Inside: A snapshot of the AFC East, where the Patriots are again reigning champs. Do the Bills unseat them? Could the Dolphins or Jets surprise?This article is from The Athletic’s NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox. It’s free to subscribe. AFC North PreviewIt’s been 24 seasons since the NFL’s divisions were realigned to form this version of the AFC East. New England has won the division 17 times in that span. The Patriots’ 2025 title halted the Bills’ streak at five, while the Jets and Dolphins have just one division title each.This season is again a two-horse race. Both the Patriots and Bills are stronger, at least on paper, as the Dolphins and Jets rebuild with plenty of young talent but just as many questions.New England Patriots(14-3, Super Bowl loss in 2025)Headline: Adding A.J. Brown. Despite an underwhelming 2025 in Philly, Brown remains a bona fide No. 1 receiver capable of winning one-on-one matchups. The 29-year-old gives Drake Maye an elite option downfield, and OC Josh McDaniels now has a weapon to move across the line of scrimmage. Early training camp returns are positive.Subtle: Revamped edge rushers. Harold Landry III, who led the team with 8 1/2 sacks, has a concerning knee injury that’s lingering. K’Lavon Chaisson, second in sacks, is now with Washington. So offseason additions Dre’Mont Jones and Gabe Jacas, the No. 55 draft pick, are key to addressing the Patriots’ biggest concern — yet Jacas has yet to practice this summer. Not ideal.Question: Can they generate pressure? After the Patriots ended the regular season with the sixth-fewest pressures, New England DC Zak Kuhr blitzed on a staggering 48 percent of dropbacks in the postseason. It worked wonders for the Patriots defense. Can that sustain over an entire season?Projection: 10-7. Coach Mike Vrabel orchestrated one of the best turnarounds in NFL history last season. This year’s team is better on paper and should return to the postseason, but good luck improving on last year’s 14-3 record. The schedule includes the Seahawks, Steelers, Jaguars, Bills (twice), Bears, Packers, Lions, Chargers, Chiefs and Broncos.Buffalo Bills(12-5, divisional-round loss in 2025)Headline: Coach Sean McDermott fired. McDermott’s defenses were broken in crucial playoff games, allowing 33, 32, 27, 27, 42 and 38 points in Buffalo’s past six postseason losses. It cost him his job. Keeping Joe Brady was the right call, because the Bills offense is not the problem: Buffalo ranks second in points, fourth in yards and second in turnovers since Brady’s promotion to interim OC in November 2023.Subtle: OL coach Aaron Kromer retired. Considered one of the best to do the job, Kromer was instrumental in developing an elite offensive line to protect Josh Allen. Kromer was also largely responsible for the Bills’ running game, which led the league in attempts, yards and touchdowns in 2025. This is a big loss.