1. New England Patriots
After rewriting the record books in 2007, the Patriots actually enter the year with something to prove, as the Super Bowl loss to the Giants no doubt still lingers in their minds. There's not much to say here; this team is very good and has few weaknesses, despite going through the preseason as if they were destined to finish last. The offense is more likely to play like it did during the second half of last season than the first, but that's still plenty good. Tom Brady's current health status is questionable, but it's doubtful that situation turns into a long-term problem. Randy Moss needs to avoid leg injuries, and Laurence Maroney needs to learn how to block, but New England enters 2008 as the heavy favorite to win it all.
2. New York Jets
During the offseason, the Jets added Brett Favre, Alan Faneca, Damien Woody and Kris Jenkins, so the expectations are sky high. While many of the additions look good on paper, the NFL's not as easily transferable as other sports, and it's extremely important to tie players together with scheme, so it remains to be seen how they fit in. Favre, most likely, will be an upgrade, and Jerricho Cotchery could explode as a result. If Thomas Jones gets another 300 carries, the team will likely have a below average ground game, but there should be more room to run in 2008. David Harris might be the best player few people talk about.
3. Miami Dolphins
Yes, they were 1-15 last year, but six of those losses were by three points, so they weren't some historical doormat. With an entire new coaching regime, things are looking up, but there will need to be patience. Chad Pennington has his shortcomings, but there's no doubt he's an upgrade over John Beck. Chad Henne is the future. The O-line should also get better with the additions of Jake Long and Justin Smiley. Ted Ginn gives the offense an explosive element, while Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams form a terrific duo in the backfield. Miami isn't headed to the playoffs, but they are likely to remain competitive in most of their games this season.
4. Buffalo Bills
The Bills weren't bad last year, but they were probably a little bit worse than their record indicated. It's possible Trent Edwards is the answer at quarterback, but he hasn't shown many signs of that being the case thus far. Even if he demonstrates improvement during year two as starter, he'll remain inconsistent. Marshawn Lynch is good, but Jason Peters might be more important to the franchise, and his holdout appears to be long lasting, which is a significant blow. Lee Evans has the skills of an elite wide receiver, but his numbers fail to reveal that more often than not.