FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — In the not-too-distant past, the New England Patriots won the AFC East title and made the playoffs every year.
But after winning 11 straight division titles from 2009 to 2019, the Patriots (11-2) have gone five seasons without winning a division title and three without making the playoffs.
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They can end both droughts with a victory over the Buffalo Bills (9-4) on Sunday.
“This is a great stage that we put ourselves on,” coach Mike Vrabel said.
New England last won a division title in 2019, Tom Brady’s final season with the Patriots before joining Tampa Bay.
Since then, Buffalo has won the division title in each of the past five seasons and reached the AFC Championship Game twice. During this time, the Patriots made their only playoff appearance in 2021, losing to the Vrabel-coached Tennessee Titans in the wild card.
If that wasn’t enough for the Patriots, who have already won 10 straight games this season, including a win over Buffalo, the Patriots added momentum this week after losing by one point to the visiting Bills.
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“It’s good,” receiver Stefon Diggs said. “This team is full of cast-off (players) and guys who were cut, or guys who didn’t necessarily get the opportunities they wanted. No matter how you slice it, I feel like it’s a good thing for us as underdogs. Guys like us have been underdogs our entire lives. We have something to prove.”
Quarterback Derek Meyer felt the same way.
“Anytime you’re at home, if you’re at a disadvantage, it gives you some opportunities to make plays,” he said. “No matter who the underdog is, no matter what their bottom line is, no matter what, it’s us versus them.”
As for Buffalo, they have won three of four games and quarterback Josh Allen said there is no reason to over-hype this game.
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“We think, as a team, we understand what’s at stake. But I don’t think it’s going to affect anything,” Allen said. “At the end of the day, our main goal is to make the playoffs. We have an opportunity to put ourselves in a better position in a very hostile environment against a very good team that’s playing very well right now.”
Give up comparison
Vrabel understands why comparisons will be made between Maye and Allen when Maye is drafted in 2024. Maye is 6-foot-4; Maye is 6-foot-4; Allen is 6-5. Both have strong arms and can kick the ball with their feet.
But Vrabel thinks there’s a lot to appreciate about both men as individuals. He recognized that Allen had always approached the position with the skill and acumen that Meyer aspired to.
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“I think they’re all very good at what they do,” Vrabel said. “Josh is probably a few pounds heavier and he probably has a little more shoulder than I would have liked for Drake. But I think they’re both great competitors.”
beat the elite
Allen insists he prepares the same for every game no matter who the opposing quarterback is. However, some of his best performances this season have come against the NFL’s elite teams.
Allen totaled nine passing touchdowns and eight rushing touchdowns in wins over Kansas City (Patrick Mahomes), Baltimore (Lamar Jackson), Tampa Bay (Baker Mayfield) and Cincinnati (Joe Burrow).
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“I think it’s an honor to be able to play against these guys in the NFL and even just play in this league,” Allen said.
benford’s leap
Bills head coach Sean McDermott was pleased with the attitude of cornerback Christian Benford, who admitted he took the wrong approach and intercepted Burrow’s attempt to tip the ball over his head with his foot. After Benford returned an interception 63 yards for a touchdown, it was the result that mattered, not the technique.
“When you make a game like this, yeah, he’s going to get passes,” McDermott said with a laugh. “We told him, ‘Hey, listen, if you’re doing this, you’d better make a good play.’ And he actually succeeded.”
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The fourth-year player is the first Buffalo player to score in consecutive games. Benford returned the ball 17 yards to help the team beat Pittsburgh 26-7.
become healthier
The Patriots were without left tackle Will Campbell (reserve, injured knee) and left guard Jared Wilson (ankle) in their Week 13 win over the Giants. Campbell remains on “IR” this week, but Wilson is expected to return.
That could be a big deal for an offensive line that’s looking to keep Meyer a little clean after allowing four sacks in the Patriots’ Week 5 win over Buffalo.
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