The [New England Patriots](https://nesn.com/new-england-patriots) have an important opportunity Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, but the rest of the AFC East schedule also deserves attention.
New England enters the weekend 5-3 after defeating Miami 24-19 last Sunday. The win kept the Patriots competitive near the top of the division and added another encouraging result to their first half of the season.
The Patriots will face Green Bay at Gillette Stadium while their three divisional rivals prepare for games that could influence the AFC East picture.
Buffalo Has A Different Kind Of Test
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The Buffalo Bills will not play until Monday night, when they travel to face the Minnesota Vikings.
Buffalo defeated Baltimore 36-10 last Sunday, demonstrating its ability to control a game against an opponent dealing with major offensive injuries.
The Vikings present another challenge, particularly with their ability to play physical defense and create pressure.
For New England, the timing creates an interesting situation. The Patriots will complete their game Sunday before knowing Buffalo's result, meaning they must concentrate on their own opportunity rather than scoreboard watching.
A Patriots victory would place additional importance on Monday's game as the division race continues developing.
Miami And New York Need Responses
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The Dolphins return home Sunday to face the Detroit Lions after their narrow defeat against New England.
Miami's offense will need to respond against a Detroit team that has shown an ability to win difficult games. The Lions defeated Minnesota 19-15 last Sunday, while Miami will be trying to avoid another disappointing result.
The New York Jets face an even more challenging road assignment against the Kansas City Chiefs.
New York lost 38-33 to Las Vegas last weekend, allowing another opponent to produce significant offensive numbers. The Jets will need a stronger defensive performance to challenge Kansas City.
Those games could help clarify the division's competitive picture entering the second half of the season.
**MORE**: [Patriots Get New Marcus Jones Injury Concern Before Packers Game](https://nesn.com/new-england-patriots/news/patriots-get-new-marcus-jones-injury-concern-packers-game/a452532d1c2ba0afafeb3d29)
Patriots Must Control Their Own Opportunity
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New England cannot determine what Buffalo, Miami or New York accomplish this weekend. What the Patriots can control is their performance against a Green Bay team that also enters Sunday with a 5-3 record.
A win would move New England to 6-3 and give the team a fourth straight home win to open the season.
That would be a valuable result regardless of what happens elsewhere in the division. The Patriots have already defeated Miami, and Sunday's game offers another opportunity to strengthen their position before a difficult stretch of the schedule.
The rest of the AFC East will be worth monitoring, but New England's most important scoreboard remains the one at Gillette Stadium.
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