.

“On the last one, Tom threw a perfect, perfect pass and I was only able to bring it in because of where the ball was at,” Vereen explained. “It was a matchup that we were hoping to get, and we were able to execute the play. Everything lined up right, and Tom threw a perfect pass.”

Can Ridley and Vereen shine again? Last week was the first time both young tailbacks performed well in a pressure-packed playoff atmosphere.

The Patriots are heavy favorites for the second straight week. But New England knows better than to overlook Baltimore. The Ravens were underdogs this past week when they knocked off the top-seeded Broncos in Denver. The past three meetings between Baltimore and New England have been decided by three or fewer points. So expect another close game.

The running games could be huge for both teams, especially in the second half. Ridley and Vereen were sideline spectators last year in the AFC title game. But this pair must produce for the Patriots for a second game in a row to secure a spot in Super Bowl XLVII.

“They’re a great football team. I don’t care what the numbers say,” Ridley said of Baltimore. “History shows what they do in the playoffs: They go on the road and they win. They have great leadership. They have one of the best players to ever play the game. We have ultimate respect for the Ravens.”

Let's take a look at whose stock is rising and falling in the AFC East.

Falling

1. New England Patriots' tight-end depth: The Patriots lost dynamic Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski for the season after he broke his arm for a second time Sunday against the Houston Texans. The Patriots must adjust to life without Gronkowski, especially in the red zone. Gronkowski had 11 touchdown receptions in just 11 games this season. No other Patriot had more than six touchdown receptions. New England still has dynamic tight end Aaron Hernandez, but will have to rely on the inexperienced Michael Hoomanawanui to fill that second tight end role. Hoomanawanui is more of a blocking tight end who has just five catches receptions this season.

2. New York Jets' GM search: Does anyone want to run the Jets next season? It doesn't seem that way after New York's prolonged general manager search is approaching three weeks. Jay Glazer of FoxSports.com recently reported the Jets "can't give the position away" and are coming back to candidates who turned the team down earlier and asking them to reconsider. That is harsh. But it's understandable why New York's general manager position is not a desirable job. First, the team is well over the cap with old and overpaid players. Second, the Jets need to fix their extremely broken quarterback situation. Finally, the new general manager must work with Rex Ryan and cannot hire their own head coach. Add it up and you have a mess that apparently no top candidate wants to clean up.

3. Patriots kickoff coverage: New England had some rare mistakes last week in kick coverage. Houston had 230 kickoff return yards in the divisional round, which included a 94-yard return to start the game. The hidden yards and winning in the third phase made the final margin betwen the Patriots and Texans closer than it really was. New England head coach Bill Belichick defended his special teams this week and doesn't believe it will be an issue in the AFC title game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Rising

1. Tom Brady, Patriots quarterback: Brady became the all-time winningest quarterback in NFL playoff history with a win over the Texans. Brady threw for 344 yards, three touchdowns and improved to 17-6 in the postseason. Brady has a chance to advance to his sixth Super Bowl with a win next week against the Baltimore Ravens. With other elite quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers knocked out of the divisional round, New England has a significant advantage at quarterback among the final four teams.

2. Shane Vereen, Patriots tailback: I knew Vereen was a threat catching out of the backfield. But I didn’t know Vereen was this dangerous. New England's second-year running back made some great catches in Sunday's playoff win over the Texans. Vereen finished with 83 receiving yards, 41 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. Vereen and fellow running back Stevan Ridley are coming of age together for New England in the postseason. That makes the Patriots even more dangerous.

3. Buffalo Bills defense: The Bills made some quality hires on defense to land former Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine and former Jets defensive line coach Anthony Weaver. Both did a solid job in New York and will bring that experience to Buffalo. The Bills drastically underachieved on defense under Dave Wannstedt. Buffalo was 22nd in total defense and 31st against the run, despite having a defensive line that included Mario Williams, Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus. Pettine is known to get the most out of his players. Expect the Bills' hybrid 3-4 and 4-3 defense to improve in 2013.

The New England Patriots' top-ranked offense will be fine without Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski, who reinjured his arm Sunday against the Houston Texans and is out for the playoffs. New England got plenty of practice and was 4-1 when Gronkowski broke his arm the first time in the regular season. The Patriots also scored 41 points against Houston in the playoffs without Gronkowski for three quarters.

However, inside the red zone is where Gronkowski definitely will be missed.

Gronkowski is almost unstoppable in the red zone. His size, long wingspan and strong hands made him an ideal target for Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to spot in the end zone. Gronkowski caught 38 touchdowns in three seasons, and a majority of his scores were inside the 20-yard line. He caught 11 touchdowns in 11 regular-season games in 2012 despite being in and out of the lineup.

The Patriots will be fine between the 20s. Aaron Hernandez can stretch the field at tight end. Wes Welker can get open over the middle and move the chains. And other Patriots like receiver Brandon Lloyd, Deion Branch and tailbacks Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley will pick up the slack.

But the Patriots cannot afford to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns this deep in the playoffs. Outside of Gronkowski, no other Patriot caught more than six touchdown passes this season.

Five things to know about the New England Patriots' matchup with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium:

1.Familiar foe: The Patriots and Ravens are almost like division rivals in recent years. These two teams always seem to meet in the regular season or playoffs with a lot on the line. This will be the second meeting this season. Baltimore beat New England, 31-30, in Week 3 in a game with several controversial calls from replacement officials. The Patriots feel they owe the Ravens from that game in this rematch.

2. No Gronkowski: The Patriots must adjust again to life without Rob Gronkowski. The Pro Bowl tight end broke his arm a second time and will be out for the rest of the postseason. New England played five games without Gronkowski and went 4-1 in those games. The Patriots also scored 41 points in the divisional round against the Texans with Gronkowski sidelined for more than three quarters. New England has plenty of offensive weapons, but Gronkowski will be missed most in the red zone.

3. Youngs RBs: The Patriots have two emerging running backs coming of age in the postseason. Second-year players Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen combined for four touchdowns in Sunday's victory over the Texans. Ridley led the Patriots with 82 yards rushing, and Vereen showed his versatility with 41 rushing yards and 83 receiving yards. Neither player contributed to last year's playoff run. With Gronkowski out, there will be more opportunities for others to step up.

4. Chasing history: Patriots quarterback Tom Brady set an NFL record with his 17th career postseason victories Sunday. He surpassed his childhood idol Joe Montana. However, Brady is chasing Montana in the most important record for quarterbacks: Super Bowl titles. Brady needs one more Super Bowl title to tie Montana and Terry Bradshaw with four. A win over Baltimore would give Brady his sixth Super Bowl appearance.

5. Cooling off Flacco: New England's defense will face a hot quarterback in Joe Flacco of the Ravens. He outdueled Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in the divisional round and will be looking to topple Brady next week. Flacco has played well against New England in the past two meetings. He nearly upset the Patriots in the AFC title game last year, but had a key pass dropped in the end zone by former Ravens receiver Lee Evans. Flacco also beat the Patriots in their regular-season meeting in Baltimore. Flacco is 0-2 in AFC Championship Games.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A few thoughts on the New England Patriots' 41-28 divisional playoff victory over the Houston Texans.

What it means: The Patriots advanced to the AFC Championship Game to face the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium for the second year in a row. New England moves one step closer to its sixth Super Bowl appearance under quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick. Brady threw for 344 yards and three touchdowns. Brady also set a new NFL record with 17 career playoff victories.

Young RBs growing up: New England's young running backs came of age in this playoff game. Second-year players Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley scored New England’s first three touchdowns -- and four touchdowns total -- in the win. Vereen showed his versatility with 41 rushing yards, 83 receiving yards and three total touchdowns. Ridley added 82 rushing yards and one touchdown. Neither player was a factor in New England's playoff run last year. But both made significant contributions in New England’s opening playoff game this year.

Gronkowski may be out for season: The biggest injury concern coming out of this game is the health of Patriots Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski. He re-injured his previously broken left arm in the first quarter and didn't return. He was in major pain before going to the locker room. Early reports indicate that Gronkowski could be out for the season. (Update: Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Gronkowski is out for the rest of the playoffs.) This is the second straight year Gronkowski is significantly injured for the playoffs.

Welker hard to guard: With Gronkowski out, Wes Welker became the focal part of the passing offense. Welker recorded eight receptions for 131 yards against Houston. He had six catches for 120 yards in the first half. Welker made several key catches to keep the chains moving.

Other injuries: The Patriots had several other key injuries to monitor next week. In addition to Gronkowski, New England starting defensive end Chandler Jones re-injured his ankle in the third quarter and didn’t return. The Patriots’ other defensive end, Rob Ninkovich, also was injured in the fourth quarter, and New England running back Danny Woodhead injured his thumb in the first quarter and didn’t return. New England needs its key players healthy for next week.

What’s next: The Patriots will host Baltimore in the AFC title game for the second straight year at Gillette Stadium. Both teams have had a good rivalry in recent years. Baltimore beat New England in Week 3 of the regular season and will be emotionally charged during linebacker Ray Lewis’ final playoff run. The Patriots will try to avoid being swept by the Ravens in two games this season.

It is playoff time for the reigning AFC champion New England Patriots. Each year, the great teams get surprise contributors to advance and make a deep playoff run.

Will the Patriots be one of those teams this year? Here are some low-key, under-the-radar players who could make an impact for New England on Sunday against the Houston Texans:

1. CB Alfonzo Dennard

Analysis: The rookie seventh-round pick has been one of the biggest surprises in the AFC East. Dennard was nearly "Mr. Irrelevant" in the 2012 draft and wound up starting seven games for a Super Bowl contender. Dennard will be tested often in the postseason opposite talented corner Aqib Talib. But Dennard has three interceptions and is getting better as the season has gone on. Dennard should get some opportunities to make plays and make an impact.

2. RB Danny Woodhead

Analysis: This is the time of year when a role player like Woodhead really excels. Woodhead, the backup tailback, is the 2013 version of Kevin Faulk. He always knows his assignments and rarely makes mental or physical errors. Woodhead shares time with young tailbacks Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen. But Ridley and Vereen have limited playoff experience and are prone to mistakes. Woodhead is a dependable player Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels can trust. In a postseason game where every play counts, Woodhead's opportunities could increase.

3. DE Justin Francis

Analysis: Where was Francis all season? That had to be the question Patriots fans were thinking after Francis recorded his first three sacks of the season all in Week 17 against the Dolphins. The rookie has been mostly a non-factor, but came on strong in December. He had five tackles in a loss to the San Francisco 49ers. That earned him more playing time and set the table for his three-sack performance in the regular-season finale. Was that a fluke or a sign of things to come in the playoffs? Francis has certainly earned a chance in the pass-rush rotation.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:

Miami's ground attack: The Dolphins’ passing struggles this preseason have been well documented in this space. Now that the games count, expect Miami to be more conservative with rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The Dolphins would be wise to draw up a simple game plan to run as much as possible against the dangerous Houston Texans. Miami has a decent stable of running backs, led by starter Reggie Bush, and deploying them successfully is the best way to keep the game close. If Miami falls behind early and tries to pass its way back in the game, look out! The Texans’ pass rush could cause the Dolphins major problems.

Ridley the focus: New England Patriots tailback Shane Vereen has been held out of practice this week with a foot injury and is not expected to play. That means most of the responsibility will be on second-year tailback Stevan Ridley. He beat out Vereen in training camp for the starting job but was still expected to share carries. For Sunday’s game against Tennessee, Ridley likely will be the workhorse, with help from backup Danny Woodhead.

Sanchez must perform: Perhaps no starting quarterback in the NFL faces more pressure to perform in Week 1 than Mark Sanchez. His job security has been in question from the day the New York Jets traded for the popular Tim Tebow. Then Sanchez failed to lead the Jets to a single preseason touchdown. There is no way around it: Sanchez enters the season on a short leash. He must play well against the Buffalo Bills at home Sunday or questions will increase about his job security.

Statement for Jets' D: New York talked this offseason about the potential of having the best defense in the league. The Jets can go out and prove it Sunday against the Bills. New York -- particularly at cornerback -- has matched up well against Buffalo’s multi-receiver offense in recent seasons, winning five consecutive games in the series. The matchup between Pro Bowl corner Darrelle Revis and Bills No. 1 receiver Steve Johnson, if healthy, will be huge. Johnson has done well against Revis in the past but is nursing a groin injury. Johnson said he expects to play but is listed as questionable. Meanwhile, Revis will be motivated to start the season strong.

Fitzpatrick crossroads: Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick enters a pivotal year in his career. The Bills will go as far as Fitzpatrick takes them this season. He is one of the streakiest quarterbacks in the NFL. At his best, Fitzpatrick can get hot and beat any team. But at his worst, he's prone to multiple turnovers that are difficult to overcome. Fitzpatrick has worked on fundamentals and consistency, and he will need it on the road against the Jets' excellent defense.

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

• The Buffalo Bills remain confident despite another slow preseason performance on offense.

Morning take: The Bills haven't been consistent this preseason, but no one has in the AFC East. Buffalo will get an accurate gauge of where it stands immediately when it plays the New York Jets in Week 1.

• Is free-agent tight end Chris Cooley a possibility for the Miami Dolphins?

Morning take: Any time a pass-catcher becomes available, you have to consider Miami. Starting tight end Anthony Fasano and rookie Michael Egnew have struggled in the preseason. But Cooley will have his choice of several options, and the rebuilding Dolphins might not be at the top.

• New England Patriots running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen are expected to sit in Wednesday's preseason finale against the New York Giants.

Morning take: This should provide ample playing time for rookie running back Jeff Demps, who missed all of training camp and half of the preseason. The Patriots need to find out what the Olympic speedster can contribute to the team this season.

• The Jets defend their secrecy of the Wildcat.

Morning take: The Jets have the right not to show their entire offense in the preseason. But it's curious because nothing else worked and New York couldn't score a touchdown. Will Tim Tebow and the Wildcat be enough to save the Jets' offense?

TAMPA -- Rapid reaction from the Patriots’ 30-28 loss to the Buccaneers in preseason action:

Ugly night for Patriots. This was somewhat similar to last season’s third preseason game at Detroit in which the Patriots were pushed around and quarterback Tom Brady took too many hits. The Buccaneers were aggressive on defense and had success disrupting the rhythm of the passing game by getting to Brady early and building a 20-7 halftime lead. The overall pass protection -- from the line, to tight end, to running backs -- was shaky. Some might also say Brady didn’t always help his cause by holding on to the ball too long on some plays. The Patriots got behind early -- the defense was shredded on the opening drive -- and were playing catch-up the rest of the night. Bill Belichick will likely say that the team has a lot to work on after this one. He’d be speaking the truth.

Brady plays into late third quarter. Brady’s final play came with 54 seconds remaining in the third quarter and was a 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski. This highlighted Bill Belichick’s approach of playing Brady and the top guns into the second half in this “dress rehearsal” for the regular season. It was hot and humid here in Tampa, so while the results weren’t necessarily desired, one positive was that the Patriots’ conditioning was tested.

Three injuries of note -- Vereen, Larsen, Arrington. Second-year running back Shane Vereen and fifth-year fullback Spencer Larsen limped off in the first half and did not return. That left the offensive backfield a bit thin. Vereen had been making a charge for some more playing time, and in his absence, Stevan Ridley was one of the bright spots for the Patriots and looks like he’s positioned to be the opening-day starter and lead option. Meanwhile, cornerback Kyle Arrington was replaced by Ras-I Dowling for the final two series of the second quarter and was having his back examined by the athletic training staff on the sideline. All three players did not return.

Writing on the wall for Stallworth? With Wes Welker not dressing for the game, the Patriots didn’t turn to Donte' Stallworth -- who played extensively on Monday night -- until late in the fourth quarter (he had a few late catches). Julian Edelman received a lot of playing time at receiver but had a quiet night on the stat sheet (no catches). That could be bad news for Stallworth in his hopes for a roster spot.

Defense -- up and down night. Outside of a 19-yard Doug Martin run, the Patriots played solid run defense. That was one of the positive aspects of the defensive performance, as it’s live work they can’t often get in practice. The secondary had some early struggles, but with rookie safeties Tavon Wilson and Nate Ebner seeing significant playing time, there weren’t major issues on the back end outside of the first drive. Some valuable experience gained there.

Demps -- up and down debut. Olympic silver medalist Jeff Demps didn't play until midway through the third quarter and had an up-and-down debut, with two kickoff returns that didn’t produce big results and a penalty for simulating the snap count. But his explosiveness was on display late in the fourth quarter with a 29-yard run that showcased his blazing speed. He’s one of those players: When the ball is in his hands, you don’t want to miss it. Exciting.

Reminder -- it’s just the preseason. It wasn’t an inspiring performance from the Patriots, but as we’ve seen before, beware of reading too much into preseason results. The Buccaneers took it to the Patriots, just as the Lions did last year in the third preseason game. The Patriots’ 2011 season turned out to be pretty successful.

The New England Patriots rested many of their key players against the Philadelphia Eagles on "Monday Night Football." The Eagles won the game, 27-17.

Here are some notes and observations:

Healthy scratches: Monday marked the second of three games the Patriots play in a 10-day span. That is why New England coach Bill Belichick chose to rest many of his veteran players, including quarterback Tom Brady, receiver Wes Welker, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and tight end Rob Gronkowski. The Patriots are the reigning AFC champions and do not need much preseason work.

What I liked: It was a decent showcase for Patriots backup quarterback Ryan Mallett. He received a surprise start ahead of Brian Hoyer Monday and took advantage of the opportunity. Mallett showed off his big arm and completed 10 of 20 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia. Mallett held his own against Philadelphia’s first-team defense in the first half. He also played some in the second half. Hoyer struggled, going 5-for-17 for just 55 yards and a lost fumble.

What I didn’t like: The running game wasn’t nearly as impressive as it was last week. Shane Vereen got the start after a stellar preseason opener. But Vereen didn’t do much, recording just 20 yards on 10 carries. Stevan Ridley also had mediocre numbers, rushing for 25 yards on 10 carries. The running lanes clearly were not as big without the threat of Brady, Gronkowski and Welker in the passing game.

Spikes produces: Linebacker Brandon Spikes showed why New England projects him to start this season. Spikes was productive and had four tackles, including a big hit in the first quarter on Eagles Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy. Spikes can be a factor for New England if he can stay healthy. He has been in and out of training camp this summer.

What's next: The Patriots have a short turnaround. They will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday for their annual "dress rehearsal" in preparation for Week 1 of the regular season.

The New England Patriots host their second preseason game, against the Philadelphia Eagles at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Here are a few things to look for:

1. Can the defense keep momentum? The Patriots had the NFL’s second worst defense in 2011. But you wouldn’t know it by the way they played in the preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints. New England’s starters and backups allowed just six points against a very good Saints offense. The Patriots looked much faster than last year, thanks to several key draft picks and free agents, and forced a couple of turnovers. Was last week a fluke? Or will we see an improved defense from New England in 2012? The Patriots’ defense gets another tough assignment against Philadelphia’s offense.

2. Will Patriots tailbacks continue to shine? New England’s passing game will be fine. But there are questions entering this season about second-year running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen. Ridley and Vereen erased some of those concerns in the preseason opener. They combined for 104 rushing yards. Performances like that will make Patriots fans quickly forget about the loss of veteran running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

3. Offensive line woes: New England’s offensive line continues to be a work in progress. Left tackle Matt Light retired, Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins is working his way back from a knee injury and fellow guard Brian Waters' status is still unknown. The Patriots’ first-team line wasn’t good in pass protection last week. New England needs to tighten that up this week, because keeping quarterback Tom Brady upright is the biggest key to the Patriots’ season.

4. Rookie watch: It was an impressive NFL debut for Patriots first-round picks Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower. Both defenders played well. Hightower recorded four tackles and Jones had two tackles and a quarterback pressure. Both rookies are expected to be immediate contributors and could push for starting jobs sooner than later this season.