After the Patriots' downfall in the wake of Tom Brady's decision to leave the team in 2020, many believed they would be a franchise in peril for a long time, even more so after Bill Belichick was fired and the questionable season under Jerod Mayo.
Unfortunately for those praying for their downfall, the decision to draft QB Drake Maye and Robert Kraft's hiring of Mike Vrabel have already made the Patriots a legitimate competitor just five years after the legendary quarterback departed for Tampa Bay.
And now, it looks like they will be the immediate competition for the division title with the Bills, as the Dolphins and Jets continue to flounder.
That doesn't appear to be changing any time soon for either organization, with Miami looking to be in a worse situation at the moment. Their future looks even bleaker after the latest news about big decisions that need to be made this upcoming offseason, which only helps the Patriots further their lead in the AFC East.
Mistakes made by the Dolphins and Jets will continue to benefit the Patriots for years to come
With so much heat around head coach Mike McDaniel, which only worsened when he finally decided to bench QB Tua Tagovailoa after giving him a massive extension last year, the expectation was that the Dolphins would inevitably move on from him in 2026.
The luster around the shiny, young hire has worn off, and McDaniel has been unable to lead the Dolphins to relevance, but apparently, that doesn't mean much to the higher-ups in Miami, because according to NFL insiders, they have no plan to move on and find a new head coach next year.
From @NFLGameDay: #Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is likely to be back in 2026, though Tua Tagovailoa is not. Where does it stand for Miami? pic.twitter.com/H7dxWxc6gQ
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 21, 2025
That's a big plus for the rest of the division, particularly the Patriots, since the competition won't be getting much better as long as McDaniel is still a head coach.
The Jets won't be going on a search either, as they just hired Aaron Glenn this past offseason. But that doesn't mean the historically laughable franchise will be competitive next year, mainly because their ownership remains problematic with no real sense of urgency.
It ultimately makes the path to the top of the AFC East even clearer for the Patriots, who still have a shot of stealing the crown away from the Bills this season.
With just two games left to be played, there's a good chance that New England will win out and Buffalo will not, since they have to face the Eagles, who are a much better team than the Dolphins and Jets combined.
If they can't beat the reigning Super Bowl champions, then the Patriots take back their rightful throne with ease. Even if they don't this season, it's looking like it won't be long before they own the AFC East once again, thanks to more mistakes made by their rivals.