The race for the AFC East

[PatsFanNH]

On 10/11/2025 at 8:26 AM, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

Excluding some kind of miracle, it’s obvious who the front runners are of this division. The Patriots showed that they are not the same team as the past few seasons. Maye was impressive and Vrabel’s defense showed that it can slow Josh Allen down. I am still leaning heavily towards Buffalo to win it. I think the next 3 games will be very telling for each of these teams.

 

The first 3 for the Patriots should be EASY wins for a contender. If they win those 3, they will show me that can beat the teams they are supposed to beat. That is the first step of becoming an elite team. Once you can defeat the “tomato cans” with regularity, you have to start beating elite teams. The Bills win was a fluke until I see them do it again. Unfortunately, their remaining schedule is probably the easiest in the NFL.

 

The Bills next 3 games scares me a little more. The Falcons are the type of team the Bills typically fail against. The run-heavy, physical kind. Still their QB doesn’t scare me. For the Panthers, Bryce Young has flashes of brilliance once in a blue moon. Facing off against the Chiefs used to be a good gauge on how good your team is. Although, still a major accomplishment if the Bills win. 
 

I posted both remaining schedules. What do you think? 

Patriots

@ Saints

@ Browns

Titans

Falcons

@ Bucs

Jets 

@ Bengals 

Giants

BYE

Bills

@ Ravens

@ Jets

Dolphins

 

Bills

@ Falcons

BYE 

@ Panthers 

Chiefs

@ Dolphins

Bucs

@ Texans 

@ Steelers 

Bengals

@ Patriots

@ Browns

Eagles

Jets 

 

 

 

 

It’s the Bills Division unless they lose games they should win.  Their toughest games are Bucs, Steelers, and Eagles and I’ll throw in the Chiefs even if they just don’t look good when you watch them.. I see at worse they go 2-2 so 14-3. The Pats have 4 tough games too Bucs, Ravens,Bengals, and Bills.. I had those as losses to begin the season.. I see only the bengals as a W now so that is 3 more losses so they would be 12-5.. so ya the Bills division.

 

 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

1 hour ago, PatsFanNH said:

It’s the Bills Division unless they lose games they should win.  Their toughest games are Bucs, Steelers, and Eagles and I’ll throw in the Chiefs even if they just don’t look good when you watch them.. I see at worse they go 2-2 so 14-3. The Pats have 4 tough games too Bucs, Ravens,Bengals, and Bills.. I had those as losses to begin the season.. I see only the bengals as a W now so that is 3 more losses so they would be 12-5.. so ya the Bills division.

 

 

The Panthers game is looking a lot tougher than it did in the beginning of the year. Bryce Young looks legit 

[PauleeeWalnuts]

33 minutes ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

The Panthers game is looking a lot tougher than it did in the beginning of the year. Bryce Young looks legit 

So does Rico Dowdel 

[NoSaint]

1 hour ago, PauleeeWalnuts said:

So does Rico Dowdel 

yea Bryce and Rico are intimidating…. 
 

dear lord…

[PauleeeWalnuts]

1 hour ago, NoSaint said:

yea Bryce and Rico are intimidating…. 
 

dear lord…

“Dear Lord” all you want sunshine, he’s over 200 yards from scrimmage two weeks in a row and we can’t stop the run.  You act like this team can’t lose to Carolina 🙄 

[NoSaint]

8 hours ago, PauleeeWalnuts said:

“Dear Lord” all you want sunshine, he’s over 200 yards from scrimmage two weeks in a row and we can’t stop the run.  You act like this team can’t lose to Carolina 🙄 

we can lose to all 31 out there. 
 

We should still win that game like 85% of the time if not more.

 

 

[SoTier]

11 hours ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

The Panthers game is looking a lot tougher than it did in the beginning of the year. Bryce Young looks legit 

 

The Panthers are significantly better than they've been, but they were playing the Cowboys, the team gave up 30+ points in 4 of their 6 games, including 37 to the Russell Wilson-led Giants and 40 to Green Bay.  

[Gregg]

 

[PatsFanNH]

4 minutes ago, Gregg said:

 

Why wouldn’t they celebrate a win on the road in what many considered a trap game? (We all know Vrabel wants beat the pants off TN next week!)

[Southern McButterpants]

On 10/11/2025 at 8:42 AM, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

I am worried because Vrabel completely shut down James Cook and slowed Allen down considerably. 20 points is a joke for this offense. Buffalo should be putting up 30+ every game. 
 

McDermott was severely out coached. He gets way too conservative. I would’ve felt better running a 2 minute offense the entire game than hoping for the Bills to force a miracle turnover in a one possession game. On an even playing field, coaching wins you the game. Drop balls, missed blocks ARE his fault because McD is responsible who sees the field and instilling fundamentals. A fundamentally sound player doesn’t drop balls and miss tackles. 

 

The biggest concern though is the defense who let Maye effortlessly drive into FG range. This was exactly what happened last season except the Bills won by 3 that time. Would’ve been easier to stomach if it was a chaotic road game, but that’s what Maye was dealing with so gotta give him props. 

Was he? Defensive game plan was sound. My concern is the offense. There was no adjustment to what the Pat*s were giving us. There have been numerous breakdowns of this, but it all boils down to, "we want to do this" instead of, "oh, you're giving me that? Ok, I'll take that."  It's maddening at times. It's the same stupid, pig-headed attitude that we use on D in the playoffs.

[PatsFanNH]

7 minutes ago, Southern McButterpants said:

Was he? Defensive game plan was sound. My concern is the offense. There was no adjustment to what the Pat*s were giving us. There have been numerous breakdowns of this, but it all boils down to, "we want to do this" instead of, "oh, you're giving me that? Ok, I'll take that."  It's maddening at times. It's the same stupid, pig-headed attitude that we use on D in the playoffs.

I have to admit I expected the Bills to attack the Pats LB in coverage. They are slow and you have at least 1 Elite TE and RB.. 

[dollars 2 donuts]

14 hours ago, PatsFanNH said:

It’s the Bills Division unless they lose games they should win.  Their toughest games are Bucs, Steelers, and Eagles and I’ll throw in the Chiefs even if they just don’t look good when you watch them.. I see at worse they go 2-2 so 14-3. The Pats have 4 tough games too Bucs, Ravens,Bengals, and Bills.. I had those as losses to begin the season.. I see only the bengals as a W now so that is 3 more losses so they would be 12-5.. so ya the Bills division.

 

 

 

Weirdly, PF, I actually think it is the Pats’ Division unless they lose games they should win.

 

New England has the Bills and Bucs left on their schedule.  That’s it.  They also get the Bills at home.

 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by dollars 2 donuts

[bills6969]

They game in December at Pats will determine who wins the division. 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

11 minutes ago, bills6969 said:

They game in December at Pats will determine who wins the division. 

This is why Buffalo should’ve took care of business at home. Protected the ball and got out of there by a slim margin. Instead they might be faced with this scenario. Still it’s hard to be too upset at 4-1

[The Jokeman]

36 minutes ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

 

Weirdly, PF, I actually think it is the Pats’ Division unless they lose games they should win.

 

New England has the Bills and Bucs left on their schedule.  That’s it.  They also get the Bills at home.

 

 

and they have a losing record at home. I get they beat us but it was a close game because of bad play by us, was it all because of the Patriots? I think not as a result think the division is ours until proven otherwise. 

[dollars 2 donuts]

10 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

and they have a losing record at home. I get they beat us but it was a close game because of bad play by us, was it all because of the Patriots? I think not as a result think the division is ours until proven otherwise. 

jokeman, i hear ya, but I just think they are looking pretty good in many facets of the game. 
 

btw, 10-9

 

that is our road record, including post season I believe, since 2023 and we have 7 roadies left. 
 

Edit: including a not great but improving Panthers team who is 3-1 in their last four and likely 4-1 (Jets) when we play them.

 

their only loss in that stretch?

 

Pats, 42-10. 

Edited 2 hours ago by dollars 2 donuts

[Gregg]

1 minute ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

jokeman, i hear ya, but I just think they are looking pretty good in many facets of the game. 
 

btw, 10-9

 

that is our road record, including post season I believe, since 2023 and we have 7 roadies left. 

 

The road schedule isn't all that tough at least on paper. We will see what happens on the field which is all that matters. But if the Bills are as good as we think they are then they should handle business at Atlanta and Carolina. 

[dollars 2 donuts]

9 minutes ago, Gregg said:

 

The road schedule isn't all that tough at least on paper. We will see what happens on the field which is all that matters. But if the Bills are as good as we think they are then they should handle business at Atlanta and Carolina. 

I hate Atlanta’s weapons, Gregg. I think they can give us some problems. 
 

I’m not worried about their D at all, just our decisions to take advantage of them. 
 

Regardless of the “end up at or get to 30” of the last couple of years I wish this O would stop thinking it is some sort of crime to bash a snakes head in while you’re stepping on its neck… early and often. 
 

Go Bills!

 

Edited 2 hours ago by dollars 2 donuts

[Gregg]

1 minute ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

I hate Atlanta’s weapons, Gregg. I think they can give us some problems. 
 

I’m not worried about their D at all, just our decisions to take advantage of them. 
 

Regardless of the “end up at or get to 30” of the last couple of years I wish this O would stop thinking it is some sort of crime to bash a snakes head in while you’re stepping on its neck… early and often. 
 

Go Bills!

 

 

The Falcons offense will present problems for the Bills defense, but I still think the Bills win a close one. Something like 27-24. 

[PatsFanNH]

1 hour ago, dollars 2 donuts said:

 

Weirdly, PF, I actually think it is the Pats’ Division unless they lose games they should win.

 

New England has the Bills and Bucs left on their schedule.  That’s it.  They also get the Bills at home.

 

 

Pats have Bucs, Bills, Ravens, and the Giants won’t be an easy W either.. also the Falcons will be a hard game as well.. as I said a young team and our run game has been bad.. I mean when your happy as a fan with the run game just because they didn’t fumble the ball for once an that’s a prbl 😂