The New England Patriots ended Buffalo’s five-year run atop the AFC East last season and finished as Super Bowl runners-up, claiming their first division crown since 2019. The Bills will open a new stadium in 2026, while New England made a headline move by acquiring receiver A.J. Brown. Both teams enter the season with MVP-caliber quarterbacks, setting up an intriguing divisional race.
According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Bills are the odds-on favorites at -125, with the Patriots at +120. The New York Jets are listed at 19-1 and the Miami Dolphins at 40-1, reflecting a wide range of expectations across the division.
Bills reporter Alaina Getzenberg notes Buffalo’s offseason focused on creating more weapons for Josh Allen, including the trade for receiver DJ Moore and the selection of Skyler Bell in the fourth round. The team also secured continuity up front by agreeing to a four-year extension with center Connor McGovern, leaving only a change at left guard. Whether that haul was sufficient to restore Buffalo’s divisional dominance remains a question.
Patriots reporter Mike Reiss writes that New England believes it has given Drake Maye a strong supporting cast by adding A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, a pairing the team compares to its 2007 receiving tandem. New England also targeted physicality in the running game with free agent fullback Reggie Gilliam and added reinforcements on the offensive line, including free agent guard Alijah Ver, with the aim of placing Maye in the best possible position to succeed.
Jets reporter Rich Cimini reports New York added first-round receivers Kenyon Sadiq and Omar Cooper Jr. and extended running back Breece Hall, while Garrett Wilson returns from a knee injury. Still, the Jets appear poised to target a quarterback in the 2027 draft, and Geno Smith could serve as a short-term solution. Dolphins reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques details Miami’s rebuild under coach Jeff Hafley and GM Jon-Eric Sullivan around Malik Willis, noting Willis is the lone player to sign a multiyear deal this offseason amid additions at receiver and on the offensive line, including first-round pick Kadyn Proctor and an extension for center Aaron Brewer.
