Somehow, in a season that started with questions and turnover, the New England Patriots are the last team standing in the AFC East - and they’re doing it with a level of poise and power that’s turning heads across the league.
After a convincing 28-16 win over the Houston Texans and the NFL’s top-ranked defense, the Patriots are heading to the AFC Championship Game. It’s a statement win, no doubt - not just because of how they handled Houston, but because of what it represents: a franchise that’s found its footing again, and fast.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the irony here. The Patriots, in their first year under Mike Vrabel, are now one win away from the Super Bowl - something their division rivals in Buffalo, despite five straight AFC East titles and a franchise quarterback in Josh Allen, haven’t managed to do in the post-Brady era.
That sting was felt immediately in Western New York. Less than 24 hours after watching New England punch its ticket to the AFC title game, the Buffalo Bills made a seismic move of their own, firing head coach Sean McDermott. The news dropped Monday morning, signaling a major shift in Buffalo’s leadership structure and adding yet another name to the league’s growing list of head coaching vacancies.
And just like that, Vrabel - still in Year 1 - is now the longest-tenured head coach in the AFC East. Think about that.
The Jets brought in Aaron Glenn shortly after the Patriots hired Vrabel, and now both the Dolphins and Bills have open coaching positions. That’s how quickly the landscape can shift in the NFL.
For Patriots fans, the timing couldn’t be sweeter. After years of watching Buffalo rise while New England retooled, the tables have turned - and it’s happening faster than anyone expected.
Now, with Jarrett Stidham and the Denver Broncos standing between them and Super Bowl LX, the Patriots are riding high. And over in Buffalo, the mood couldn’t be more different.
The Bills have been a perennial playoff team with elite talent under center, but their struggles in key moments - particularly in the postseason - have been hard to ignore. Sunday’s loss was the final straw, and ownership responded swiftly. But instead of a full reset, the Bills doubled down on a familiar face: general manager Brandon Beane.
Beane, who’s overseen the roster construction since Josh Allen’s arrival in 2018, has now been promoted to President of Football Operations while retaining his GM title. That means he’ll not only continue to build the roster but also oversee the next head coach - a vertical power structure that puts Beane firmly in control of Buffalo’s football operation.
From a Patriots perspective, it’s hard not to see this as a win. McDermott had his flaws, sure, but he also delivered consistent success - seven straight seasons with 10 or more wins.
His teams were always competitive. But now, with Beane elevated and no head coach in place, the Bills feel like they’re slipping into organizational chaos at the worst possible time.
And the draft record under Beane? Let’s just say it hasn’t exactly been a goldmine.
Since 2018, Buffalo has selected 56 players. Only two - running back James Cook and tight end Dawson Knox - have made Pro Bowl appearances.
That’s not the kind of hit rate you want when you’re trying to build around a generational quarterback.
Meanwhile, the Patriots have quietly rebuilt their identity. It started with Vrabel instilling toughness and discipline, and it’s carried over into a postseason run that’s turning doubters into believers. From the Week 5 upset over Buffalo in prime time to Sunday’s playoff win, this team has steadily gained momentum - and they’re not done yet.
The contrast between the two franchises couldn’t be sharper. New England, once seen as a team in transition, now looks like a legitimate contender.
Buffalo, once the division’s standard-bearer, is scrambling to find answers. And with Beane now in charge of hiring the next coach - and overseeing every football decision - the pressure is squarely on his shoulders.
The Patriots don’t need to say a word. Their play is doing the talking. And as they prepare for the AFC Championship Game, they’re not just chasing another Super Bowl appearance - they’re reminding the rest of the AFC East that the dynasty may be gone, but the standard in Foxboro hasn’t changed.
In a season full of surprises, the Patriots are back in the spotlight. And for the Bills? The questions are just beginning.