After five straight AFC East titles, the Buffalo Bills entered this past season with high expectations-Super Bowl-or-bust territory. But once again, they fell short in the postseason, bowing out in the Divisional Round in another gut-punch loss. That defeat marked the end of the Sean McDermott era in Buffalo, a tenure defined by regular-season dominance but postseason frustration.
To make matters worse for Bills fans, the division crown didn’t just slip away-it went back to the team that used to own it. The New England Patriots, who won just four games in 2024, pulled off one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent memory. With Mike Vrabel at the helm and rookie quarterback Drake Maye under center, the Patriots surged to a 14-win season, captured the AFC title, and made it all the way to the Super Bowl-where they were thoroughly outclassed by the Seattle Seahawks.
Let’s be clear: New England’s 2025 campaign was impressive, but it came with a few asterisks. They benefited from the league’s easiest regular-season schedule-facing opponents with a combined .391 winning percentage, the lowest since the 1999 Rams. That soft slate helped them cruise to a 14-3 record and a top seed in the playoffs.
And the favorable breaks didn’t stop there. In the postseason, the Patriots caught a string of injury-riddled opponents.
The Chargers were without both starting offensive tackles-Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. The Texans lost their top two receiving threats, Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz, during their visit to Foxborough.
And in the AFC Championship, the Broncos had to roll with Jarrett Stidham at quarterback-his first pass attempt of the entire season-after Bo Nix went down.
When the Patriots finally faced a complete, elite team in the Super Bowl, the gap was evident. Seattle didn’t just beat them-they exposed them. Yes, the Seahawks were the class of the league this year, but New England’s lack of offensive firepower was glaring on the biggest stage.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Patriots are no longer flying under the radar. With a first-place schedule on deck, they’re going to be tested in ways they weren’t last season.
Drake Maye is still on his rookie deal, and the defense remains a strength, but the offense needs serious upgrades if New England wants to stay in the contender conversation. The margin for error just got a whole lot thinner.
For the Bills, the focus now shifts inward. Their own 2026 schedule won’t be any easier, but there’s a sense of renewed direction in Buffalo. With Joe Brady stepping into the lead role, the offense is expected to take on a new identity-one that hopefully unlocks the full potential of this talented roster.
The AFC East is shifting again. New England made a splash, but sustaining success is a different challenge altogether. Buffalo’s reign may have ended-for now-but don’t expect them to stay quiet for long.