The Buffalo Bills have a chance to seize real control of the AFC East this week, and Sunday’s meeting with the New England Patriots could tilt the division sharply in Buffalo’s favor.
A win would move the Bills to 4-0 while dropping the Patriots to 1-3. Even if the Miami Dolphins beat the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, the best any second-place team could be after Week Four is 2-2, and that only happens if the New York Jets go on the road and beat the Chicago Bears. So yes, the early AFC East picture is already a little chaotic, and Buffalo is the one team that can turn that mess into a cushion.
The Bills have already shown two different versions of themselves in this young season. The first two weeks looked like a machine on offense.
Last week against the Los Angeles Chargers, they weren’t nearly as clean, even though they still found a way to win. Buffalo is hoping Sunday brings a much sharper version of the group.
Josh Allen is the obvious place to start. After two dominant games to open the 2026 NFL season, he and the Bills offense were off last Sunday.
The bounce-back test is a big one, but history says Allen is more than capable of answering it. In two games against the Patriots last season, he completed 69% of his passes for 446 yards and five touchdowns with just one interception.
He also added twenty rushes for 101 yards across those two contests. New England’s top corner, Christian Gonzalez, is dealing with an injury, and top Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore hasn’t practiced this week either, so Buffalo may be looking at a banged-up defense no matter what.
Allen was clearly frustrated after last week’s three-turnover game, and Buffalo would love to see him come out firing early and erase that feeling fast.
James Cook III has been the engine of the run game, and he’s been flat-out electric. He leads the NFL in yards per carry at six yards per attempt, while also handling 71% of Buffalo’s offensive snaps and piling up 62 touches through three games.
That kind of workload is impressive, but it also makes the Bills’ search for another reliable back worth watching. Ray Davis has basically become a kickoff return specialist, with only 20 offensive snaps this season, while Ty Johnson logged nearly that many in his Week Three season debut.
Cook has earned every bit of his heavy usage, but Buffalo would benefit from another back stepping in and taking some of the load.
Ed Oliver is another player worth tracking up front. Greg Rousseau has been relentless, with six sacks, eight tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, and three forced fumbles through three games.
Deone Walker has also been a problem for opponents, posting ten tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, and four QB hits. If Oliver starts producing at the level he’s capable of, that pass rush gets even nastier.
He had just one tackle against the Chargers, but he also hit Justin Herbert three times, matching Rousseau for the team lead that week. On the season, Oliver has six tackles, one tackle for loss, and four QB hits.
Against a Patriots offensive line that’s dealing with injuries, this could be the kind of matchup where he breaks through.
Dorian Williams gives Buffalo a strong presence in the middle of the defense. He leads the team with 24 tackles and has been mostly excellent against the run.
There are still some issues in coverage, but last week was a step forward in terms of communication. New England’s passing game ranks 19th, and the Patriots have not been nearly as effective early this season as they were last year.
That likely means a plan built around the run, clock control, and limiting Josh Allen’s possessions. Williams helping shut that down would go a long way toward breaking the Patriots’ approach before it gets rolling.
On the back end, rookie second-round pick Davison Igbinosun may be asked to play a bigger role if Christian Benford, who is dealing with a toe injury, is unavailable. Igbinosun stepped in last week after Benford left the game against the Chargers and made the most of it, finishing with six tackles and a pass breakup across 30 defensive snaps.
He didn’t look overwhelmed at all, and he contributed against both the pass and the run. New England may be struggling, but Josh McDaniels is still a sharp game-planner, and Drake Maye has the ability to turn bad situations into big plays.
Igbinosun could find himself matched up with either Romeo Doubs or Mack Hollins, and Buffalo will be counting on the rookie to hold up if his number is called again.
In Other News...
Philip Rivers Revealed An Unexpected Twist In Buffalo's Coaching Search
Philip Rivers name came up in a surprising place during Buffalos coaching search, and it turns out the former quarterback was much more than a casual candidate. He interviewed for the Bills head coaching job on short notice in Florida, and Josh Allen was there as part of the process, a reminder of how seriously the team involved its franchise quarterback in evaluating the next leader.
Rivers did not land the position, but he later described the experience as worthwhile and said he felt good about where Buffalo ended up. The Bills ultimately went with Joe Brady, and Rivers account adds another layer to a search that was already unusual for its mix of star power, urgency and quarterback input. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Defensive Line Might Be Getting Even More Dangerous For Week 4
Buffalos defensive front has already done enough in the first three games to make opposing quarterbacks feel the heat, with Greg Rousseau, Deone Walker and DeWayne Carter all helping set the tone up front. Even with injuries factored in, the Bills have managed to keep their rotation active and productive, and the groups early play has hinted at a line that can control games rather than simply chase them.
Now the unit could be on the verge of getting even deeper for Week 4. T.J. Sanders is trending toward a return after limited practice work, and practice squad option Phidarian Mathis is also part of the picture, giving Buffalo more possible bodies and more ways to keep the pressure coming as the season starts to settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Head Coach Search Took A Stranger Turn Than Fans Realized
Philip Rivers adding his voice to the Bills coaching search gave the process an unexpectedly public twist, especially for a franchise that usually keeps those conversations tightly under wraps. The former quarterback said Buffalo reached out through his agent to set up the interview, and he described a room that included key figures from the organization as well as Josh Allen, making it clear this was a serious look at a candidate whose rsum was built more on playing experience than sideline work.
Rivers, who has never coached in the NFL, said he leaned on his years as a longtime starting quarterback rather than a polished presentation or video-heavy pitch. Even so, he spoke with gratitude about getting the chance and with confidence that he could handle the job if called upon, which only added to the sense that Buffalos search touched some unconventional names before it moved on. [Read more 🡒]