By Marc Lawrence – NFL.com contends the entire AFC East division played worse than the records showed a year ago. Not only did the Patriots, Bills, Jets and Dolphins get to play each other, but they all wound up facing extremely forgiving out-of-division schedules. That isn’t likely to be the case again this year. The departure of Tom Brady gives hope to the rest of the division and likely installs the Bills as favorites. But that optimism should be tempered by the reality of facing the NFC West and AFC West out of division. Both western divisions look deeper and more improved than the AFC East, without any obvious soft spots. Like the Pats, the rest of the division will have to face the 49ers and Chiefs, last season’s Super Bowl combatants. The Bills, Jets and Dolphins will have to be better just to match their 2019 records, and they are unlikely to be luckier. The Patriots’ schedule luck from 2019 was due for a course correction. They play seven games against playoff teams from a year ago, tied for the most in the NFL. The Pats are also one of just four teams to face the dreaded three-game road trip this season, and New England’s daunting trek comes in early December. For more on the toughest schedules in the NFL this 2020 season click here.
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CBS Sports.com reports that Tampa Bay has played just 17 prime-time games over the past 15 seasons. With Tom Brady now aboard, the Bucs will be under the prime-time lights five times this 2020 season, the most in franchise history. Furthermore, Tampa Bay plays four prime-time games in five weeks, showcasing how badly the league wants to feature Brady with his new team.
Grinding Out The Profits
From the 2020 PLAYBOOK Football Preview Guide magazine: BOOM: The quarterback march continues in Norman where former 5-star redshirt freshman QB Spencer Rattler will be on Oklahoma’s Heisman Trophy watch list in 2020. Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray, and Baker Mayfield (all transfers) preceded him the past three seasons. The Sooners made it to the CFB Playoffs last season despite starting the 4th most underclassmen in 2019 (56.5%).
