The Bills will have something to say about this as they have another head-to-head game against the Patriots, but New England currently has control of the division. With the Dolphins (1-6) and Jets (0-7) starting to think about 2026, let’s take a look at where things stand in the AFC East after seven weeks in the Week 8 Divisional Power Rankings.
#1 New England Patriots (5-2)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye looks to throw against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium
Drake Maye threw for three touchdowns in his starting debut | Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
The Patriots have now won four straight after beating the Titans 31-13. While the Patriots defense still has some things to fix, the Patriots offense is firing on all cylinders. Drake Maye has officially taken the second-year leap and is playing like a top-5 quarterback right now. We’ll see how long it lasts, as the schedule hasn’t been all that difficult, but the Patriots look legit through seven weeks.
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#2 Buffalo Bills (4-2)
Sep 18, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs against the Miami Dolphins in the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
The Bills lost two straight going into their bye week and will now head to Carolina to take on the Panthers. They have a Week 9 showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs looming, so Buffalo will need to focus on what could be a trap game. Especially with Andy Dalton looking like the likely injury fill-in starter.
#3 Miami Dolphins (1-6)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) walks by the bench area against the Los Angeles Chargers during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Dolphins have had two really bad losses this season, and Week 7’s 31-6 loss to the Browns was one of them. Tua Tagovailoa threw three interceptions for the second game in a row, while the Dolphins season is officially in dire straits. Head coach Mike McDaniel’s job might be in jeopardy, too.
#4 New York Jets (0-7)
Oct 19, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields (7) reacts in the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
The Jets again looked hapless on offense in their 13-6 Week 7 loss to the Panthers, and replaced Justin Fields with Tyrod Taylor midway through the game. Taylor then threw two interceptions, so the Jets’ decision at quarterback isn’t exactly a desirable one right now.
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What’s Next?
The Patriots will host the Browns as they look to win their fifth straight, while the Bills will head to Carolina to take on the Panthers. The Dolphins will face the Falcons in Atlanta, while the Jets will visit Cincinnati to take on the Bengals. With the Patriots and Bills starting to pull away, this could quickly turn into a two-team division (if it’s not already).
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