The AFC East is considered to be one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL. It features two playoff teams from last season in the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins, plus the New York Jets, who enter 2024 with postseason aspirations following Aaron Rodgers’ return from a torn Achilles injury.
With NFL training camps underway and the 2024 season approaching, we examine each of the four AFC East teams’ schedules this season, and rank their slates from easiest to hardest.
Ranking the AFC East Teams by Strength of Schedule
1) New York Jets (12th overall)
The Jets are all-in on 2024, a virtual requirement when your quarterback is 40 years old. Rodgers’ return has New York on the ascent, as does Buffalo’s offseason talent purge.
The NFL ensured that Gang Green would be on our screens next season. The Jets received six prime-time games, including a must-watch Monday night matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1.
- Home: Patriots, Dolphins, Bills, Texans, Colts, Broncos, Rams, Seahawks
- Away: Patriots, Dolphins, Bills, Jaguars, Titans, Steelers, Cardinals, 49ers, Vikings
2) Miami Dolphins (17th overall)
Few teams lost more talent during the offseason than the Dolphins, who saw DT Christian Wilkins, G Robert Hunt, EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel, and others walk out the door in free agency.
As a result, Miami papered over many of its holes with smart, modestly priced deals and will now try to win its first AFC East title since 2008. A regular-season finale against the Jets could decide the division, just as the Dolphins’ Week 18 loss to the Bills did in 2023.
- Home: Bills, Patriots, Jets, Jaguars, Titans, Raiders, Cardinals, 49ers
- Away: Bills, Patriots, Jets, Texans, Colts, Browns, Rams, Seahawks, Packers
3) Buffalo Bills (31st overall)
Buffalo’s salary cap crunch forced the team to let go of many of its established veterans, including WRs Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, CB Tre’Davious White, and DBs Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde.
Josh Allen’s presence means the Bills’ window is never closed, but a step back wouldn’t be surprising, especially given how difficult this schedule is.
- Home: Patriots, Dolphins, Jets, Jaguars, Titans, Chiefs, Cardinals, 49ers
- Away: Patriots, Dolphins, Jets, Texans, Colts, Ravens, Rams, Seahawks, Lions
4) New England Patriots (32nd overall)
Good luck, Pats. Any argument against the New England Patriots drafting a rookie quarterback started with the club’s lack of weapons. But the Patriots’ daunting schedule is also a factor and could force Jerod Mayo to start veteran Jacoby Brissett over Drake Maye to begin the year.
- Home: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Texans, Colts, Chargers, Rams, Seahawks
- Away: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Bengals, Titans, Jaguars, 49ers, Cardinals, Bears
