When was the last time the Patriots lost 7 games in a regular season?

You have to go all the way to 2002 to find the last time the Patriots lost 7 games in a regular season

3 AFC East teams finished 9-7

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Talk about parity. The New York Jets won the AFC East at 9-7. The Patriots placed second with the same record and the Dolphins fell to that mark with the loss to the Pats in overtime. The Buffalo Bills? They were a game back at 8-8. The entire division was 35-29. That season was the last time the Jets won the AFC East.