Buffalo Bills
Love - A Little Unpredictability
Alright, alright. Like you, I don’t really fire my synapses too often over the Buffalo Bills. Their only significant NFL record (other than four woeful consecutive Super Bowl losses) is keeping the league’s longest current playoff drought alive. But they have glimmers of playmakers here and there and a coach who hasn’t proved he sucks, at least not yet anyway. If E.J. Manuel can stay healthy, he should be thrilled to have the newly drafted and explosive Sammy Watkins lining up to make him look good with Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller returning to round out the offensive skill set. These signs with a little luck point to some much-needed big play potential. On defense, there's dreamy Kiko Alonso to atone for the sins of Mario Williams & company and terrorize the middle of the field.
If there’s one part of the Bills’ profile that has been decently solid in recent years, it’s been their defense, especially in the passing game. That’s a shame because Pro Bowl playmaker Jairus Byrd is headed to muggier pastures in New Orleans while DC Mike Pettine tries to reverse the curse in Cleveland. Those high-profile moves are a testament to the Bills’ silver lining over the years, but they don’t bode well for the rest of Buffalo, which can use all the silver linings it can get for another rebuilding season.
Miami Dolphins
Love - Tannehill to Wallace
Pittsburgh export Mike Wallace was in witness protection for the first part of the 2013 season to the chagrin of fantasy teams everywhere, but Ryan Tannehill eventually found his way to this vertical threat. Wallace caught 4 TDs in the last six weeks of the season. With another offseason to keep the rhythm going and Jarvis Landry adding depth at WR, these two could have quite the breakout season and finally give that handful of Dolphins fans something to look forward to.
Hate - A Bullied Offensive Line
See what I did there? Sure, the first thing that comes to mind for the casual Dolphins observer these days is one messy bullying scandal between offensive lineman Jonathan Martin and Varsity Blues extra Richie Cognito. It was not a good look. But also, the Dolphins' line was terrible all on its own pre- and post-Cognito's roid rage exodus. They ranked in the bottom quartile in rushing yards and allowed a league-high 58 sacks in 2013. And they've got all the experience and depth of a Jonas Brother going into 2014.
New York Jets
Love - Rex "Rasputin" Ryan
Say what you will about a guy with a penchant for locker room drama and very, very poor tattoo decisions, but who has done more with less year after year than Rex Ryan? Not only did he endure Mark Sanchez with a side of Tebowmania for five years--and make the AFC Championship twice, he somehow willed the Jets to 8 - 8 in 2013 despite Geno Smith posting a sub-15 QB rating eight times. If you listen closely, you can hear Patriots fans' arteries exploding everywhere. Anyway, if Rex can find a little glimmer of not-hopelessness in Chris Johnson this season and keep building on the foundation of another great defense, don't be surprised to see him evade the pink slip by just enough once again.
Did I mention Geno Smith posted no less than eight QB ratings of less than 15 during his rookie year? I guess when you follow a guy like Mark Sanchez, even the most abusive New York Post writer will cut you a little slack. The Jets have sort of tried by picking Michael Vick off of Philly's scrap heap, but in the, ahem, unlikely event that Vick gets injured midway through the season, they will be royally screwed by the three backups that have a collective 1 year of starter experience in the pros between them.
New England Patriots
Love - Return of the Gronk, Part III
The Gronk giveth, and the Gronk taketh away, usually in the form of his own connective tissue. After having one of the best seasons in the history of tight ends in 2011, Rob Gronkowski has struggled with a string of bad injuries while still managing to make the highlight reel more often than most. But every September or so (depending on the time table), we get to hope for a brighter Gronk-filled future of one-handed end zone grabs and fundamentally sound run blocking. Maybe this will be the year. Maybe.
Hate - The Spurs of the NFL
It's technically true that the Spurs have won a lot more championships in the last decade than the Patriots, but by Kanye if both aren't the most flawlessly boring team in their respective sports. Every year (except that one where they went 11 - 5 with a backup quarterback), the Pats make the playoffs without a hint of suspense or wasted effort. They have a perennial All Star who makes everyone around him look good, an ever-rejuvenating cast of role players and a mastermind coach who loves press conferences just about as much as, well, Gregg Popovich. Outside of the occasional murder allegations, there's just nothing flashy about this New England dynasty, robotic in its relentless pursuit of one last Lombardi. So they'll probably have a perfectly wonderful season to shrug about.
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