The Sports Xchange

In a decision so clear that not even commissioner Roger Goodell could dispute it, the New England Patriots are projected to take the AFC East division title, based on a unanimous vote of The Sports Xchange’s football staff.

It seems the only thing in dispute in the AFC East is second place, where the Miami Dolphins edged the Buffalo Bills in a close vote. The New York Jets, Jets, Jets were a unanimous pick to finish last.

Here is a closer look at the 2015 AFC East with teams listed in the order of predicted finish by The Sports Xchange.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

2015 TSX DIVISION PICK: 1st

2014 RECORD: 15-4

DIVISIONAL RECORD: 4-2

COACH: Bill Belichick

16th season with Patriots

196-73 overall; 21-8 postseason

21st season as NFL head coach

233-118 overall; 22-9 postseason

Strength of schedule:

Overall .477; Division .438; Non-Division .500.

–TEAM STRENGTH: Passing offense. Deflategate aside, Tom Brady and his targets, when healthy, remain the focal point of any potential success in New England. Whether it’s Week 1 or Week 5, Brady will be on the field with weapons such as All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski and slot machine Julian Edelman. Danny Amendola and Brandon LaFell, assuming he comes off PUP, return the basic entirety of a passing game that should once be among the best in the game after a year in which it ranked No. 4 in points per game and No. 9 in passing yards.

–BIGGEST CONCERN: Pass defense. The offseason departures of the team’s top three cornerbacks from 2014 — Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner and Kyle Arrington — have left the new-look secondary a major question mark. Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler has gone from undrafted rookie to presumed starter at left cornerback, despite having started only one game as a rookie last fall. The other cornerback spot is wide open to a competition between veteran newcomers Tarell Brown, Bradley Fletcher and Robert McClain, as well as holdover Logan Ryan. Devin McCourty has a new $48-million contract to hold things down from his safety position, but there is little doubt opponents will attack the new pass defense. The only question is to whether the unit will be up to the challenge.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter – Tom Brady. Backups — Jimmy Garoppolo.

With Deflategate and his four-game suspension in the rearview mirror, for now at least, Brady is ready to get back to work as an aging wonder at the quarterback position. At age 38, Brady is coming off yet another Pro Bowl and Super Bowl MVP, following a regular season in which he threw for 33 touchdowns with just nine interceptions for a 93.7 rating, completing 64 percent of his throws and topping 4,100 yards. Brady brings back all his weapons and, assuming he gets the protection that was a bit slow to come together a year ago, seems poised for another productive year through the air. Brady even worked on his mobility the last two summers and has been more impressive throwing on the run late in his career.

Garoppolo had a very impressive summer, both in terms of his on-field work and his ability to navigate the waters of Deflategate and, for a time, his presumed spot as the regular-season starter for September. Garoppolo is trending in the right direction and his extra work this summer could benefit him and the team if thrust into playing at any point.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter – Brandon Bolden. Backups — James White, Dion Lewis, Travaris Cadet. Others: LeGarrette Blount (starter, suspended 1 game).

The running back spot is one of the thinnest and unproven on the roster. With Blount suspended for the opener, the versatile Bolden is likely to have a key role. Long term, Blount is the only lead back in the mix and he could get more carries moving forward than has been common in the Patriots committee backfield approach in recent years. Blount has carried 200 times since his rookie year of 2010, though, so he is not sure thing to carry the load. Blount averaged 5.0 and 4.7 yards per carry in his two seasons in New England.

Bolden is looking to expand his role from core special teamer in the wake of the free-agent departures of third-down back Shane Vereen and former 1,000-yard rusher Stevan Ridley this offseason. White did virtually nothing as a rookie a year ago, with 13 inactives to his resume. He looked very good this summer both as a runner and a pass-catcher. He has a chance to fill Vereen’s shoes, although Lewis also performed well in his first preseason with the Patriots. The veteran is once again healthy and while undersized, has a shifty look.

Cadet is the wild-card free-agent addition. He caught 38 passes with the Saints last fall, though most came in the spread. He missed the entire preseason and has a lot to prove in pass protection. There is a lot to prove from this group as a whole, and the addition of a veteran body after Week 1 certainly can’t be ruled out.

TIGHT ENDS: Starters — Rob Gronkowski, Scott Chandler. Backups — Michael Hoomanawanui, Michael Williams.

New England’s tight ends might be among the game’s best based on Gronkowski alone. The All-Pro put up double-digit touchdowns and big overall numbers last season despite playing a part-time role in September as he worked back from a torn ACL. Now, Gronkowski is coming off his first healthy offseason since 2011 and was his energetic, dominant self all summer on the practice field. He did not play in the preseason, but that is unlikely to be an issue as he returns to his role as the best all-around tight end in the game.

Chandler is an interesting addition who should find a complementary role working in Gronkowski’s shadow. The veteran former Bills target is a big weapon for Brady to turn to when teams go all out to take away Gronkowski. The pair worked together a lot in the summer on combo routes and bunch formations, something New England should unleash in the red zone.

Hoomanawanui is a serviceable backup, mostly as a blocker given limited chances to catch the ball. Williams arrived via trade from the Lions late in camp. The 6-6, 305-pound target was working as a tackle in Detroit, but is working as a massive tight end in New England, his position at Alabama. He could serve a valuable role as an extra tight end and emergency tackle. He certainly is intriguing based on his size alone playing behind an impressive group.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola. Backups — Aaron Dobson, Matthew Slater, Chris Harper. Others: Brandon LaFell (starter, PUP).

Brady’s group of targets returns mostly intact. Edelman did not play in the preseason while cautiously dealing with a leg injury. Only minor injuries late last year kept Edelman from a second straight 100-catch season. He came up huge in the postseason, most notably the Super Bowl. He is Brady’s most trusted wideout.

LaFell should be the second option and an outside presence, but he’s been slow to return from a foot injury and will miss at least the first six weeks. LaFell built an impressive rapport with Brady in his first season in New England, setting career highs as arguably the most productive veteran free-agent addition to work with No. 12 over the years.

Amendola’s journey into Brady’s circle of trust took longer but he seemed to break in late last season and playoffs. With LaFell out of action, Amendola could have an expanded role early in 2015, even with his skills somewhat replicating those of Edelman. The bulk of Amendola’s 27 catches for 200 yards with a touchdown came late last season, but he may need to have a bit more balanced contribution this time around. Beyond the top two, and with LaFell waiting to get healthy and back into the mix, the rest of the depth chart is uncertain.

Slater is a Pro Bowl special teamer with one career catch. Dobson is a disappointing, injury-plagued former second-round pick who caught just three passes in four games last fall. Despite battling injury this summer, Dobson is looking to make big strides in his third season. Harper is an undrafted rookie who led the team in receptions this summer as a consistent contributor on the practice and preseason field. He has some versatility to play inside and out if Dobson can’t stay healthy or carve out a role for himself. Still, the bulk of the production early in the year will be expected to come from Edelman and Amendola.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LT Nate Solder, LG Shaq Mason, C Bryan Stork, RG Ryan Wendell, RT Sebastian Vollmer. Backups — T Marcus Cannon, G Tre’ Jackson, C/G Josh Kline, C David Andrews.

The tackle spot is as solid as almost any team, with Solder and Vollmer playing at a high level in the prime of their careers. Solder isn’t dominant, but on the verge of free agency next spring a strong season could make the former first-round pick a lot of money protecting Brady’s blind side. Vollmer is among the best right tackles in the game when healthy.

The questions are in the middle. Stork moved into the starting lineup last October as a fourth-round rookie and was given credit for keeping Brady upright and protected down the stretch all the way to the Super Bowl. But he missed the entire summer with a concussion, a clear concern moving forward. The guard position is dealing with the retirement of Dan Connolly.

Mason and Jackson were both drafted in the fourth round and saw a ton of first-team action all summer. There is a good chance each will get a starting shot sometime this fall. Wendell is the wild card. He could start at center if Stork can’t go, or the right guard spot he held down capably to close last season. The veteran has started at all three interior line spots in New England and while not dominant, certainly does a capable job.

Kline is another versatile veteran backup who can play all three interior spots and can’t be ruled out of starting at some point. Cannon is the backup swing tackle and is actually paid like a starter after an extension last fall. He’s best suited on the right side, though. Andrews took full advantage of extra reps this summer as an undrafted rookie out of Georgia. He very much earned his spot on the roster, but is likely only an option at the center position he played his entire collegiate career at Georgia. New England’s line went through its struggles and personnel changes early last season and that looks like it could be a possibility once again in 2015.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LDE Rob Ninkovich, DT Malcom Brown, DT Dominique Easley, RDE Chandler Jones. Backups — DE Jabaal Sheard, DT Alan Branch, DT Sealver Siliga, DE Trey Flowers, DE Geneo Grissom, DT Khyri Thornton. Others: Chris Jones (backup, PUP).

New England’s defensive line is much like its offensive line, solid on the edges and filled with youthful potential in the middle. Ninkovich is an underrated, undersized left end capable of stopping the run and getting after the passer just enough to notch exactly 8.0 sacks in each of the last three years. Jones missed half last season to a hip injury and will be expected to be an edge force in his fourth season. The former first-round pick has yet to show the elite edge ability to dominate a game, something New England could use this fall given its suspect pass defense.

Sheard is one of New England’s biggest free-agent additions and will be expected to ease the load on Jones and Ninkovich. The duo essentially played with no backups the last two years, but Sheard’s addition from Cleveland could help them stay fresh, especially the aging Ninkovich. The rest of the depth at end comes from rookies Flowers and Grissom. Flowers had a very impressive preseason as a rusher, flashing a disruptive ability that should earn him some regular season rotational chances.

Vince Wilfork’s departure is big after 11 seasons as the heart of the middle of the defensive front, but first-round pick Brown will be given the chance to make his mark in a similar mold. Brown bears a lot of similarities to the Pro Bowler he is replacing, but has a lot to prove as both a run stuffer and pocket disrupter.

The same could be said of Easley, a first-round pick last year who was limited in his rookie impact before landing on IR. Easley sees action inside and at end, but he needs to show the burst and disruption he put forth at Florida if he’s to be the man New England thought it was drafting two years ago.

Branch and Siliga are both solid veterans to fill in at tackle, though the latter has battled injuries a bit as a former practice squad call-up. The hope is that the veterans are rotational backups to the youngsters, but if the first-round picks can’t carry the load more could be asked of the elders. Thornton arrived off waivers after final cuts from Green Bay, where he was a former third-round pick and will be looking to prove himself worthy of sticking around. Chris Jones opens on PUP but should be welcomed to the versatile role he’s filled as an inside and outside option over the last two seasons as a relatively athletic big man.

LINEBACKERS: Starters — WLB Jamie Collins, MLB Jerod Mayo, SLB Dont’a Hightower. Backups — MLB Jonathan Freeny, OLB Rufus Johnson, OLB Eric Martin. Others: Dane Fletcher (backup, PUP).

The linebacker position should be the strength of the New England defense and may be one of the best corps in the league. Collins had a breakout second season last fall. The former second-round pick can do just about anything including playing the run, covering and rushing the quarterback. Head coach Bill Belichick may find even more creative ways to use his athletic playmaker in the new season.

Hightower is also a versatile force, though he is more weighted toward playing the run and making plays moving forward. He dealt with offseason shoulder surgery but appears ready to go to open the year and is a unique force to pair up with Collins. Mayo is the veteran captain of the group and remains a tackle machine when healthy. That’s the problem, though, as the former All-Pro missed the final 10 games of each of the last two seasons on IR. He looked solid this summer and very physical coming off a torn patella in his knee, though, and could really pull the group together if he can stay healthy.

The depth of the linebacker group presents a notable dropoff. Freeny, Johnson and Martin are all newcomers who earned jobs with impressive summers. Freeny is a career special teamer in Miami who showed the ability to play on the inside in the preseason. Johnson was a disruptive force as an edge rusher this summer as a big body on the outside. Martin is also more of an edge presence, at least he was in limited chances with the Browns in previous seasons. Fletcher returns to New England after a season in Tampa. He was a core special teamer and solid backup in his previous tenure in Foxborough as an undrafted rookie, a role he could fill again after sitting out the first six weeks.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — LCB Malcolm Butler, RCB Tarell Brown, FS Devin McCourty, SS Patrick Chung. Backups — SS Jordan Richards, CB Bradley Fletcher, S Duron Harmon, CB Logan Ryan, S Tavon Wilson, S Nate Ebner.

A year ago New England’s pass defense was dominated by experienced veterans Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner and Kyle Arrington. Now it’s led by Super Bowl hero Butler and a lot of questions. Butler will hold down the left corner role vacated by Revis, but has a lot to prove with just one career start as an undrafted rookie out of Division II West Alabama last fall. He has the confidence and feisty style to make plays, but still struggles at times with speed and quickness off the line. Brown is healthy again after a foot issue a year ago and the former San Francisco and Oakland starter brings experience to his new home. He had a solid summer in limited chances but will, like the rest of the group, have a lot to prove early in the season.

Fletcher had a miserable season last fall in Philly, but Belichick seems to like his veteran experience. Ryan struggled last fall and this summer but remains in his third season due to a lack of other options. Safety has more depth and potential than corner. McCourty is the leader fresh off a new $48 million contract. He had his best season last fall working with Revis and Browner, but will be expected to do more in their absence in 2015. McCourty is not the playmaker one might expect of a man with his sizeable paycheck.

Chung had a nice return to New England last fall as a physical presence, but he may not hold the starting job long this year. The changes at corner may warrant more coverage at the spot and he’ll be pushed by the second-round pick Richards. The young safety had a strong summer and showed a physical style with a bit more athleticism than the veteran. Harmon could also be an option for a starting job or at least a key rotational role in his third season. He certainly offers a bit more in coverage than Chung, but has yet to really stand out in his first two seasons.

Wilson and Ebner are both more accomplished in the kicking game than on defense, though Wilson did more this summer in the secondary and could be an option as a sixth defensive back in some packages. Belichick showed a lot of unique personnel groupings in summer and preseason work, so seeing three or even four safeties on the field in the new-look New England secondary searching for an identity is a real possibility.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Stephen Gostkowski, P Ryan Allen, LS Joe Cardona.

Gostkowski is arguably the best kicker in the game and has a new contract making him the highest paid in the league. He has a strong leg on kickoffs, dealing well with the winds of Gillette Stadium. He had multiple 50-yard field goals in the preseason and should pick up where he left off a year ago in his best all-around season.

Allen is a middle-of-the-pack punting talent. The left-footer has improved in his situational work over the course of the last two seasons, earning himself an extension this offseason. He does not have the strongest of legs in the league, but Belichick seems comfortable with the third-year punters situational abilities.

Cardona is a rookie fifth-round pick out of Navy where he was considered the best in college football last fall. Long snappers are rarely drafted (although Belichick has done it twice now), and Cardona wasn’t exactly perfect this summer on the practice or preseason field. He bears watching, although Danny Aiken was far less than perfect in the same role a year ago.

PRACTICE SQUAD: OL Chris Barker, OL Blaine Clausell, TE Asante Cleveland, T Cameron Fleming, LB Darius Fleming, LB Brandon King, WR Nathan Palmer, DT Jimmy Staten, DB Daxton Swanson, WR Kenbrell Thompkins.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

2015 TSX DIVISION PICK: 2nd.

2014 RECORD: 8-8

DIVISIONAL RECORD: 3-3

COACH: Joe Philbin

4th season as Dolphins/NFL head coach

23-25 overall

Strength of schedule:

Overall .492; Division .521; Non-Division .475.

–TEAM STRENGTH: Defensive line. These guys are absolutely ferocious when it comes to getting after quarterbacks or stopping the run. But getting after quarterbacks is what they do best. And it’s not only the starting front of tackles Ndamukong Suh and Earl Mitchell, and ends Cam Wake and Olivier Vernon. It’s also the backups — tackles C.J. Mosley, Anthony Johnson and Jordan Phillips, and ends Terrence Fede and Derrick Shelby. They should be among the NFL’s best.

–BIGGEST CONCERN: Offensive line. This has been a question for years, evidenced by quarterback Ryan Tannehill being the most sacked quarterback in the NFL over the last three seasons. The biggest concern right now is when left tackle Branden Albert will be healthy. If Albert, the Pro Bowl selection in 2013, is delayed past the first month it could mean big trouble because backup Jason Fox would face tough defensive lines such as Jacksonville, Buffalo, and the New York Jets. And, the guards — left guard Dallas Thomas and right guard Billy Turner — are still a big concern, although it’s eased somewhat. Still, pass protection can’t be relied upon until it shows it can be relied upon.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter — Ryan Tannehill. Backups — Matt Moore, Logan Thomas.

This is a good group, especially with the improvement Tannehill has made during the offseason. Backup is a bit of a question because Moore was shaky during the offseason. But as long as Tannehill is healthy, they’re good.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter — Lamar Miller. Backups — Damien Williams, LaMike James. Others: RB Jay Ajayi (IR/designated for return).

Miller rushed for 1,099 yards last season and had a good offseason. Williams and James are a big dropoff, so as long as Miller stays healthy everything is OK. If Miller is injured this position might struggle.

TIGHT ENDS: Starters — Jordan Cameron, Dion Sims. Backups — None.

Cameron had an understated offseason. Sims is more of a blocker although his receiving skills improved last season. If Cameron comes through as expected this is a good twosome.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Jarvis Landry, Rishard Matthews. Backups — Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings, DeVante Parker, Matt Hazel.

Parker’s health and development is crucial to this becoming a special group. Otherwise, they’re decent. Landry isn’t a No. 1 receiver, but he’ll have that role until Parker is fully healthy, which might be midseason.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LT Jason Fox, LG Dallas Thomas, C Mike Pouncey, RG Billy Turner, RT Ja’Wuan James. Backups — LT Branden Albert, LG Jamil Douglas, RG Jeff Linkenbach, G-C Jacques McClendon.

The key is Albert’s return from his knee injury. He probably won’t play in the opener. The guards remains a concern. There’s some thought Douglas could start the opener over Turner. Overall, pass protection remains shaky even with Pouncey and James starting. Run blocking, however, is solid.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — DLE Cam Wake, DT Ndamukong Suh, DT Earl Mitchell, DRE Olivier Vernon. Backups — DT Jordan Phillips, DT C.J. Mosley, DT A.J. Francis, DE Terrence Fede, DE Derrick Shelby.

This is the crew that sets the tone for the entire team. They’re strong against the run and pass, led, of course, by Suh. But even through the second team, they’ve all been disruptive in the offseason. They’ll be fun to watch.

LINEBACKERS: Starters — WLB Jelani Jenkins, MLB Kelvin Sheppard, SLB Koa Misi. Backups — MLB Zach Vigil, SLB Chris McCain, OLB Neville Hewitt, OLB Spencer Paysinger.

There are questions about Sheppard in the middle. In fact, there’s questions about the tackling ability of the entire crew. This is one of the major questions on the team. They’re good players, but no one stands out for any reason.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — LCB Brent Grimes, RCB Jamar Taylor, FS Walt Aikens, SS Reshad Jones. Backups — CB Brice McCain, CB Will Davis, CB Bobby McCain, CB Tony Lippett, S Michael Thomas, S Jordan Kovacs, CB Zack Bowman.

These guys have to be playmakers. Grimes is good on that front, and so is Jones. But the others need to show they can make difference-making plays. Overall, they’re solid.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Andrew Franks, LS John Denney, KOR LaMike James, PR LaMike James, P Matt Darr.

Miami is going with a rookie kicker (Franks) and rookie punter (Darr). This will be interesting. Both were strong in the offseason but they’re unknowns in the regular season.

PRACTICE SQUAD: QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, C Sam Brenner, DT Deandre Coleman, T Donald Hawkins, LB Mike Hull, RB Rajion Neal, WR EZ Nwachukwu, TE Tim Semisch, TE Jake Stoneburner, S Cedric Thompson.

BUFFALO BILLS

2015 TSX DIVISION PICK: 3rd

2014 RECORD: 9-7

DIVISIONAL RECORD: 4-2

COACH: Rex Ryan

1st season with Bills

7th season as NFL head coach

50-52 overall; 4-2 postseason

Strength of schedule:

Overall .486; Division .500; Non-Division, .478.

–TEAM STRENGTH: Defensive line: The Bills have three Pro Bowl players in Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, and Marcell Dareus, and a fourth in Jerry Hughes, who could have made a case for the Pro Bowl each of the last two years. This has the potential to be the best line in the NFL, though it will have to make do without Dareus in Week 1 because of his suspension. Still, in Corbin Bryant, the Bills have a reliable backup to plug in.

–BIGGEST CONCERN: Quarterback: Rex Ryan named Tyrod Taylor the starter on Monday, and it was clear that he was the best player in the three-man quarterback competition. But that isn’t saying much when the competition was Matt Cassel and EJ Manuel. Taylor is an unknown quantity who has never started an NFL game and has thrown only 35 passes during four years as Joe Flacco’s backup in Baltimore. Taylor is certainly exciting, but the question is, can he function once defenses start game-planning for him?

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter – Tyrod Taylor. Backups – Matt Cassel, EJ Manuel.

The Bills are entering uncharted territory with Taylor, who will make his NFL starting debut against the Colts. Taylor has thrown 35 regular-season passes, but head coach Rex Ryan is convinced he is a player ready to emerge now that he has an opportunity. Cassel, who was re-signed Tuesday after being released in the cut to 53, will be the backup with Manuel third.

RUNNING BACKS: Starters – LeSean McCoy, FB Jerome Felton. Backups – Boobie Dixon, Karlos Williams, Bryce Brown.

McCoy has been sidelined more than two weeks with a hamstring injury, and his status for the opener is still in doubt, but the Bills believe he’ll be ready. If he’s healthy, he’ll be the focal point. Felton was signed to be a lead blocker, and he’s one of the best in the NFL. Williams, Brown, and Dixon offer solid backup options.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter – Charles Clay. Backups – Matthew Mulligan, Chris Gragg, Marqueis Gray.

The Bills signed Clay to a big free-agent deal, and he gives the offense a threat from that position it has rarely had, and offensive coordinator Greg Roman is known for getting his tight ends involved in creative ways. Mulligan is strictly a run-game blocker, and Gray is a good athlete who can be utilized in the pass game.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters – Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods. Backups – Percy Harvin, Chris Hogan, Marquise Goodwin, Marcus Easley, Marcus Thigpen.

This unit was plagued by injuries the entire preseason and has not worked together much at all in the framework of the offense, or obviously with Taylor. But there’s explosiveness with Watkins and Harvin, and reliability on the short routes with Woods, so if Taylor can function, there will be opportunities to make big plays. Hogan is coming back from a preseason knee injury, and while he struggled before he got hurt, he had a breakout year in 2014.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – LT Cordy Glenn, LG Richie Incognito, C Eric Wood, RG John Miller, RT Seantrel Henderson. Backups – G-C Kraig Urbik, T Cyrus Kouandjio, C Gabe Ikard.

The additions of Incognito and Miller at guard have solidified the starting five, but the Bills have to hope Henderson – who beat out Kouandjio for the starting right tackle spot – builds on an average rookie year. Also, Wood needs to be better than he was in 2014. Behind the five, the Bills are woefully thin, and they could be looking for reinforcements on the waiver wire.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters – DLE Mario Williams, DT Corbin Bryant, DT Kyle Williams, DRE Jerry Hughes. Backups – DT Corbin Bryant, DT Stefan Charles, DE Alex Carrington, DE B.J. Larsen, DT Andre Fluellen. Others: DT Marcell Dareus (starter, suspended 1 game).

This is the strongest unit on the team with three Pro Bowlers in Mario Williams, Kyle Williams and Dareus, and Hughes could also make a case to be in Hawaii. Dareus will miss the opener, but Bryant has had a solid preseason and has been a useful backup in the past, so the dropoff won’t be huge against the Colts. Charles and Carrington are part of the rotation, and they play their roles well. There are no concerns up front for the Bills.

LINEBACKERS: Starters – WLB Manny Lawson, SLB Nigel Bradham, MLB Preston Brown. Backups – ILB A.J. Tarpley, ILB Tony Steward, OLB Randell Johnson.

Bradham is due to become a free agent at the end of the year and he seems primed for a big year in Ryan’s diverse defense. He has the athleticism that Ryan loves and can play a variety of roles. Brown was a stud as a rookie in 2014, and there’s excitement about him in this defense, too. Lawson is a solid veteran. The depth is questionable with rookies Tarpley and Steward, plus second-year player Johnson. In order, they are an undrafted free agent, a 2015 sixth-round pick, and a 2014 seventh-round pick.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters – LCB Ronald Darby, RCB Stephon Gilmore, FS Aaron Williams, SS Corey Graham. Backups – CB Mario Butler, CB Ron Brooks, CB Nickell Robey, SS Duke Williams, FS Bacarri Rambo. Others: CB Leodis McKelvin (starter, NFI), CB Cam Thomas (backup, PUP).

Darby is going to get his baptism by fire in the NFL replacing McKelvin. He had a rough preseason, but the Bills may look to protect him a little more in the regular season. Gilmore will have to be very good because he’s the Darrelle Revis of this Ryan defense, the man who will often be on an island. Graham is a converted corner playing free safety, but he’s not a stranger to that position and should be fine. Aaron Williams is solid in coverage and run support. The Bills also have reliable depth in the nickel and dime with Robey, Butler, Brooks, Rambo and Duke Williams.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Dan Carpenter, P Colton Schmidt, KO Jordan Gay, LS Garrison Sanborn, KOR/PR Marcus Thigpen.

Carpenter has had back-to-back great seasons, combining to go 67 of 74 on field-goal attempts, but he struggled in the preseason and needs to kick well to keep his job. Schmidt is a middle-of-the-road punter, but not a weakness. Sanborn is nearly perfect as a long snapper, and Thigpen has superb return skills on punts, and may get the job on kickoffs.

PRACTICE SQUAD: LB IK Enemkpali, WR Dezmin Lewis, T Chris Martin, S Jonathan Meeks, LB Kevin Reddick, G Cyril Richardson, QB Alex Tanney, S Jaylen Watkins, RB Cierre Wood.

NEW YORK JETS

2015 TSX DIVISIONAL PICK: 4th

2014 RECORD: 4-12

DIVISIONAL RECORD: 1-5

COACH: Todd Bowles

1st season with Jets/NFL head coach

Strength of schedule:

Overall .488l Division; .604; Non-division .419.

–TEAM STRENGTH: Cornerback. From worst to first. Ex-general manager John Idzik compiled an unsightly cornerback corps in his second and final season at the helm, but owner Woody Johnson gave the go-ahead for Mike Maccagnan to bring back Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. Revis is as good as ever at 30, while Cromartie, 31, quelled concerns about his quiet summer by picking off Giants quarterback Eli Manning Aug. 29 and cruising 59 yards for a touchdown. Former head coach Rex Ryan surely recognizes the irony in the Jets now being built to win 17-14 slugfests thanks to the presence of Revis and Cromartie negating an opposition’s passing game.

–BIGGEST CONCERN: Quarterback. The Jets’ best-case scenario — Geno Smith navigating the first half of the season before giving way to Ryan Fitzpatrick for the playoff push — went out the window when Smith sustained a broken jaw in a locker-room fight with ex-teammate IK Enemkpali on Aug. 11. Fitzpatrick has always been good in spurts, but has never put together a consistent full season. He might have to in 2015 in order for the Jets to contend for a wild-card berth. The Jets have lost patience with Smith, so it won’t take much in September for Fitzpatrick to keep the starting job. Fitzpatrick does have the weaponry and stout defense he lacked in his first five NFL stops, so maybe he can have a Vinny Testaverde-esque rebirth.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter — Ryan Fitzpatrick. Backups — Bryce Petty, Geno Smith.

The Jets are hoping Fitzpatrick establishes himself as the starter before Smith returns from a broken jaw. They are really hoping they don’t have to turn to Petty before that. Given the rawness of Petty, Fitzpatrick has as much rope as anyone in the league this side of a franchise quarterback. The Jets will be the sixth team for whom Fitzpatrick makes a start and he’s always going to be susceptible to making bone-headed throws in an attempt to create “FitzMagic.” But with legitimate weapons in Marshall and Decker, and Fitzpatrick’s familiarity with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, there is reason to believe he can retain the job all season and be an asset in a wild-card drive. Even a decent start by Fitzpatrick should be enough to fend off Smith, who was lapsing into his mistake-prone ways even before he lost the locker room, perhaps for good, following his fight with ex-teammate IK Enemkpali. Petty is a long way from even emerging as a viable NFL backup, so expect the Jets to address the issue after Week 1.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter — Chris Ivory. Backups — Bilal Powell, Zac Stacy, Tommy Bohanon. Others: Stevan Ridley (backup, PUP).

The Jets are deeper here than they looked before training camp. Ivory had a terrific summer and appears primed for a 1,200-yard season. He has first- and second-down duties locked up and could finally meet his Marshawn Lynch-esque potential. With his improved passing game skills, he could even push Powell for some third-down snaps, though Powell will still be the back of choice for obvious blitz pickup situations. Stacy, who ran for nearly 1,000 yards as a rookie two years ago, looked far better this summer than he did last year with the Rams and was dubbed “Mr. Consistency” by head coach Todd Bowles following the exhibition season. He’s a solid two-down choice if Ivory goes down. Powell is a perfect jack-of-all-trades who can provide the lead back a breather without too big a dropoff in effectiveness. The emergence of Ivory and Stacy may have made Ridley expendable, but he’ll open the season on the PUP list. Bohanan is a serviceable fullback.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter — Jeff Cumberland. Backup — Kellen Davis.

A Gailey-run offense doesn’t utilize the tight end very much, but the Jets are still awfully thin at the position. That said, Cumberland has always possessed sneaky speed and can still make things happen if he gets behind a defense. He will be more dependable than Jace Amaro would have been. Davis is a strict blocking specialist who should see plenty of time along the offensive line as the Jets try to ground and pound teams into submission.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Eric Decker, Brandon Marshall, Quincy Enunwa. Backups — Jeremy Kerley, Chris Owusu, Devin Smith.

Marshall is the first legitimate No. 1 receiver the Jets have had in years and is still at or near his peak at age 31, but has he grown up enough to be an asset instead of a distraction? There’s a reason none of his teams have made the playoffs in his nine-year career. A veteran presence at quarterback in Fitzpatrick should minimize some of Marshall’s inevitable flareups. Decker is coming off a 962-yard season in which he boosted his numbers with a 221-yard performance in the finale, but he should see an uptick in targets and numbers now that he’s slotted into the No. 2 job that better suits him. Enunwa came out of nowhere to win the No. 3 job and has piqued the interest of the coaching staff with his hybrid size (6-foot-2, 225 pounds), but his next regular-season catch will be his first. Kerley has clearly fallen out of favor with Bowles, but it won’t be a surprise if he surges past Enunwa sometime in September. Speaking of September, Owusu probably has the month to prove to the Jets he is worthy of a roster spot as a returner and big-play threat once Smith returns from his broken ribs and punctured lung.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — C Nick Mangold, RG Willie Colon, LG James Carpenter, LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson, RT Breno Giacomini. Backups — G Dakota Dozier, G Brian Winters, G Jarvis Harrison, T Ben Ijalana, T Brent Qvale. Others: G Oday Aboushi (backup, suspended 1 game).

The Jets are staking the season on an older line, staving off Father Time for a few more months. Mangold, Ferguson and Colon are entering their 10th seasons. While Mangold looks as good as ever, Ferguson’s play has begun to slip and the penalty- and injury-prone Colon has been on one-year contracts for the last three seasons. In addition, Giacomini had a disappointing first season with the Jets in 2014 while Carpenter has only one 16-game season under his belt in four NFL campaigns. More alarmingly, there is little depth behind the starting unit. That Colon, an inherited veteran, was able to easily fend off Dozier, Winters and Aboushi during training camp doesn’t speak well for the NFL futures of the three youngsters. Harrison is a project who probably wouldn’t have made the team if not for his status as a 2015 draftee. Qvale showed some progress after a season on the practice squad but Ijalana is nothing more than a backup. The Jets enter preparations for the season opener without a legitimate backup center behind Mangold.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — DE Muhammad Wilkerson, NT Damon Harrison, DE Leonard Williams. Backups — DE Stephen Bowen, DE Leger Douzable, NT T.J. Barnes, NT Deon Simon. Others: DE Sheldon Richardson (starter, suspended 4 games).

The depth at the Jets’ strongest position took a big hit thanks to the continued off-field issues of Richardson. They survived a pair of injury scares during training camp, when Wilkerson missed three weeks with a hamstring injury and Williams suffered a knee injury in an exhibition game against the Giants. Both are expected to be healthy for the regular season. Motivation won’t be a problem for Wilkerson and Harrison, both of whom are playing for new contracts. Williams seems to have the NFL mindset, but he’s still very young (21) and the Jets are asking a lot of him to move right into the lineup. They’ll need him to adapt right away because the backup defensive ends, Bowen and Douzable, are merely place-holders. Harrison should again be at the forefront of one of the fiercest run defenses in the league. He will need to stay on the field, too, because Barnes has just four NFL tackles and Simon is a seventh-round pick.

LINEBACKERS: Starters — ILB David Harris, ILB Demario Davis, OLB Quinton Coples, OLB Calvin Pace. Backups — OLB Lorenzo Mauldin, LB Trevor Reilly, LB Erin Henderson, LB Jamari Lattimore.

The Jets may have found a couple long-term pieces in a unit that is lacking in building blocks. The most reliable player in the linebacking corps is Harris, who was re-signed to a three-year deal following last season. At 31, he remains a force at or near the line of scrimmage, though his woes in coverage should only get worse as he gets older. Davis was touted by Rex Ryan as a Ray Lewis-type, but he didn’t impress Bowles very much with a penalty-ridden preseason. The questions about Coples’ motor and best position, inside or outside, persist entering a fourth NFL season that is shaping up as a make-or-break campaign. Pace, who turns 35 in October, hung on to his starting job despite battling a groin injury in training camp. He will be pushed and quite possibly pushed aside this season by Reilly, a seventh-round pick who played his first NFL season last fall as a 26 year old, and the rookie Mauldin, who also dodged serious injury after tweaking a knee in August. Reilly and Mauldin provide the Jets the young pass rushers they lacked throughout the Rex Ryan era. Henderson, who missed last season following a series of DUIs, is a feel-good story who should provide depth behind the durable Harris. Lattimore should become the new Nick Bellore, the linebacker who leads the special teams coverage units.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — CB Darrelle Revis, CB Antonio Cromartie, FS Marcus Gilchrist, SS Calvin Pryor. Backups — CB Buster Skrine, CB Darrin Walls, CB Marcus Williams, CB Dexter McDougle, S Jaiquawn Jarrett, S Ronald Martin. Others: CB Dee Milliner (backup, IR/designated for return).

New general manager Mike Maccagnan’s first major task was to rebuild a cornerback corps ignored by his predecessor, John Idzik, and to repair a safety unit often left unattended by Rex Ryan. Revis and Cromartie should have at least one more season as the best 1-2 punch in football while Gilchrist and Pryor should not only lock up the back end of the secondary but ensure tight ends no longer get open at will against the Jets. Better yet, the Jets actually have depth at both positions. Williams was a revelation as an emergency starter last season while Skrine started 31 games the last two seasons for the Cleveland Browns. Walls was fine when pressed into duty last year. And then there’s McDougle, who missed all of his rookie season because of a torn left ACL, and Milliner, who is on injured reserve/designated to return and will miss the first eight weeks because of his latest injury, a torn tendon in his right wrist. At safety, Jaiquawn Jarrett provides a solid veteran backup while the Jets liked Martin, who spent last season on the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad, enough to part with their own longtime practice squadder, Rontez Miles, after the latter initially made the 53-man roster.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Starters — K Nick Folk, P Ryan Quigley, KR Chris Owusu, PR Jeremy Kerley, LS Tanner Purdum.

The Jets parted ways with the competition for Folk and Quigley early in training camp. But Folk isn’t necessarily safe after leading the NFL in field-goal attempts (39) last season, yet missing five of his final 19 tries. The Jets are likely to stall often inside the 20-yard line again, so Folk will have to regain his “Folk Hero” capabilities under Bowles. As a punter, Quigley is only as safe as his next misfire, but he’s averaged 45.7 yards per punt since taking over early in the 2013 season. Owusu, who was re-signed a day after he was among the final roster cuts, needs to impress right away in order to keep the Jets from looking on the waiver wire for a kick returner. Kerley isn’t going to remind folks of Billy “White Shoes”? Johnson, but the complete inability of anyone else on the roster to return punts should ensure his roster spot for the remainder of the season. Purdum has barely been noticed in in five seasons as the long snapper, which is why the Jets signed him to a long-term extension in the spring.

PRACTICE SQUAD: LB Deion Barnes, FB/OLB Julian Howsare, G/C Wesley Johnson, LB Taiwan Jones, CB Keon Lyn, S Rontez Miles, WR Walter Powell, TE Wes Saxton, DE Jordan Williams.

–Correspondents covering each team for The Sports Xchange contributed material for this report.