NFL Betting: Sanchez Will Be The Key To Jets’ Success in AFC East

Never one to mix words, New York Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan didn’t stutter when he came out with his prediction for the team’s outlook this coming sports betting season. The big man from the big apple guaranteed that his team would be in the Super Bowl next year, even bigger words from the man that led them to consecutive AFC Championship games in his two-year tenure with the franchise. Ryan will have his work cut out for him if he is going to live up to his guarantee, especially with the New England Patriots taking notice in the AFC East. The key to the Jets’ taking off in 2011-12 will be the play of franchise quarterback Mark Sanchez, who will also need to take a step forward in his third season as a pro.

For Ryan, it might not matter on the surface where the Jets finish this season as long as they get into the playoffs. That might not be the right approach to take as Sanchez and company would really benefit from the confidence that would come with being the top seed, especially considering that not having home field advantage really hurt them against both the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers in consecutive AFC Championship games.

The Jets will also have to make up for the potential loss of at least one veteran wide receiver, as Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes are both free agents. The defense should be just as strong with a full NFL picks season from Darrelle Revis, but there are question marks on the offense.

That definitely isn’t the case north of Boston where the New England Patriots might actually have a better team on paper than the one that finished the regular season 14-2 and locked up the division title an online casino year ago. Tom Brady is back to lead an offense with a ton of young talent that includes Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, and Aaron Hernandez while the defense took major steps forward a year ago and should continue to develop.

The Buffalo Bills are a team that is on the rise with head coach Chan Gailey set with Ryan Fitzpatrick as his guy under center for their second season together. Fitzpatrick proved his merit with a breakout sports betting bonus campaign a year ago, but the Bills are going to need more playmakers on both sides of the ball if they are going to contend for a .500 record. Buffalo should be able to swap spots with a Miami Dolphins’ team that has far too many holes to be able to compete this coming season, especially with the uncertainty at quarterback as Chad Henne projects to be the starter once again. The Dolphins have a couple of blue chip defensive players in Cameron Wake and Paul Solilai, but they need at least a couple of more on both sides of the ball before they can survive in a division with the Jets and Patriots at the top.