AFC East Outlook

• 2002 seaon in review
• Wild Card playoff

• Sept. 7 New England, 7 a.m. HST
• Sept. 14 at Jacksonville, 7 a.m.
• Sept. 21 at Miami, 2:30 p.m.
• Sept. 28 Philadelphia, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 5 Cincinnati, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 12 at New York Jets, 10:15 a.m.
• Oct. 19 Washington, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 26 at Kansas City, 3:30 p.m.
• Nov. 9 at Dallas, 11:15 a.m.
• Nov. 16 Houston, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 23 Indianapolis, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 30 at New York Giants, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 7 New York Jets, 11:15 a.m.
• Dec. 14 at Tennessee, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 21 Miami, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 27 at New England, 8:30 a.m.

Miami Dolphins

• Sept. 7 Houston, 7 a.m. HST
• Sept. 14 at New York Jets, 7 a.m.
• Sept. 21 Buffalo, 2:30 p.m.
• Oct. 5 at New York Giants, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 12 at Jacksonville, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 19 New England, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 27 at San Diego, 4 p.m.
• Nov. 2 Indianapolis, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 9 at Tennessee, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 16 Baltimore, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 23 Washington, 3:30 p.m.
• Nov. 27 at Dallas, 11:05 a.m.
• Dec. 7 at New England, 11:15 a.m.
• Dec. 15 Philadelphia, 4 p.m.
• Dec. 21 at Buffalo, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 28 New York Jets, 8 a.m.

New York Jets

• Sept. 4 at Washington, 3 p.m. HST
• Sept. 14 Miami, 7 a.m.
• Sept. 21 at New England, 7 a.m.
• Sept. 28 Dallas, 10:15 a.m.
• Oct. 12 Buffalo, 10:15 a.m.
• Oct. 19 at Houston, 10:05 a.m.
• Oct. 26 at Philadelphia, 11:15 a.m.
• Nov. 2 New York Giants, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 9 at Oakland, 11:15 a.m.
• Nov. 16 at Indianapolis, 11:05 a.m.
• Nov. 23 Jacksonville, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 1 Tennessee, 4 p.m.
• Dec. 7 at Buffalo, 11:15 a.m.
• Dec. 14 Pittsburgh, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 20 New England, 3:30 p.m.
• Dec. 28 at Miami, 8 a.m.

New England Patriots

• Sept. 7 at Buffalo, 7 a.m. HST
• Sept. 14 at Phila., 10:15 a.m.
• Sept. 21 New York Jets, 7 a.m.
• Sept. 28 at Washington, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 5 Tennessee, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 12 New York Giants, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 19 at Miami, 7 a.m.
• Oct. 26 Cleveland, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 3 at Denver, 4 p.m.
• Nov. 16 Dallas, 3:30 p.m.
• Nov. 23 at Houston, 8 a.m.
• Nov. 30 at Indianapolis, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 7 Miami, 11:15 a.m.
• Dec. 14 Jacksonville, 8 a.m.
• Dec. 20 at NY Jets, 3:30 p.m.
• Dec. 27 Buffalo, 8:30 a.m.

Outlook

JETS

• LAST YEAR: After starting 2-5, rebounded behind new starting QB Chad Pennington and won AFC East. Beat Indianapolis, 41-0, in wild-card round, then lost to Oakland, 30-10.
• STRENGTHS: Curtis Martin had his eighth straight 1,000-yard rushing season last year. LaMont Jordan is excellent backup. Pennington progressed. DE John Abraham is one of NFL's top pass rushers.
• WEAKNESSES: DT Josh Evans was suspended indefinitely for substance abuse. Added Chester McGlockton and rookie Dewayne Robertson will be counted on immediately.
• Top additions: G Tom Nutten, WR Curtis Conway, K Doug Brien, P Dan Stryzinski, RB Sean Bennett, CB Tyrone Carter, DT Chester McGlockton.
• Rookies to watch: DE Dewayne Robertson, LB Victor Hobson.
• Key losses: G Randy Thomas, K John Hall, S Damien Robinson, WR Laveranues Coles, P Matt Turk, KR Chad Morton, LB James Darling.
• goals: Overcoming loss of four players to Redskins—Thomas, Hall, Coles, Morton. Finding out if trade with Bears for draft pick that netted Robertson was worth it.

PATRIOTS

• LAST YEAR: 2002 Super Bowl champs started with three straight wins then slid back. Missed playoffs.
• STRENGTHS: Defensive depth, QB Tom Brady.
• WEAKNESSES: OL, RB. TE unless 2002 first-round pick Daniel Graham improves.
• Top additions: LB Rosevelt Colvin, CB Tyrone Poole, S Rodney Harrison, FB Fred McCrary, WR Dedric Ward.
• Rookies to watch: DE Ty Warren, CB Eugene Wilson, DT Dan Klecko.
• Key losses: OT Greg Randall, WR Donald Hayes, CB Terrell Buckley, TE Cam Cleeland, S Tebucky Jones.
• goals: Ex-Bear Colvin gives coach Bill Belichick options with 3-4 and 4-3 defenses. Much depends on rookie defensive linemen. RB Antowain Smith needs to return to form.

DOLPHINS

• LAST YEAR: Ricky Williams, left, led league in rushing, DE Jason Taylor led NFL in sacks. QB Jay Fiedler missed six games with broken thumb, and Dolphins lost last two to miss postseason for first time in six years.
• STRENGTHS: Williams is among NFL's best RBs, while defense returns most major contributors from third-rated unit and added LB Junior Seau among others.
• WEAKNESSES: Fiedler has been inconsistent and now has Brian Griese looking over his shoulder. OL is so-so.
• Top additions: QB Brian Griese, LB Junior Seau, S Sammy Knight, CB Terrell Buckley, WR Derrius Thompson, DT Jeff Zgonina, TE Marco Battaglia, KR Charlie Rogers.
• Rookies to watch: LB Eddie Moore.
• Key losses: TE Desmond Clark, S Shawn Wooden, DT Jermaine Haley, LB Derrick Rogers, WR Dedric Ward, OT Marcus Spriggs.
• Goals: Seau adds spice to good defense. QB Jay Fiedler must complement RB Ricky Williams.

BILLS

• LAST YEAR: QB Drew Bledsoe revived franchise after 3-13 record in 2001 but offense was hurt by patchwork defense.
• STRENGTHS: Offense featuring Bledsoe, WR Eric Moulds and RB Travis Henry, and fronted by OTs Jonas Jennings and Mike Williams. Takeo Spikes and Jeff Posey join London Fletcher in revamped LB corps.
• WEAKNESSES: Young secondary. Special teams: Rian Lindell is Buffalo's fourth place-kicker since Steve Christie was released in 2001.
• Top additions: LB Takeo Spikes, WR Bobby Shaw, DT Sam Adams, RB Olandis Gary, LB Jeff Posey, K Rian Lindell, G Ross Tucker, CB Dainon Sidney, WR James Jett.
• Rookies to watch: RB Willis McGahee, DE Chris Kelsay.
• Key losses: TE Jay Riemersma, WR Peerless Price, FB Larry Centers, K Mike Hollis.
• Goals: Adjusting high-powered pass offense minus 94-catch WR Price, traded and replaced by Josh Reed. Newcomers must improve defense.

Wild Card playoffs

Jan. 4

• NY Jets 41, Indianapolis 0
• Atlanta 27, Green Bay 7

Jan. 5

• Pittsburgh 36, Cleveland 33
• San Francisco 39, NY Giants 38

Divisional playoffs

Jan. 11

• Tennessee 34, Pittsburgh 31 (OT)
• Philadelphia 20, Atlanta 6

Jan. 12

• Tampa Bay 31, San Francisco 6
• Oakland 30, NY Jets 10

Conference championships

Jan. 19

NFC championship

• Tampa Bay 27, Philadelphia 10

AFC championship

• Oakland 41, Tennessee 24

Super Bowl XXVII

Tampa Bay 48, Oakland 21

Pro Bowl

AFC 45, NFC 20