Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel clinch Patriots' first AFC East title since Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era

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Just like that, the New England Patriots are back atop the AFC East.

On the strength of their 42-10 win Sunday against the New York Jets coupled with the Buffalo Bills’ 13-12 loss Sunday afternoon against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Patriots clinched their first division title since 2019, which was the last in a string of 11 consecutive crowns.

While New England is back on top of the division, the Bills’ run of five straight AFC East titles has been snapped.

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In his first year as the Patriots’ head coach, Mike Vrabel has taken New England from worst to first. The Pats, now 13-3, had back-to-back last-place 4-13 finishes in 2023-24 under Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo, respectively.

The splendid play of second-year quarterback Drake Maye and Vrabel’s guidance have swung the trajectory of the franchise. Tom Brady was at QB and Belichick at head coach back in 2019 when the team last won a division title — and likewise saw arguably the NFL’s greatest dynasty meet its conclusion.

In Brady’s second season (first as a starter), he also helped the Patriots to a division title before winning Super Bowl XXXVI, whereas Belichick finished 5-11 in 2000, his first year at the Patriots’ helm.

For Vrabel, it’s not all that new, as he won six division titles with the Patriots during his playing days from 2001-08. He also won two AFC South titles with the Tennessee Titans as their head coach in 2020 and 2021.

Along with reclaiming the AFC East, the Patriots have designs on securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed. New England hasn’t been a top seed since 2017, when it advanced to and lost Super Bowl LII.

The Patriots wrap up the 2025 regular season at home against the Miami Dolphins (7-9).

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