The AFC East standings could have a new look this season with Tom Brady now in Tampa Bay, but Bills coach Sean McDermott doesn't want to go there.
While the Bills, who nearly won the division last year, got better this offseason with the addition of wide receiver Stefon Diggs and the Patriots didn't really do much to get better, McDermott still believes the Patriots are the favorites.
"Anytime you bring up some of those words—expectations, pressure—number one, I think it shows you that people respect the way we’re doing things overall, which is nice,” McDermott said to Albert Breer of the MMQB. “But number two, and just as important, the Patriots, look, they’ve won the division for X amount of years (11 straight and 16 of the last 17). … Until someone is able to win the division, to us, the Patriots remain the favorite. Why shouldn’t they? You tell me one reason why they shouldn’t.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, we really do,” he said. “And our players work hard, there’s no doubt about that. I think that’s the one thing that I can say: We embrace that we’ve got to earn things.”
The oddsmakers actually agree.
After the Bills were the favorites after free agency, the Patriots have taken over, at least according to Draft Kings. Here are their latest AFC East odds.
New England Patriots: +125Buffalo Bills: +145Miami Dolphins: +700New York Jets: +700
The Patriots won't play the Bills until Nov. 1 in Buffalo and then their second meeting will be in Week 16 on Monday Night Football at Gillette Stadium.
Related
