Raise your hand if back in training camp you thought every AFC East team would still have a realistic shot of winning the division at the season’s midway point.

Yeah, sure you did.

For those who kept their hands in front of them, you’re certainly not alone.

A head-spinning sequence of events has reshaped the AFC East, which was ruled for years by New England — with everyone else quite a few steps behind. Take away Tom Brady from the Patriots, add Brett Favre to the New York Jets and Chad Pennington to Miami, and the division has become a free-for-all.

“There’s four teams in this division, and they all control their own destiny,” Favre said. “It’s pretty good.”

The Patriots have plenty of company atop the division, with the Jets and Bills feeling good about their chances. The Dolphins are one of the NFL’s biggest surprises, with Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano quickly turning around a miserable culture of losing.

“It’s about as balanced as you can get at this point in the season,” Jets coach Eric Mangini said. “We all play each other here throughout the next eight games, and that’s going to decide it, I think.”

Miami and New York are 2-1 against division opponents with three games left, and New England is 1-1 with four games left, including two against Buffalo. The Bills have some work to do at 0-2.

“It’s not an easy path,” Mangini said, “for anybody.”

New England Patriots (5-3)

Brady’s knee injury in the season-opener was as catastrophic a loss as the Patriots could have imagined. Give them credit for staying competitive with unproven Matt Cassel running the show.

There’s no way a team can replace a star like Brady.

Cassel has been shaky, at best. He’s also working with an offense that hasn’t had a steady running back all season.

Laurence Maroney was lost early to an injury, and Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan have also taken their turns on the sideline. Throw in BenJarvus Green-Ellis — undoubtedly one of the best names in sports — and Kevin Faulk, and Cassel probably isn’t sure who’s lining up behind him in the backfield anymore.

Cassel knows who he’s throwing to, though, and Randy Moss and Wes Welker are still dangerous.

The defense has proven vulnerable, especially with Rodney Harrison out for at least this season. With games against Pittsburgh, Arizona and the rest of the division in the second half, the season may hinge on whether the Patriots’ aging linebacker corps and young secondary can make enough big plays to overcome Cassel’s mistakes on offense.