Just days before the Patriots welcome the Bills to Gillette Stadium for their final matchup of the 2025 season, it's clear that there is a lot on the line for both teams in Week 15. Not only can New England regain their divisional crown with a win, but Buffalo will want to stop that and keep their championship window open for just a bit longer.
It will be the next crucial test for Mike Vrabel and the Patriots to prove the doubters wrong about why they are the AFC East leaders and contending for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff picture. Sweeping the Bills for the first time since the 2019 season would certainly accomplish that.
But beyond not being easy because of the Bills' dominant nature, some streaks will need to be upheld in the Patriots' favor or ended, and their opponents will not want to allow them.
The Patriots have even more reason to sweep the Bills this weekend
Besides wanting to steal a win in enemy territory and force a division win until a later date, the Bills will want to uphold their four-year streak of not losing to an opponent that beat them earlier that season.
Since they lost to the Patriots at home in Week 5, they'll be more determined not to let it happen again on Sunday.
Since 2021, the Buffalo Bills are 8-0 when they play a team they lost to previously in the season.
— Put Steve Tasker in the Hall of Fame (@HOFSteveTasker) December 9, 2025
Say what you like about Sean McDermott, the man will have his team ready to play this Sunday against the Patriots—a team they lost to in Week 5 this season.
#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/8o5wFobgHM
The problem with that, however, is that Mike Vrabel has his own streak to uphold.
During his six-year tenure as the Titans' head coach, the team never lost the first game after a bye week. The Patriots are coming off their late-season bye this week, and based on the history of Vrabel's last team, there's a good chance they will make that record 7-0 with a win over the Bills.
It will certainly be two storylines worth following on Sunday, and the victor will be able to celebrate extending an important streak while potentially looking ahead to what the future of the division might look like for years to come.