Full team-by-team predictions for the AFC East in 2022

3rd Place in AFC East: New England Patriots

Record Prediction:

7-10

Key Arrivals:

DeVante Parker (WR), Ty Montgomery (WR), Malcolm Butler (CB), Bailey Zappe (QB)

Key Departures:

JC Jackson (CB), Kyle Van Noy (ILB), Ted Karras (C)

Last Year’s Results and This Year’s Outlook:

After a nearly two-decade reign over the rest of the AFC East, the Patriots are now one of the teams that no one really knows what to do with. On paper, they have one of the least talented rosters in the entire conference, but we have seen how much Bill Belichick is able to do with mediocre and even mundane pieces. If he is able to get New England to make a run at the playoffs in 2022, it may be one of his best feats yet.

The Patriots did a bit of overachieving in 2021, qualifying for a Wild Card playoff spot with a 10-7 record in the regular season. Their reward was a date with Buffalo on the opening weekend of the postseason, and the Bills were leading 27-3 at halftime on their way to a 47-17 victory.

Toughest Non-Divisional Games:

Week 3 vs. Baltimore

Week 4 @ Packers

Week 16 vs Bengals

How the Miami Dolphins match up:

The Evil Empire no longer reigns supreme over the AFC East, but when they did, it was the Dolphins that were the team that was occasionally able to give Brady and company fits. That has continued now that the quarterback has moved on to Tampa, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is 3-0 in his career against Belichick and the Patriots.

Tagovailoa will look to add to his perfect record in Week 1 as the Dolphins play host to the Patriots in their first contest with their new-look offense and overall regime.