AFC east

FELGER'S BOTTOM LINE: Given the AFC East's uneven state, it's hard to imagine the team won't contend for the division title. Dillon provides an immediate upgrade for the offense, and his presence could help take Brady's game to the next level. Defensively, the Patriots will be fine as long as a nose tackle steps up and a few other players don't show their age. The Patriots are younger, faster and deeper than the 2002 team that couldn't defend its title. The coaching remains superb. This is a legitimate championship favorite.--Michael Felger

THE KEY

If Law can put his tumultuous offseason behind him and again be one of the NFL's top shutdown comers, the defense should remain on top. Law is physical, so the team hopes he survives the "point of emphasis" on illegal contact in the secondary.

STARTING LINEUP

OFFENSE

WR  David Givens      2
LT  Matt Light        3
LG  Russ Hochstein    2
C   Dan Koppen        3
RG  Joe Andruzzi      3
RT  Tom Ashworth      3
TE  Daniel Graham     3
WR  Deion Branch      3
QB  Tom Brady         5
FB  Patrick Pass      2
RB  Corey Dillon      4

DEFENSE

LE  Ty Warren         2
NT  Keith Taylor      3
RE  Richard Seymour   5
OLB Willie McGinest   4
ILB Roman Phifer      3
ILB Tedy Bruschi      4
OLB Mike Vrabel       4
CB# Ty Law#           5#
CB  Tyrone Poole      3
SS  Rodney Harrison   5
FS  Eugene Wilson     4

SPECIAL TEAMS

K   Adam Vinatieri    5
P   Josh Miller       4
KR  Bethel Johnson    4
PR  Troy Brown        4

Note: The Key is indicated with #.

New York Jets

+PLUS FACTORS: The Jets have tremendous continuity on offense, which should translate into a good start. Eight starters have spent three seasons in coordinator Paul Hackett's West Coast offense. Hackett runs a versatile attack, and QB Chad Pennington is the ideal triggerman. The team speed on defense, especially in the front seven, is significantly better than it was last season, and the additions of first-round pick Jonathan Vilma and Eric Barton--combined with the departures of graybeards Mo Lewis and Marvin Jones--make the linebackers unit better in coverage. The return of a healthy John Abraham, who plays the new hybrid end/linebacker role, is huge. He missed nine games last season with a groin injury, and the pass rush suffered. Abraham and LE Shaun Ellis are a formidable duo. WR Justin McCareins gives Pennington another legitimate target on the perimeter; McCareins was a vertical threat with the Titans. His leaping ability should help in the red zone, and McCareins shows signs of being a good receiver in traffic. His presence should create opportunities for WR Santana Moss, who was smothered in coverage near the end of last season.

-MINUS SIDE: New defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson is installing a complex new scheme that requires a lot of on-field communication. The base is a 4-3, but he plans to mix in a lot of 3-4 looks. Expect some growing pains. The secondary also is a concern. Henderson wants to play man-to-man about 70 percent of the time, but CBs Donnie Abraham and David Barrett don't have the speed to play man. If the pass rush doesn't get there, the corners will be exposed. On offense, the line is perilously thin. If one of the starters goes down, especially at tackle or center, the team will be in trouble. The line hasn't suffered a significant in-season injury since 2000. Will the law of averages catch up to this unit?