Buffalo Bills: New England Patriots could make AFC East race interesting

The Buffalo Bills have looked to be the favorite to repeat as division champions in AFC East over the first part of the season. The Miami Dolphins are 1-7 and have now lost seven straight. Meanwhile, the New York Jets are coming off a win over the Cincinnati Bengals but still are well behind the Bills at 2-5.

However, the New England Patriots have quietly been playing better and are staying at least in the discussion as a team that could push the Bills over the second half of the season. In the past five weeks, the Patriots are 3-2 with a big win on the road this past weekend over the Los Angeles Chargers.

The other two teams the Patriots beat were the Jets and Texans, two teams that are struggling. However, the losses are actually more impressive and one of the reasons I believe the New England Patriots could make it a race.

In Week 4, the Patriots played the Bucs on Sunday Night Football and really limited Tom Brady and the offense, holding them to a season-low 19 points. Then two games later, the Patriots pushed a good Cowboys’ team to overtime but ultimately came up short when CeeDee Lamb scored a touchdown in the extra period.

Buffalo Bills two games with Patriots late in the season could decide the race

At this point in the season, the Bills have a two-game lead in the loss column over the Patriots. The Bills also have an advantage of a favorable schedule in the second half of the season.

However, the Patriots also have a rather easy schedule down the stretch with games against the Panthers, Falcons, Jaguars, Dolphins, and a Titans’ team that it remains to be seen if they are still as competitive as they have been without Derrick Henry.

This is why the two games left on the schedule between these teams could ultimately decide the winner of the AFC East. The Bills face the Patriots in Week 13 on Monday Night Football before traveling to face the Patriots in Gillette Stadium in Week 16.

The Patriots have gotten back to a blueprint that worked for them in the early years with Tom Brady, which is a strong defense, good run game, and not putting too much on the quarterback. This doesn’t result in many highlights but it usually keeps them competitive and playing winning football.

The Buffalo Bills should still be considered the favorite but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the two games against the Patriots later in the season deciding the winner of the division.