The AFC East has always been a division dominated by one specific team throughout the decades.
It was the Miami Dolphins owned the division in the 70s and 80s. It was the Buffalo Bills dominating in the 90s while the New England Patriots took over in the 2000s and 2010s.
Now, dominance in the AFC East is back with the Bills.
And there are some analysts around the league believe that the division is as weak as ever. Not because of the Bills are back in the dominant part of their rivalries, but because the other teams in their division have struggled so much.
And even if the organizations around them have improved.
SI NFL writer Gilberto Manzano ranked all of the NFL divisions after the significant waves of free agency. The AFC East ranked sixth out of eighth after what was an improved offseason for each of the teams.
"This could be one of the most improved divisions in the NFL after a busy free agency for the New England Patriots and New York Jets. The Buffalo Bills are still levels ahead of their divisional rivals, but expect at least one new playoff team to emerge from the AFC East."
Are we saying that the Jets might - gulp! - be part of a resurgent AFC East, improving to the point at which they can be mentioned in the same breath with Buffalo?
A big part for the low rankings is very clear because the Dolphins, Jets, and Patriots, each missed the playoffs last season. And if the teams can try and figure out a way to improve more, the division could be as competitive as they ever have been.
And that may be for the first time in years.
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This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 8:18 AM.