Miami Dolphins: 3 things that must happen in order to win AFC East

There has been an extreme lack of parity in the AFC East over the last two decades. The New England Patriots’ historic run left zero wiggle room at the top of the division, aside from an unlikely Miami Dolphins achievement way back in 2008. The Fins haven’t been crowned since.

The departure of Tom Brady before last season opened a door that had been slammed shut since 2002. The Patriots struggled in 2020 without the all-time quarterback at the helm, something that came as a refreshing change for the other teams involved. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills have timed their ascent perfectly, and are the odds-on favorite to win the division again after taking home the title last season for the first time since 1995.

The AFC East may be one of the better divisions in football this coming season. What do the Miami Dolphins have to do in order to win it?

The Jets and the Patriots shouldn’t be overlooked, either. New York is under a new regime, though it will take time for them to develop. The Patriots went out and spent a heap of money in free agency, retooling a roster led by arguably the greatest coach to ever live. Both teams should win more games than they did last year, likely making the AFC East one of the strongest divisions in the league.

So what do the Dolphins have to do to unseat the Bills and take over the title of division champions? It may seem like a tough task to take down what was one of the elite teams in the NFL last season, but things may be a bit simpler for Miami than they appear. If the following three things are to happen, then the Dolphins will have a legitimate shot at their first division title in 13 years.