We suspected it was true last season.
When quarterback Tom Brady bid adios to New England two years ago in March, you got the idea that the Patriots’ near two-decade dominance of the AFC East was, at the very least, at risk … coach Bill Belichick notwithstanding.
And when the Bills came out flying for the 2020 season, en route to a 13-3 record, their first AFC East title since 1995 while earning a berth in the conference championship game, you got the idea there was a changing of the guard in the division.
That was particularly true as Buffalo swept the Pats for the first time since 1999.
Worse, Belichick was trying to be a playoff contender using dead-armed recycled quarterback Cam Newton.
This year, oddsmaker tabbed the Bills as the conference favorite to earn the Super Bowl, but McDermott’s crew split with their division nemesis, losing 14-10 to the Pats in an Orchard Park windstorm but prevailing 33-21 at Foxboro.
THEN CAME Saturday night.
In a game Las Vegas called a toss-up — Buffalo was favored by four points in the first-round playoff matchup at frigid Highmark Stadium — many observers saw the Patriots’ edge as Belichick’s resume.
Instead, Buffalo played, inarguably, its best game in the McDermott era.
The Bills hung a 47-17 loss on the Pats and made it hurt.
There were no defensive or return touchdowns.
Buffalo scored TDs on its first seven possessions, including two in the fourth quarter when the game was in hand.
You got the distinct impression McDermott’s message was, “There’s a new sheriff in town” and making sure it was received by not letting up.
The Bills are clearly the class of the AFC East.
To be sure, the Patriots will always be the Patriots as long as Belichick is there, but Saturday night the difference between the two teams was as clear as bottled water.
Buffalo’s Josh Allen is an elite NFL quarterback … New England’s Mac Jones is an elite game manager and the difference is palpable.
Allen, in a game during which wind chills tumbled to seven-below, put up mid-season numbers: 21-of-25 passing for 308 yards with five touchdown passes and no interceptions or sacks.
Jones was OK, 24-of-38 for 232 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions — one an incredibly athletic play by Bills safety Micah Hyde in the end zone, the other a tipped ball — plus three sacks.
But the reality is, Jones isn’t Allen and that just might upset the balance of power in the AFC East for the immediate future.
Saturday’s numbers were indicative.
Buffalo had the edge in total yards (482-305), rushing yards (174-89) while averaging nine yards per play and six per rush.
Now, Buffalo (12-6) waits until next weekend and could still host that game. If Pittsburgh upsets Kansas City, the Bills would entertain Cincinnati.
But the way they played Saturday night, even if the Chiefs win against the Steelers, they figure to have their hands full against Buffalo at Kansas City.
(Chuck Pollock, a Times Herald senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@oleantimesherald.com)
