AFC Chaos: Patriots Upset Bills, Broncos Shock Eagles

A Wild Sunday Shakes Up the AFC Hierarchy

Just when you thought you had the AFC all figured out, Sunday arrives to laugh in your face. The New England Patriots stunned the Buffalo Bills, the Denver Broncos made the Eagles look like a JV squad, and the Arizona Cardinals suffered a meltdown so epic it may get people fired. If you bet on chalk this week, your wallet might be feeling lighter. But if you like chaos, underdogs, and the occasional Mike Vrabel miracle, this was your kind of Sunday.

New England’s Back, Baby (Maybe)

The Patriots pulled off a gritty, grind-it-out win over the Bills, and suddenly, the AFC East doesn't look so locked up. Mac Jones looked like the version of himself we only see once every few months — tough, clutch, and composed. More importantly, the Pats defense showed up big, making critical stops and forcing Josh Allen into enough weirdness to pull off the upset. A long field goal sealed it, and New England now holds the tiebreaker over Buffalo.

Before you go hammering the Patriots to win the division at +350, take a deep breath. Buffalo has a cupcake schedule ahead, including the Falcons and a bye. But New England’s slate isn’t exactly Murderers’ Row either. They’re favored in at least nine of their remaining twelve games. That’s not just playoff territory — that’s “we might host a game” territory. If you missed the Patriots division bet before the Bills game, you might want to wait for another dip. But playoff futures? Still juicy.

Broncos Finally Clip the Eagles’ Wings

The Broncos pulled off the most satisfying upset of the day, taking down the high-flying Eagles. And they didn’t just sneak by — they made Philly pay for their overconfidence. Sean Payton went for two to get a one-point lead, and that aggressive mindset paid off when Denver tacked on a field goal to make it a four-point cushion. Philly couldn’t answer. Game over.

Jalen Hurts threw 38 passes and got sacked six times. The Eagles ran the ball just 11 times, and somehow Saquon Barkley only saw six carries. That’s not a typo. Six. In a game they led 17-3 going into the fourth quarter. What are we doing here?

The offensive line is starting to look shaky, and if Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson’s injuries linger, things could get worse fast. Philly’s offensive identity — run the ball, dominate the trenches — has gone missing. If you’re holding any Eagles futures, you’re not panicking yet, but your finger is definitely hovering over the sell button.

The Cardinals Collapse: A Masterclass in Losing

Arizona's loss to the Titans might go down as the worst beat of the season. Up 21-3 against a Tennessee team that’s allergic to road wins, the Cardinals managed to score zero points the rest of the way. Not one. Nada. Zilch.

After Kyler Murray fumbled a snap off his own face, after a 71-yard touchdown run was called back because the ball crossed the goal line mid-celebration, after Brian Callahan decided to kick an extra point down nine (which went wide right anyway), the Titans completed the comeback with a walk-off field goal. Brutal stuff.

If you had Cardinals moneyline, teaser, or survivor entry, you have every right to scream into the void. Arizona has now played the Saints, Panthers, and Titans to basically a coin flip and emerged 2-3. Their upcoming schedule is a buzzsaw: Packers, Cowboys, Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars, Buccaneers, Rams. That seven-and-a-half win total is looking more like a ceiling than a line. Fade responsibly.

Miami, We Have a Problem

The Dolphins lost to the Panthers. Yes, the Panthers. Miami's offense disappeared in the second half while Bryce Young looked like the guy Carolina thought they were drafting in April. Injuries to Tyreek Hill and a lack of adjustments from Mike McDaniel have this team spiraling. Tua played well statistically, but it didn’t matter. The defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed, and the offense couldn’t string together anything meaningful when it counted.

If this is rock bottom for Miami, then they better start digging out fast. The defense has been bottom-tier all season, and now the offense looks like it’s joining them. The Dolphins face the Chargers next, and if you’re looking for trends, road favorites of three or more after a home loss are 65% against the spread over the last decade. That’s the Chargers lane. Just saying.

Other Quick Hits from a Bonkers Week

– The Ravens got smoked by the Texans. Baltimore’s defense is banged up and the Texans look feisty. Keep an eye on Houston as a sneaky dog going forward.

– The Seahawks and Buccaneers played a nail-biter, with Baker Mayfield showing off his clutch gene. Don’t sleep on Tampa Bay — they’ve got a soft schedule ahead and enough moxie to hang with anyone.

– The Colts blew out the Raiders and might be the most unpredictable team in football. Next week they get the Cardinals, which feels like a trap game for Arizona if you’ve ever seen one.

– The Lions beat the Bengals in a game where the sharp money was all on Cincy. Detroit just keeps stacking wins and might be your best bet as a quiet NFC contender.

– The Chiefs face the Jaguars on Monday Night Football. This might be the week Jacksonville covers. Kansas City has just one turnover all season, but their receiving corps is still a work in progress. Travis Etienne props are worth a look, especially against a bottom-ten Chiefs run defense.

Takeaways

• The Patriots are playoff-bound — and maybe more — thanks to a soft schedule and a win over Buffalo.
• The Eagles' offensive line issues and abandonment of the run game are real problems. Fade with caution.
• Arizona’s loss to the Titans was an all-timer. Do not trust this team in high-leverage spots.
• The Dolphins have real issues. Their defense stinks, and the offense just ghosted them.
• Keep an eye on sneaky teams like the Texans, Colts, and Bucs. They’re covering and cashing.

Survivor pools were decimated, underdogs barked loud, and the AFC looks wide open. Just another Sunday in the NFL. Buckle up — we’re only halfway there.