The New England Patriots reclaimed the division title for the first time since 2019 last season, a major step in the right direction for both new head coach Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye. The 14-3 finish was not only unexpected, but marked the most wins the team has had since 2016.
While their 2025 breakout puts them in pole position to win the division again and return to the Super Bowl, it would be foolish to think the rest of the AFC East won't be gunning for the title. While the Dolphins are mid-rebuild, they added six top-100 talents via the draft.
The Jets made three first-round selections as well, with a plethora of moves in free agency to strengthen their squad. Without a doubt, though, the team's biggest competition will be the Buffalo Bills.
The Bills had a disappointing end to their season last year. Despite a 12-5 finish, they managed only the sixth seed and crashed out of the playoffs to Bo Nix, even though they didn't have to play Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, or Joe Burrow.
Despite that, the Bills remain CBS's Bryan DeArdo's most likely team to end their Super Bowl drought.
Who's winning Super Bowl LXI? 👀 pic.twitter.com/XPV9sM9slm
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) June 15, 2026
Buffalo Bills named a Super Bowl favorite once again
The Buffalo Bills, for what feels like the last century, have once again been named a Super Bowl favorite. They have the fourth-best overall, behind the new and improved Rams, the Ravens, and the reigning champion Seahawks.
The Bills made some notable changes this offseason. The ownership sided with GM Brandon Beane, retaining him and instead cutting ties with Sean McDermott, a coach who had eight winning seasons in nine years with the team.
Comparatively, from 1992-2016, the Bills had eight winning seasons.
He was succeeded by his offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, in a somewhat puzzling move. The first-time head coach gained notoriety during his 2019 season at LSU, but he's a first-time head coach.
In free agency, the Bills added Dee Alford, Geno Stone, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the defensive backfield and inked Bradley Chubb to a three-year deal to improve their pass rush. They also traded for D.J. Moore and added several notable players via the draft, including Clemson's T.J. Parker and UConn's Skyler Bell.
Conversely, guard David Edwards and fullback Reggie Gilliam are major losses, while Curtis Samuel, Joey Bosa, and Matt Milano remain free agents. The Bills have a strong squad, and with Josh Allen at the helm, the Patriots will have to proceed with caution, as they have for the last half-decade.
Nonetheless, the 2026 Bills roster doesn't seem any better equipped to make a push than in years past.
Add us as a preferred source on Google