The betting world is pretty confident that we will have a 2011 NFL season. Rather than argue with the NFL betting picks experts, we have decided to follow along with them and act like the lockout will be ending soon and everyone should focus back on football. The reality is that the lockout will end at some point in the near future. But the lack of preparation that each team will have prior to the start of the 2011 season will affect how each team performs.

In the AFC East, all eyes are usually on New York and Foxboro. The NFL betting picks experts usually hand first and second place in the division to the Jets and the Patriots before the season starts. While that is probably still an accurate way to do things, there are a few changes going on the AFC East that will affect how the division plays out.

New England Patriots (Predicted record: 14-2)

Anyone that bets against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in the regular season is crazy. The Patriots had a ton of draft picks in the 2011 draft, but only addressed some of their most immediate needs. First round pick offensive lineman Nate Solder was not a surprise, and neither was second rounder defensive back Ras-I Dowling. The Patriots defense was young last season, but it was good. In 2011, it will be better. It is hard to see the Patriots making any significant changes to its defense, but it may want to consider getting a wide receiver with some height. The Patriots have the shortest set of wide receivers in the league, and while Tom Brady worked with his receivers like the expert that he is, the Patriots still need to grab that one big man that will open the offense up.

New York Jets (Predicted record: 12-4)

NFL Las Vegas picks experts love the New York Jets because the Jets never know when to shut up. People bet against the Jets constantly because some people just like watching confident teams lose. The Jets are a good football team. New York may have one of the best defenses in all of football. But it has been obvious for two years now that the offense is holding the team back, and that will not change in 2011. Either Santonio Holmes or Braylon Edwards is leaving the Jets. The team cannot sign both wide receivers. Quarterback Mark Sanchez talks a great game, but he has still not shown any signs of being a solid NFL quarterback. The defense and the running game is what has taken the Jets to the AFC Championship two years in a row. Everyone is pulling for Sanchez, but he remains the team's weakest link.

Buffalo Bills (Predicted record: 7-9)

You cannot rebuild an NFL team overnight, and the Bills have a lot of rebuilding to do. Buffalo did not take a quarterback in the draft because, for the first time in years, the Bills have a quarterback in Ryan Fitzpatrick that they can build around. Defensive lineman Marcell Dareus was the Bills' first choice in the 2011 draft, and Buffalo has high hopes for the rookie. It will take years to get the Bills back on the winning track, but at least they seem to be headed in the right direction.

Miami Dolphins (Predicted record: 6-10)

It looks like running back Ronnie Brown may voluntarily choose to stay in Miami. The Dolphins have indicated that, even with a new head coach, they are still going to use the wildcat as a primary offensive formation. The Dolphins have been without direction since Dan Marino left. Not even Bill Parcells could turn this team around. There is just a lot wrong in Miami that no one seems able to address.