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The AFC East was best known to be owned by the New England Patriots in the last couple of decades or so. And then later, the Buffalo Bills. Starting in 2001, New England won the division every year except two, until the 2019 season. Since then, the Buffalo Bills have won the AFC East title for the last four seasons.Last year, it looked like the red-hot Miami Dolphins would win the AFC East for the first time since 2008. But Miami capitulated at the end of the NFL season, allowing Buffalo to steal the crown from right under the Dolphins' noses in Miami on the final day of the regular season.This will once again be one of the most exciting divisions in NFL in 2024. Can Aaron Rodgers stay healthy and get the Jets back to the playoffs? Will Miami start hot again and finally lift their first division title since 2008, or does this division still belong to Buffalo for a fifth consecutive season? GOAL tries to predict the AFC East standings for the upcoming 2024 season...

NFL 2024 AFC East Analysis, Preview & Prediction: Can Bills keep pace with ever-improving Dolphins and Jets?

New England underwent a major rebuild under new executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf in the offseason, starting with the head coach and quarterback position. They parted ways from legendary leader Bill Belichick, having over the reins to one of his proteges, Jarod Mayo. The Patriots also selected UNC quarterback Drake Maye with the third overall pick in this year's draft and added rocket-armed Joe Milton in the sixth-round. Everyone will need time to gel together.The Patriots face a tough schedule, particularly at the start of the season. With ongoing issues on the offensive line and at wide receiver, it's hard to bet on them winning the division. While the future looks promising for the Patriots, 2024 is likely to be a challenging year.

New England Patriots | 2023 Record: 4-13 | 2024 Prediction: 3-14

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills demonstrated the grit and resilience that Miami faltered in when it mattered most. This season, they're not backing down without a fierce battle. Josh Allen continues to be a top-tier quarterback, and head coach Sean McDermott has shown he can galvanize his squad, even when the chips are down.Star wide receiver Stefon Diggs was traded to the Houston Texans during the offseason leaving a major whole in the Bills passing offense.Allen performed at a Pro Bowl level in all four of their seasons he spent throwing to Diggs, but will now have to find a new No. 1 option in the passing game. The Bills used a second-round pick on Florida State wideout Keon Coleman hoping to fill the void.Edge-rusher Von Miller is heading into his age-35 season coming off a year without a single sack, and linebacker Matt Milano is on the mend from a torn ACL and a fractured leg. Consequently, Buffalo's defense might not be as formidable as it has been in the past.They need their rookies to play well, but even so, they're in big trouble and look destined to slip out of the playoff picture in the AFC.

Buffalo Bills | 2023 Record: 11-6 | 2024 Prediction: 9-8

The Dolphins are an appealing team to back to win the division because they had one of the best offenses in the NFL, ranking third last year with 27.9 points per game, while they have also kept most of their headline players.Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are the Dolphins' dynamic wideouts, while De'Von Achane and Jaylen Wright are their speedsters as ball carriers. They also signed Odell Beckham Jr., a wide receiver who had a career-best 16.1 yards per reception last season.Miami have added potential starters and depth on the edge with pass-rushers Bradley Chubb (ACL) and Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) recovering from season-ending injuries. They signed Shaquil Barrett and picked Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara in the first round and fifth rounds of the draft, respectively.However, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins has now joined the Las Vegas Raiders, and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel is in Minnesota. Safety Brandon Jones is now with the Denver Broncos, leaving a significant void in Miami's pass defense.Only time will tell if they've brought in enough quality replacements, but as the saying goes, offense sells, and they are poised to dominate some teams in a big way.

Miami Dolphins | 2023 Record: 11-6 | 2024 Prediction: 11-6

The 2023 offseason spectacle of Aaron Rodgers signing with the New York Jets provided a glimpse of optimism for a doomed franchise. For the first time in years, there was genuine excitement that postseason football was on the horizon.That lasted just four snaps, and it feels like déjà vu as the future Hall of Fame quarterback returns to lead a promising Jets team. Assuming full health for Rodgers, there is a lot to like about this Jets roster and their dealings in the offseason.They have acquired right tackle Morgan Moses from the Baltimore Ravens to provide further protection for Rodgers, signed a Pro Bowl-level left tackle in Tyron Smith, left-guard John Simpson and an explosive deep threat wide receiver in Mike Williams via free agency. They added tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu and wide receiver Malachi Corley in the first and third rounds of the 2024 draft, respectively.Running back Breece Hall ended last season with incredible production. New York also added rookies running back Braelon Allen (Wisconsin) and Isaiah Davis (South Dakota State), both of whom were stars in college football. There are valid concerns about how good a 41-year-old Rodgers will be coming off an Achilles injury, but even if he's mediocre, that may be all the Jets need to win a division with their current squad.

New York Jets | 2023 Record: 7-10 | 2024 Prediction: 11-6

NFL 2024 AFC East Analysis, Preview & Prediction: Can Bills keep pace with ever-improving Dolphins and Jets? | Goal.com US

Buffalo Bills lifted their fourth straight AFC East title last time out, but can they keep pace with ever-improving Miami Dolphins and New York Jets?