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In 2024, the Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC East on the wintry night of Dec. 1 at Highmark Stadium with a 35-10 blowout of the San Francisco 49ers, and in doing so they set a franchise record with their fifth consecutive division title.
They became just the fourth team since division realignment in 2002 to win a division with five or more games remaining, and when they went on to finish five games ahead of the runner-up Miami Dolphins, that matched the Bills’ largest division-winning margin which was originally set in 1965 and then tied in 1991.
When the 2025 season gets underway four months from now, the Bills will be favored to win their sixth straight division crown, but given what has happened in recent months, their rivals look to have all improved and it seems unlikely that Buffalo will be able to cruise the way it did in 2024.
So much talk regarding the Bills and their playoff failures center on the Kansas City Chiefs, and rightly so, since that’s the team that has ended Buffalo’s Super Bowl dream four times in the current run of AFC East domination. General manager Brandon Beane hears all the time how he must construct his team to beat the Chiefs, but as Beane always says, first things first, and that means winning the division.
“It always starts in your division because that’s your ticket to the postseason,” he said. “And if you don’t take care of business in your division, then you don’t get the opportunity, maybe, to play the Chiefs. So we’ll always pay attention to the Jets, the Patriots, and the Dolphins. How do we match up? Where are we stronger than them? Where are they stronger than us? How will we have to win those games? It starts there.”
Here’s a look at how the division rivals are shaping up now that the bulk of free agency and the draft are complete:
∎ 2024 record: Second place, 8-9.
∎ Key player losses: RB Raheem Mostert, TE Durham Smythe, S Jevon Holland, DE Calais Campbell, G Robert Jones, WR Braxton Berrios.
∎ Key free agent signings: G James Daniels, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, T Larry Brown, S Ashtyn Davis, TE Pharoah Brown.
∎ Key 2025 draft picks:DT Kenneth Grant (1st), G Jonah Savaiinaea (2nd), DT Jordan Phillips (5th).
∎ Outlook: This is a strange team to figure out because there is obvious talent on offense with the wide receiver duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, plus RB Devon Achane, but it seems like every year, the fortunes rise and fall on whether Tua Tagovailoa can stay healthy. He missed six games last season and Miami’s offense sank from No. 2 in points in 2023 to No. 22 in 2024.
This has often been a soft, finesse-type team, and LB Jordyn Brooks even said last year following a loss at Green Bay. So there was a clear plan to get tougher in the trenches which is why they may have over-drafted Grant at No. 13, a player that felt like a Bills pick, then took Savaiinaea to toughen up the offensive line. “A tonality of violence and aggression,” is what Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said the team was looking for.
Miami’s 2024 defense was its best in years as it ranked No. 4 in yards allowed, lowest since 2004. We’ll have to see what happens with CB Jalen Ramsey who could be traded and if that happens, at least on paper, this does not look like a very good pass defense.
∎ 2024 record: Third place, 5-12.
∎ Key player losses: QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Davante Adams, CB DJ Reed, DT Javon Kinlaw, LB Haason Reddick, OT Morgan Moses, TE Tyler Conklin, DT Leki Fotu.
∎ Key free agent signings: QB Justin Fields, CB Brandon Stephens, FS Andre Cisco, WR Josh Reynolds, C Josh Myers, CB Kris Boyd, DT Derek Nnadi.
∎ Key 2025 draft picks: OT Armand Membou (1st), TE Mason Taylor (2nd), CB Azarey’h Thomas (3rd), QR Arian Smith (4th), S Malachi Moore (4th).
∎ Outlook: The Jets have a new head coach in Aaron Glenn, a new GM in Darren Mougey, and with that comes transition. The new hierarchy has to change so much, and it seems unlikely that in year one they will be able to end the Jets’ playoff drought which dates back to 2011 and is the longest in the NFL.
Sounding very similar to McDaniel, Glenn said he wants the Jets to be, “Tough, physical, violent, aggressive, resilient. If we continue to get guys like that, you’ll start to see the brand show up on the grass.”
They got off to a good start with a strong draft class as Membou, Taylor, Thomas and Moore are probably Week 1 starters, but like with most teams, quarterback play is going to be the most important thing and in Fields, no one really knows what he is. He had three middling years in Chicago and after starting early for Pittsburgh in 2024, he was replaced by Russell Wilson. Fields has promise, but going into his fifth season, he is a largely unproven player.
The good news for Fields is he has talented players in WRs Garrett Wilson and Josh Reynolds, a diverse RB in Breece Hall, and a developing offensive line in front of him, plus a defense that is pretty good, and might be even better with Glenn leading it.
∎ 2024 record: Fourth place, 4-13.
∎ Key player losses: QB Joe Milton III, CB Jonathan Jones, DE Deatrich Wise, DT Davon Godchaux, LB Ja’Whaun Bentley.
∎ Key free agent signings: DT Milton Williams, WR Stefon Diggs, CB Carlton Davis, LB Harold Landry, LB Robert Spillane, OT Morgan Moses, C Garrett Bradbury, WR Mack Hollins, LB K’Lavon Chaisson, S Marcus Epps.
∎ Key 2025 draft picks: OT Will Campbell (1st), RB TreVeyon Henderson (2nd), WR Kyle Williams (3rd), C Jared Wilson (3rd), S Craig Woodson (4th), DT Joshua Farmer (4th), DE Bradyn Swinson (5th).
∎ Outlook: After back-to-back 4-13 seasons, a nice mouthful of humble pie for a supremely spoiled fan base in New England, the Patriots will be much improved in 2025 under new coach Mike Vrabel. He takes over for the clearly overmatched Jerod Mayo and immediately brings experience and a new culture to Patriot Place, and he and GM Eliot Wolf have also done a sizable remake of the roster. The Patriots may have had the best offseason of any team in the league.
It was absurd how little talent New England had on both sides of the ball, but especially on offense. And still, 2024 rookie QB Drake Maye performed well given the circumstances, and now he has some help. Two ex-Bills, Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, plus the rookie Kyle Williams joining slot WR Demario Douglas completely changes the passing game dynamic. Henderson should be a multiple threat as a runner and receiver, and the additions of Campbell and Wilson represent improvements up front.
On defense, the free agent additions led by Milton Williams, Landry and Davis are top notch as they join holdover studs in CB Christian Gonzalez, SS Kyle Dugger, FS Jabrill Peppers, and DT Christian Barmore.
Of the three teams the Bills need to be most concerned with, it very well could be the Patriots because of the combination of coach/QB/defense.
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, he has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at [email protected], and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social. Sign up for his Bills Blast newsletter here: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: AFC East post-draft outlook: Can any team dethrone Buffalo Bills
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They became just the fourth team since division realignment in 2002 to win a division with five or more games remaining, and when they went on to finish five games ahead of the runner-up Miami Dolphins, that matched the Bills’ largest division-winning margin which was originally set in 1965 and then tied in 1991.
When the 2025 season gets underway four months from now, the Bills will be favored to win their sixth straight division crown, but given what has happened in recent months, their rivals look to have all improved and it seems unlikely that Buffalo will be able to cruise the way it did in 2024.
So much talk regarding the Bills and their playoff failures center on the Kansas City Chiefs, and rightly so, since that’s the team that has ended Buffalo’s Super Bowl dream four times in the current run of AFC East domination. General manager Brandon Beane hears all the time how he must construct his team to beat the Chiefs, but as Beane always says, first things first, and that means winning the division.
“It always starts in your division because that’s your ticket to the postseason,” he said. “And if you don’t take care of business in your division, then you don’t get the opportunity, maybe, to play the Chiefs. So we’ll always pay attention to the Jets, the Patriots, and the Dolphins. How do we match up? Where are we stronger than them? Where are they stronger than us? How will we have to win those games? It starts there.”
Here’s a look at how the division rivals are shaping up now that the bulk of free agency and the draft are complete:
Miami Dolphins
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∎ 2024 record: Second place, 8-9.
∎ Key player losses: RB Raheem Mostert, TE Durham Smythe, S Jevon Holland, DE Calais Campbell, G Robert Jones, WR Braxton Berrios.
∎ Key free agent signings: G James Daniels, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, CB Ifeatu Melifonwu, T Larry Brown, S Ashtyn Davis, TE Pharoah Brown.
∎ Key 2025 draft picks:DT Kenneth Grant (1st), G Jonah Savaiinaea (2nd), DT Jordan Phillips (5th).
∎ Outlook: This is a strange team to figure out because there is obvious talent on offense with the wide receiver duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, plus RB Devon Achane, but it seems like every year, the fortunes rise and fall on whether Tua Tagovailoa can stay healthy. He missed six games last season and Miami’s offense sank from No. 2 in points in 2023 to No. 22 in 2024.
This has often been a soft, finesse-type team, and LB Jordyn Brooks even said last year following a loss at Green Bay. So there was a clear plan to get tougher in the trenches which is why they may have over-drafted Grant at No. 13, a player that felt like a Bills pick, then took Savaiinaea to toughen up the offensive line. “A tonality of violence and aggression,” is what Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said the team was looking for.
Miami’s 2024 defense was its best in years as it ranked No. 4 in yards allowed, lowest since 2004. We’ll have to see what happens with CB Jalen Ramsey who could be traded and if that happens, at least on paper, this does not look like a very good pass defense.
New York Jets
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∎ 2024 record: Third place, 5-12.
∎ Key player losses: QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Davante Adams, CB DJ Reed, DT Javon Kinlaw, LB Haason Reddick, OT Morgan Moses, TE Tyler Conklin, DT Leki Fotu.
∎ Key free agent signings: QB Justin Fields, CB Brandon Stephens, FS Andre Cisco, WR Josh Reynolds, C Josh Myers, CB Kris Boyd, DT Derek Nnadi.
∎ Key 2025 draft picks: OT Armand Membou (1st), TE Mason Taylor (2nd), CB Azarey’h Thomas (3rd), QR Arian Smith (4th), S Malachi Moore (4th).
∎ Outlook: The Jets have a new head coach in Aaron Glenn, a new GM in Darren Mougey, and with that comes transition. The new hierarchy has to change so much, and it seems unlikely that in year one they will be able to end the Jets’ playoff drought which dates back to 2011 and is the longest in the NFL.
Sounding very similar to McDaniel, Glenn said he wants the Jets to be, “Tough, physical, violent, aggressive, resilient. If we continue to get guys like that, you’ll start to see the brand show up on the grass.”
They got off to a good start with a strong draft class as Membou, Taylor, Thomas and Moore are probably Week 1 starters, but like with most teams, quarterback play is going to be the most important thing and in Fields, no one really knows what he is. He had three middling years in Chicago and after starting early for Pittsburgh in 2024, he was replaced by Russell Wilson. Fields has promise, but going into his fifth season, he is a largely unproven player.
The good news for Fields is he has talented players in WRs Garrett Wilson and Josh Reynolds, a diverse RB in Breece Hall, and a developing offensive line in front of him, plus a defense that is pretty good, and might be even better with Glenn leading it.
New England Patriots
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∎ 2024 record: Fourth place, 4-13.
∎ Key player losses: QB Joe Milton III, CB Jonathan Jones, DE Deatrich Wise, DT Davon Godchaux, LB Ja’Whaun Bentley.
∎ Key free agent signings: DT Milton Williams, WR Stefon Diggs, CB Carlton Davis, LB Harold Landry, LB Robert Spillane, OT Morgan Moses, C Garrett Bradbury, WR Mack Hollins, LB K’Lavon Chaisson, S Marcus Epps.
∎ Key 2025 draft picks: OT Will Campbell (1st), RB TreVeyon Henderson (2nd), WR Kyle Williams (3rd), C Jared Wilson (3rd), S Craig Woodson (4th), DT Joshua Farmer (4th), DE Bradyn Swinson (5th).
∎ Outlook: After back-to-back 4-13 seasons, a nice mouthful of humble pie for a supremely spoiled fan base in New England, the Patriots will be much improved in 2025 under new coach Mike Vrabel. He takes over for the clearly overmatched Jerod Mayo and immediately brings experience and a new culture to Patriot Place, and he and GM Eliot Wolf have also done a sizable remake of the roster. The Patriots may have had the best offseason of any team in the league.
It was absurd how little talent New England had on both sides of the ball, but especially on offense. And still, 2024 rookie QB Drake Maye performed well given the circumstances, and now he has some help. Two ex-Bills, Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, plus the rookie Kyle Williams joining slot WR Demario Douglas completely changes the passing game dynamic. Henderson should be a multiple threat as a runner and receiver, and the additions of Campbell and Wilson represent improvements up front.
On defense, the free agent additions led by Milton Williams, Landry and Davis are top notch as they join holdover studs in CB Christian Gonzalez, SS Kyle Dugger, FS Jabrill Peppers, and DT Christian Barmore.
Of the three teams the Bills need to be most concerned with, it very well could be the Patriots because of the combination of coach/QB/defense.
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, he has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at [email protected], and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social. Sign up for his Bills Blast newsletter here: https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: AFC East post-draft outlook: Can any team dethrone Buffalo Bills
Continue reading...
