For the first time this season, every team in the AFC East lost. While the top and bottom teams stayed at their respective positions, there was a slight change in the standings before the Monday night game between the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Jets. Three teams remain at .500 or above, while one goes deeper and deeper in the loss column. The combined score of the AFC East vs their opponents in Week 9 was 55-92.
Heading into Week 10, the early game in Germany will feature an AFC East team, the Sunday night game will have one AFC East team in it, while a Monday night game will also showcase a team from the AFC East.
Here are the updated AFC East standings after Week 9.
4.) New England Patriots (2-7) - loss vs. Washington Commanders, 20-17
The Patriots are the only team to not be .500 or above in the AFC East and they dropped yet another game this past week at home to Sam Howell and the Washington Commanders. This is Washington’s first win in Foxborough since 1996.
In a back and forth game where the Commanders went up 10-0 before the Patriots scored two touchdowns, it came down to the wire in the fourth quarter where Mac Jones had the chance to lead his third game-winning drive of his career. That chance was taken away after he threw a game-ending interception, giving the Commanders a 20-17 victory.
Jones would finish the game 24/44 for 220 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The running game was led by Rhamondre Stevenson who led the Patriots with 9 carries for 87 yards and one touchdown. Despite New England being able to sack Howell three times, Howell managed to go 29/45 for 325 yards, adding on a touchdown and interception as well.
New England drops their second consecutive game and will look to bounce back in Germany next week against the Indianapolis Colts.