Tide in AFC East is turning
The one massive key takeaway for us following the first half of the season has to be in the division, though. The Bills are leading the AFC East at 6-2 overall. It’s been a long, long time since the Bills were leading the division at the middle point of any season.
A big reason for that is the Patriots. But the first half of the season has showed us that the time has come for the Pats’ reign to end.
For the past 11 seasons and 15 of the last 16, the Patriots have taken the AFC East crown. Last week in a 24-21 win over New England, Buffalo all but put the final blow in the Pats’ divisional title hopes for 2020. But as we know, there’s no more Tom Brady steering the ship in for the Patriots. That one season in the last 16 that Brady wasn’t around… well, he still was around, just injured. Now he’s gone and he ain’t coming back. COVID-19 opt outs certainly have harmed the Patriots’ successes this season, but they’re in need of a couple of changes on offense. QB Cam Newton appears beat up under center and he has no one to throw to… No Brady, but no Rob Gronkowski either for Bill Belichick & Co.
Essentially we’re saying their time has come to an end, and now the Bills are taking their attention to South Beach.
Heading into the second half of the year, the Dolphins are the surprise second-place team. At 4-3 overall, they sit on the Bills’ heels. While Buffalo doesn’t play them for the next seven weeks, they do have to keep an eye on the Dolphins. Losses en route to Week 17 will help the Dolphins’ chances at passing the Bills in the divisional standings.
It could certainly happen, but regardless, there’s a big chance that we’ll have an old-school AFC East battle in the season finale which should now be circled by everyone.
Sunday, Jan. 3. It’s Dolphins at Bills.
Could it be for all the marbles? What final game of the year that would be…
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