The New England Patriots can win their first AFC East title this decade by defeating the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The Patriots will be looking for their 11th straight victory, a stretch that includes a 23-20 triumph over the host Bills on October 5.
Buffalo (9-4) has won the last five AFC East crowns, but the Patriots (11-2) improved in coach Mike Vrabel’s first season and quarterback Drake Maye’s second with the club.
NFL MVP candidate Maye is ready to facilitate a changing of the guard.
“They won the division for five years,” Maye said Wednesday. “We have something we have to take and we know it’s going to be difficult to do.”
New England went just 4-13 in Maye’s rookie season, but has been a surprise all season this year.
The Patriots lost two of their first three games before starting their impressive winning streak. They are now one of the hottest teams in the NFL as they look ahead to their first season against the Bills since 2019, when Tom Brady was the team’s quarterback.
Buffalo has won five of its last seven games, but a loss to the Patriots will keep them from winning the division.
“They’re one of the best teams, if not the best team in the AFC right now,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said of New England. “We’ll have our work cut out for us. If you don’t take care of the ball against a team in the league, it’s going to be difficult to win against such a strong team.”
Maye’s flourishing was a major ingredient in New England’s success.
The 23-year-old has completed a league-record 71.5 percent of his passes and is on pace to break Brady’s franchise record of 68.9 percent set in 2007. Maye has totaled 3,412 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions.
For comparison, reigning MVP Josh Allen of the Bills passed for 3,083 yards and 22 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, while completing 70.1 percent of his throws.
“Obviously, Drake is playing at an extremely high level right now,” Allen said Wednesday. “He’s extremely fun to watch and he puts his team in a really good position.”
Maye passed for 273 yards in October’s road win over the Bills. Allen threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns and was intercepted once.
Maye’s improved play has led to comparisons to Allen and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel understands why there is so much chatter.
“I think they’re both very good at what they do,” Vrabel said. “Josh probably has a few pounds on him and can kind of put his shoulder in there probably a little more than I would like Drake to, but I think they’re both great competitors. (I have) a lot of respect for Josh and just his ability to make something out of nothing.
“I’ve enjoyed watching Drake’s growth here, but I’m not going to say one is a certain way and one is the other. It’s just a huge challenge to go against a quarterback who is under control, he has command and just doesn’t look panicked or shaken when you rush him. Just a great quarterback, obviously, MVP.”
The Bills held a walkthrough Wednesday and tight end Dawson Knox (personnel) was the only player to miss it. Star linebacker Terrel Bernard (elbow), defensive end Joey Bosa (hamstring/wrist), receiver Joshua Palmer (ankle) and offensive lineman Spencer Brown (shoulder) were limited participants.
New England running back Terrell Jennings (concussion) was unable to practice Wednesday. Linebacker Harold Landry (knee), defensive tackle Christian Barmore (not injury related) and offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (abdomen) were limited.
–Field level media
