The Buffalo Bills have stood atop the AFC East for more than half a decade now. Last season marked the fifth consecutive season in which Bills Mafia renewed their reign over the division. However, with new head coaches in New England and New York the three rivals question Allen’s claim to the throne.
Senior news writer for NFL.com, Kevin Patra, writes that the New England Patriots have the second best chance in the league to go from worst-to-first.
“The story writes itself: Former Patriots Super Bowl champion returns to Foxborough to clean up a mess that’s lingered from the dismantling of a dynasty he helped build, and immediately turns the ship back around,” Patra writes. “Mike Vrabel got more from less during his run in Tennessee, providing confidence that he can coax winning play from a crew that won eight games combined over the past two years.”
The Patriots have ushered in a new era. The team that once thought Jerrod Mayo was the next man up has now handed the keys to a different former Super Bowl Champion. In six months, Vrabel has reinvented the defense, signing four starters. He also reached a deal with one of the NFL’s premiere talents, former Bills’ fan favorite, Stefon Diggs.
I say that to say this, winning the AFC East for a sixth year will be much easier said than done.
“After New England won 11 consecutive division titles, the Bills have taken charge and run away with five straight crowns,” Patra concludes. “A fourth-place schedule, an infusion of talent, a greenhorn quarterback making the leap, and a savvy, no-nonsense coach to lead the comeback give the Pats a shot to knock Buffalo off the divisional throne.”
Is It A Two Horse Race?
If the line makers in Las Vegas are any indication, the Bills are in no danger of surrendering their crown. Buffalo is one of four teams that sit in the upper echelon of the over/under win total market. The Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens all have a line of 11.5.
The next closest division foe is the Patriots, who sit considerably lower in the 8.5 win tier.
Then comes the Miami Dolphins just behind with a predicted 7.5.
Lastly, the New York Jets round out the conference with a concerning line of 5.5 wins.
The Bills and the Patriots are the only two teams you can bet on to finish with a winning percentage above .500. However, it still isn’t enough to convince SI’s Colin Richey that New England is ready to throw down for the title.
“It’s easy to see that New England may have a bright future ahead of them, and may soon pass both the Jets and Dolphins in terms of overall talent (if they haven’t already),” Richey writes. “Still, it’s another conversation entirely to discuss them dethroning Buffalo.”
The Biggest Question Mark In Buffalo’s Title Defense
The biggest question mark for the Bills is undoubtedly star running back James Cook’s contract. With training camp set to begin in just three days, Cook is still demanding a raise.
Although he didn’t sit out from any pre season activities, the homegrown talent has made it very clear that he expects a new contract before he takes the field in September.
If a contract isn’t signed soon, this distraction threatens not only the Bills summer preparation, but the on field production of a player who is looking to make a perfect four-for-four start on one thousand yard seasons since being drafted in 2021.
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