The Patriots and Bills are about to meet for the 134th time Sunday, and here's the thing nobody wants to admit: New England still owns this thing. Since 1960, when these franchises became division mates in the AFC's original alignment, the Patriots have consistently gotten the better of Buffalo more often than not. That's not ancient history—that's structural dominance.
What makes this rivalry different from most is that it's built on genuine football excellence from both sides at various points. The Bills have had moments. Moments matter. But moments don't close out 134 games. Consistency does. And Mike Vrabel's Patriots roster, despite being in rebuild mode with names like Joshua Dobbs and Drake Maye competing at quarterback, understands what division football demands: show up, execute scheme, win the line of scrimmage.
The current Patriots have the defensive personnel to make life difficult for Buffalo. Dre'Mont Jones anchors an edge rotation, while the secondary—with Marcus Jones and Carlton Davis III in the mix—has the versatility to adjust to whatever scheme Buffalo brings. On offense, the Patriots have depth at running back with Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, plus enough talent at tight end with Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper to move the ball in short-yardage situations. That's division football in 2026: not flashy, but functional.
This isn't about nostalgia for Vrabel or romanticizing history. It's about recognizing that even in transition, the Patriots have built a roster constructed for divisional grind. Buffalo will be tough—they always are—but New England's advantage in this series isn't luck. It's been earned through decades of smart roster construction and discipline. Week 4 won't change the overall ledger. But it'll matter for the AFC East race, and that's what counts now.