A great deal has changed in the AFC East since this time last year. Last season featured a team from this division going to the Super Bowl and having an MVP finalist at quarterback, but it was not the team who would have had those things predicted for them prior to the season. There are two new head coaches in the division, both occupying such a job for the first time at the pro level. A major scandal has come and hopefully gone. And an old friend has returned to his original almost a decade after leaving them.
This is the first of my division preview series, which will follow the same general set of superlatives for each division. We will go in alphabetical order of cardinal direction, with the AFC followed by the NFC for each one. Let’s get started!
More Likely: Worst to First or First to Worst?
While neither exactly offers a strong chance here, I would have to go first to worst. It’s possible to justify the idea that the Patriots will suffer a Super Bowl hangover that, coupled with a much harder schedule, leads to a very rough season. Barring injuries to both Drake Maye and Josh Allen, it’s incredibly difficult to envision the Jets leapfrogging both Buffalo and New England.
Hottest Seat?
Aaron Glenn. Last year was not an inspiring start to his tenure, and next year’s draft is fraught with talented quarterback prospects who ownership will likely want to pair with the newest hotshot young offensive coach. In order to keep his job, I think he needs to at least double last year’s win total of three. Even if last year had gone slightly better, the other head coaches in the division are two rookie head coaches and a head coach who just took his team to the Super Bowl.
Likeliest MVP Candidate?
While Maye was the runner-up by only a hair last year, Allen is actually poised better to take home the award (for the second time) in 2026. For voting purposes, Maye is saddled with a superior defense, a top-10 wide receiver in AJ Brown, and a proven head coach. If the Bills win 12+ games and have a top-5 offense, Allen will be a finalist at the very least.
Fantasy League Winner?
AJ Brown. With a more pass-happy offense and quarterback, and as the clear #1 option, Brown should get back into the top tier of fantasy receivers, well above where he’s being drafted currently. Barring any unexpected chemistry issues, his first year in New England could be at least as good as his first year in Philadelphia, when he put up 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns.
What To Watch:
- Prior to last season, eight second-year quarterbacks had led their teams to the Super Bowl: Roger Staubach, Dan Marino, Kurt Warner, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, and Joe Burrow. Drake Maye has big shoes to fill, and this year is the start of seeing how well he fills them.
- After last season, head coach Sean McDermott was the scapegoat when the Bills fell short again. If it happens this year, is GM Brandon Beane safe? He’s built a years-long contender, but one that still hasn’t reached the Super Bowl.
- Malik Willis has still only made six career starts over four seasons in the league. The #1 question that needs to be answered in what’s otherwise a pure rebuilding year is whether or not he’s a long-term starting quarterback at the pro level.
- Will the Jets record an interception, and if so, when? I don’t ask this to mock, but it’s a well-publicized stat of which the broadcast will make note once they get their first pick of the year. It looks even worse when coached by a man who had 41 interceptions as a player. They start the season against second-year quarterback Cam Ward and the Titans, who might give them a chance or two as he plays his first real game in a new offense.
All-Division Team:
QB – Josh Allen
RB – James Cook
RB – De’Von Achane
WR – AJ Brown
WR – DJ Moore
WR – Garrett Wilson
TE – Hunter Henry
TE – Dalton Kincaid
LT – Dion Dawkins
LG – Alijah Vera-Tucker
C – Aaron Brewer
RG – Mike Onwenu
RT – Morgan Moses
DL – Milton Williams
DL – Ed Oliver
DL – Christian Barmore
ED – Greg Rousseau
ED – Bradley Chubb
LB – Jordyn Brooks
LB – Robert Spillane
LB – Demario Davis
CB – Christian Gonzalez
CB – Carlton Davis III
FS – Kevin Byard
SS – Cole Bishop
NB – Marcus Jones
K -Riley Patterson
P – Austin McNamara
RS – Marcus Jones
