Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio came out with his AFC East preview today, and if he's right, the Patriots could be in for a rude awakening in 2011.
Florio lists the Patriots as the team most likely to fall in the division. Not a hard thing to do when you put together a 14-2 record the season prior, but they'll fall far enough, Florio thinks, that the Jets overtake them as the AFC East champs.
"Who knows? Maybe this is going to be the year they get to the Super Bowl," Florio said. "They're at least going to win the division."
Florio points out that a large part of the Patriots' success last season was due to their plus-28 turnover ratio, which certainly could be difficult to replicate.
The Jets look like the best bet to win the division, says Florio, despite some issues with their offensive line. He has the Bills finishing third in the division -- though he thinks they could steal a playoff spot -- and the Dolphins in the basement.