Bills legend drops ultimate truth about AFC East future that impacts how 2026 should be perceived
Ryan Fitzpatrick hit the nail on the head.
The Buffalo Bills didn’t meet expectations in 2025, falling short in the divisional round to the Denver Broncos thanks to a bad call by the referees. Had they gotten the call right, we might be having an entirely different conversation this offseason. The New England Patriots ultimately beat the Broncos on their way to the Super Bowl, where they had the breaks beaten off of them by Seattle.
With New England making it all the way to the big game, many analysts believe they will repeat next season, winning the division over Buffalo and making another deep playoff run. But it’s not all analysts, and one name in particular is making waves with his prediction for 2026. That man is none other than former Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick was speaking on the “Fitz & Whit” show about the upcoming season with an exciting prediction for Buffalo. Needless to say, the Bills Mafia is going to be thrilled with his thoughts.
“You feel bad for the Patriots because it wasn’t their best showing, but we got to be proud of our season, right,” Fitzpatrick said. “The main message from Mike Vrabel to these guys is like, you played so well. That being said, the Bills are going after them next year. The Bills are going to retake the division, I have a strong feeling about that.”
New England stole the division from Buffalo in 2025
Heading into the 2025 season, Buffalo had all the makings of taking the top spot in the AFC, winning the division for the sixth straight season with an easier schedule and a clear path to the postseason. Some self-inflicted wounds and some lackluster play during stretches allowed New England to swoop in and take the AFC East crown away from Buffalo.
Now, the Bills will have a second-place schedule next season, and though it isn’t the easiest on the planet, the team should like its chances to bounce back in a big way in 2026.
Like Fitz said, and like we believe, the Bills are going to take care of business and get back to their winning ways, especially in the AFC East. Here’s hoping that the Patriots’ success was just a blip on the radar and not a sign of another brewing dynasty in Foxborough. The Bills Mafia endured 20 years of misery at the hands of Tom Brady; we don’t need that at the hands of Drake Maye now, too.
Quarterback Josh Allen is still in his prime. The roster still has blue-chip talent. And with new head coach Joe Brady in charge and a chip on the team’s shoulder after how 2025 ended, there’s no reason to believe the Bills are going anywhere.
If anything, New England may have just poked the bear.
Fitzpatrick sees it. The Bills Mafia feels it. And if Buffalo handles its business this offseason, 2026 won’t be about reclaiming the AFC East; it’ll be about reminding everyone exactly who runs it.
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