The New England Patriots (5-2) are atop the AFC East. It seems strange to claim that the Patriots, who were 4-13 last season, can maintain their AFC East lead over the Buffalo Bills (4-2), who have won the division for five straight seasons.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/nfl/browns as Why the Cleveland Browns can upset the New England Patriots on Sunday. The Cleveland Browns are coming off their largest win of the season, beating the Dolphins 31-6 as 2.5 point favorites. Now they head to the northeast to take on the New England Patriots.

It may be early in the season, but for the first time in years the New England Patriots are sitting atop the AFC East standings.

In one of the biggest early surprises of the 2025 NFL season, the New England Patriots sit atop the AFC East after six weeks. New England is in first place in its division for the first time since 2019, the last time the franchise captured an AFC East crown.

The red-hot New England Patriots now own the top spot in the AFC East for the first time since the 2021 season.

In the midst of the Patriots’ shocking rise this season, they have seen huge impacts from some of their star players. Drake Maye has been one of the league’s best quarterbacks this season in only his second year.

Former New England Patriots' offensive lineman Damien Woody says the Buffalo Bills won't win their division this season.

The New England Patriots’ resurgent season continued in Tennessee as quarterback Drake Maye led the team to a 31-13 win over the Tennessee Titans, moving the Pats to 5-2. It’s the team’s best start through seven games since 2019, when the Tom Brady-led Patriots started 7-0.