The AFC East is the Buffalo Bills' division to lose. Catch me on a Monday morning, and I might tell you that the whole AFC belongs to the Bills until proven otherwise. Josh Allen and his squad put a beating on a Baltimore Ravens team that lost Lamar Jackson almost immediately, pushing them to the top spot in the conference.
Meanwhile, the New England Patriots nearly let the Miami Dolphins pull off an upset, and the New York Jets came up short in a furious shootout. Week by week, Buffalo's grip on the top spot in the division is getting stronger.
After an eventful Week 8 slate, here's how the AFC East stacks up.
AFC East power rankings after Week 8
Week 8 results:
- Bills beat Ravens 36-10
- Jets lose to Raiders 38-33
- Patriots beat Dolphins 24-19
1. Buffalo Bills dominate Lamar Jackson-less Ravens
The Bills' battle with the Ravens was supposed to be one of the most exciting games of the season. Instead, Jackson went down with an injury on Baltimore's first drive, and Buffalo cruised to an easy victory.
This game would have been a chance for Joe Brady's team to test its mettle against one of the AFC's most talented rosters had Jackson stayed healthy, but Buffalo can't be blamed for Baltimore's injury woes.
This Bills defense still needs to prove itself in more challenging matchups, but for now, there's no question who the top team in the division is.
Next game: Monday, Nov. 9th @ Vikings
2. New England Patriots survive Dolphins scare
A day after Halloween, the Patriots nearly experienced their worst nightmare. The Dolphins were in control for the entirety of the first half, but Drake Maye was able to lead New England to a narrow victory in the end.
The Patriots are limited on offense, especially without a healthy A.J. Brown. Maye has rediscovered his MVP runner-up form, but he can't carry the offense by himself. New England needs to find another gear to challenge Buffalo at the summit.
They'll face an important test next weekend as the Green Bay Packers come to town. If the Patriots can survive that game, they'll at least establish themselves as a solid Wild Card team.
Next game: Sunday, Nov. 8th vs. Packers
3. New York Jets go toe-to-toe with explosive Raiders
Who would have thought that an early-window game between the Jets and the Las Vegas Raiders would become one of the most exciting matchups of the Week 8 slate?
Geno Smith and Kirk Cousins both turned back the clock to produce high-flying offenses, but the Jets came up just short. New York has its issues, many of them Aaron Glenn-related, but it's a competent team at the very least.
The Jets look like they're a quarterback (and maybe a head coach) away from being truly competitive, and that should be seen as a resounding success.
Next game: Sunday, Nov. 8th @ Chiefs
4. Miami Dolphins nearly pull off another AFC East upset
Had the Dolphins managed to complete their comeback bid against the Patriots, they'd be an easy No. 3 on this list. Even with a loss, they have drawn much closer to the rest of the pack.
As heavily as they're leaning on rookies, the Dolphins were never going to be a real threat in the AFC East this season. They don't have the talent to make waves. But they're not a glorified bye week in the way they were expected to be.
Next game: Sunday, Nov. 8th vs. Lions
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