Two weeks into the season, the AFC East is starting to sort itself out, and the gap at the top already looks real. Buffalo handled its business early, New England followed with a convincing result of its own, and both New York and Miami came out of the weekend looking like teams with more questions than answers.
The Bills set the tone with a Thursday night win over the Lions, then watched the rest of the division split in a way that only helped their case. The Patriots beat the Steelers, while the Jets lost in overtime to the Packers and the Dolphins were thumped by the 49ers. That left Buffalo sitting comfortably in front of the pack.
AFC East power rankings entering Week 3
1. Buffalo Bills
The Bills are not perfect right now, and the defense is the biggest reason why. Buffalo gave up 31 points for the second straight game, and even in a game it controlled, Jim Leonhard's defense still has work to do if this team wants to be taken seriously as a Super Bowl contender.
But Josh Allen keeps changing the conversation. He has been the best player in the NFL so far this season, and against Detroit he was once again the difference-maker, throwing three touchdown passes and avoiding many of the mistakes that can derail a game. If he keeps playing like this, the rest of the division is chasing shadows.
Next game: Sunday, Sep. 27th vs. Chargers
2. New England Patriots
New England’s win over Pittsburgh looks more damning for the Steelers than it does transformational for the Patriots. Aaron Rodgers and the offense were a mess, and Pittsburgh never found any rhythm. The Patriots’ defense had some strong individual moments, but the scoreboard made the performance look more dominant than it really was.
The offense still has plenty to clean up. Drake Maye is continuing to work through the early-season rust in his third year, and the numbers tell the story: four interceptions and six sacks through two weeks.
New England ranks 25th in the NFL in EPA per play and 18th in offensive success rate. That’s not the profile of a team that looks fully formed, even after a three-score win.
Next game: Sunday, Sep. 27th @ Jaguars
3. New York Jets
The Jets may have lost to Green Bay, but they did not look like a team ready to give games away. For the second straight week, they were competitive on both sides of the ball, and Geno Smith appears to have put his rough 2025 season behind him while getting the offense moving.
Aaron Glenn’s defense has also been quietly impressive. It has ranked near the top of the league in just about every statistical category, and it’s doing that without much help on the back end.
The group is playing disciplined, physical football, and if the Jets can hang with the Lions in Week 3, they could move up again. For now, they stay at No.
Next game: Sunday, Sep. 27th @ Lions
4. Miami Dolphins
There wasn’t much to salvage from Miami’s loss to San Francisco. The Dolphins were outplayed in every phase, and the gap showed from start to finish. Arch Manning looks like an exciting quarterback prospect, but that was about the only bright spot worth mentioning.
Some of Miami’s young players have had encouraging starts, but Jeff Hafley's team simply does not look equipped to compete at a high level right now. A win or two may still show up along the way, but after two weeks, the Dolphins are already looking like a team on tank watch.
In Other News...
Bills Just Lost Depth To A Rival And Now Face A Roster Decision
Andre Jones Jr. is heading down the division after the Miami Dolphins signed the linebacker off the Bills practice squad and onto their 53-man roster. For Buffalo, its another reminder that practice-squad development can quickly turn into a roster battle, especially for players who have already shown they can help on defense and special teams. Jones had been with the Bills for the last year and a half and appeared in three games this season, giving the team a depth piece with some familiarity in the system.
Now the Bills are left to sort out the open spot he created, and that move should come quickly as they continue managing the back end of the roster. Losing a player to a division rival does not usually alter the top of the depth chart, but it can matter when the season starts forcing teams to cycle through bodies, coverage help and game-day insurance. For Buffalo, the bigger question is less about Jones exit than about how swiftly the next call-up can be found. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Leonhard Sounds Alarm On A Bills Issue Fans Can't Ignore
Even with Buffalo off to a 2-0 start, Jim Leonhard is already sounding the familiar warning bells around a defense that has looked uneven through the first two games of the 2026 season. The Bills defensive coordinator described the unit as boom or bust, a blunt assessment that fits the way the group has flashed at times while still leaving too many openings on third downs and in the red zone.
Leonhard did point to some encouraging work, including Buffalos ability to limit Jahmyr Gibbs on the ground against Detroit, but the bigger concern is keeping the defense from swinging between dominant stretches and shaky ones. As the schedule gets tougher, the Bills know they will need more emotional stability and more consistent execution if they want the early wins to mean much later on. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Have Another Reason To Feel Better About Patriots Matchup
Josh Allens fast start has given the Bills plenty to feel good about through the opening stretch, and it goes beyond the unbeaten record. He has piled up 674 total yards and nine touchdowns without turning the ball over, the kind of clean, explosive play that keeps Buffalo in control of games and sets a high bar for what should come next. With the Chargers up in Week 3 and a Week 4 trip into a familiar AFC East matchup looming, the Bills are already looking like a team that can keep pressing its advantage.
One more reason Buffalo should like where it stands is the way New Englands rookie quarterback situation has looked so far. Drake Maye has shown the growing pains you would expect early in a season, with decision-making and turnovers becoming an issue even as the Patriots managed a win over the Steelers. The Bills know those division games can tighten up quickly, but right now the contrast at quarterback gives Buffalo a clearer path to feeling confident about what awaits when the Patriots arrive on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]