AFC East Mid-Season Projections

 

BUFFALO BILLS: Running backs Fred Jackson (502 yards) and C.J. Spiller (478 yards) can challenge to become the NFL’s first running back duo to register 1,000 rushing yards apiece in a season since the Panthers’ tandem of Jonathan Stewart (1,133 yards) and De Angelo Williams (1,117 yards) in 2009. Jackson needs 498 rushing yards to register his second career season with 1,000 rushing yards (1,062 yards in 2009). Spiller aims to become the first Bills running back with consecutive 1,000yards seasons since Marshawn Lynch (2007-2008). WR Stevie Johnson, who has a team-high 423 receiving yards this season, can become the first Bills wide receiver to post four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. DE Mario Williams (11 sacks) can challenge Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith (19 in 1990) for the Bills’ single-season sack record.

 

MIAMI DOLPHINS: Selected eighth overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, QB Ryan Tannehill has 1,977 passing yards and is ontarget (3,954) to join Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO as the only quarterbacks in Dolphins history to pass for at least 3,900 yards in a season. In his first season with Miami, WR Mike Wallace leads the team with 480 receiving yards and aims to record his third season with 1,000 receiving yards (1,257 in 2010; 1,193 in 2011). DE Cameron Wake (5.5) seeks double-digit sacks for the third time in his career (14 in 2010;15 in 2012).

 

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Two-time MVP QB Tom Brady has 2,256 passing yards and is on target (4,011) to join PeytonManning (12), Drew Brees (seven), Brett Favre (six) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (six) as the only players to have at least six seasons with 4,000 passing yards. Brady, who has a 143-41 (.777) career record, needs four wins to tie Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (147-93, .613) for the fourth-most wins among starting quarterbacks in NFL history. DE Chandler Jones has 8.5 sacks in nine games this season and is on pace (15) to join Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Andre Tippett (18.5 in 1984; 16.5 in 1985) as the only Patriots to record at least 15 sacks in a season.

 

 

NEW YORK JETS: Rookie QB Geno Smith (1,997; 3,550) is on target for the fifth-most passing yards in a season in Jets annals. The West Virginia product needs 448 passing yards for the most passing yards by a rookie in franchise history (Mark Sanchez, 2,444 in 2009). On defense, DE Muhammad Wilkerson has a career-best eight sacks and is on pace for the third-most sacks by a Jet since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, trailing only Mark Gastneau (22 in 1984; 19 in 1983). LB David Harris (68) aims to lead the team in tackles for the fifth consecutive season.