Ricky Dimon
We are less than a month away from the 2025 NFL regular season. Week 1 can’t come soon enough, but before it does we have time to preview all of the upcoming action and make our predictions and best bets.
Pickswise’s extensive coverage continues with a breakdown of the AFC East. Since the New England Patriots’ dynasty came to an end, the Buffalo Bills have had a monopoly on division titles. Josh Allen and company have won it 5 times in a row. In a sixth straight triumph in the cards, or will either the Patriots, Miami Dolphins, or New York Jets pull off a surprise?
AFC East odds
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing
Buffalo Bills -310
New England Patriots +475
Miami Dolphins +900
New York Jets +1800
Buffalo Bills
As the odds suggest, there is no reason why the Bills should not capture a sixth consecutive division title. After all, no other team in the AFC East has a quarterback who is as good and as reliable as Josh Allen. At 29 years old, he is still firmly in his prime. Heck, the Wyoming product just earned NFL MVP honors last season! With Allen backed by a defense that includes Joey Bosa, Ed Oliver and Tre’Davious White, Buffalo is loaded.
Buffalo Bills best bet: To be the #1 seed in the AFC (+190)
Miami Dolphins
I’m not ready to give up on the Dolphins just yet. They have not been worse than 8-9 since 2019 and they have made the playoffs in 2 of the past 3 seasons. Obviously Tua Tagovailoa has to stay healthy, which is never a guarantee. On the bright side, the left-hander out of Alabama played in all 17 games during the 2023 campaign and he played in nine of the last 11 games this past season. A lot has to go right – mainly with Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill – but this offense is capable of being explosive.
Miami Dolphins best bet: To make the playoffs (+220)
New England Patriots
The Jerod Mayo experiment did not work and was never going to work. Unsurprisingly, his head-coaching stint lasted only 1 year and ended with a 4-13 record. Now it’s Mike Vrabel who is at the helm, and that alone should put New England back on the right track. No, the Bill Belichick era ain’t walkin’ through that door – but the 2025 Patriots should at least be decent. Drake Maye has 13 games of NFL experience under his belt and you know the defense is always going to be respectable.
New England Patriots best bet: To miss the playoffs (-145)
New York Jets
You have to think that Aaron Rodgers getting out of town is addition by subtraction, but the Jets still have more questions than answers at quarterback. Justin Fields remains unproven and Tyrod Taylor is more of a backup than a starter. Of course, running back Breece Hall and receiver Garrett Wilson are great pieces around which to build. On the other side of the ball, there isn’t much to speak of other than defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner. Needless to say, four really good players is not enough.
New York Jets best bet: Under 6.5 wins (-145)
AFC East division predictions
1. Buffalo Bills
2. Miami Dolphins
3. New England Patriots
4. New York Jets
AFC East best bet: Bills-Dolphins 1-2 exacta (+290)
Buffalo is a borderline lock to win the division. That means the question is: can Miami finish #2? The Fish might do it by default. They aren’t anything special (probably), but neither are New England and New York. It’s not going to take a lot to place second behind the Bills. If Tagovailoa can even see the field for a double-digit number of games, it should happen. At +290 odds, this bet has outstanding value.
