Drake Maye, Patriots Clinch AFC East, Updated Standings and 2026 NFL Playoff Bracket

The New England Patriots are AFC East champions for the first time since the Tom Brady era.

Drake Maye and the Patriots clinched the division thanks to the Buffalo Bills' 13-6 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.

Josh Allen brought the Bills within one point of tying the score late in the fourth quarter, but was ultimately unable to complete a game-tying two-point conversion.

The Bills' loss came shortly after Maye led the Patriots to a Week 17 win over the New York Jets with a historic five-touchdown performance.

Here's a look at the NFL playoff picture now that the Patriots are officially on top of the AFC East.

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AFC Standings

Division Leaders

1. z-Denver Broncos (13-3)

2. z-New England Patriots (13-3)

3. x-Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

Wild-Card Race

5. y-Buffalo Bills (11-5)

6. x-Houston Texans (11-5)

7. y-Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)

In the Hunt

8. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

Eliminated

9. Indianapolis Colts (8-8)

10. Miami Dolphins (7-9)

11. Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)

12. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)

13. Cleveland Browns (4-12)

14. Tennessee Titans (3-13)

15. New York Jets (3-13)

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-14)

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NFC Standings

Division Leaders

1. x-Seattle Seahawks (13-3)

2. z-Chicago Bears (11-4)

3. z-Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)

4. Carolina Panthers (8-8)

Wild-Card Race

5. x-San Francisco 49ers (11-4)

6. x-Los Angeles Rams (11-4)

7. y-Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)

In The Hunt

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

Eliminated

9. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

10. Detroit Lions (8-8)

11. Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)

12. Atlanta Falcons (6-9)

13. New Orleans Saints (6-10)

14. Washington Commanders (4-12)

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-13)

16. New York Giants (3-13)

x- clinched playoff berth, y- clinched wild card, z- clinched division

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The Patriots remain in the running to win the AFC and start out their return to the playoffs with a first-round bye.

The Denver Broncos, who hold a tiebreaker over the Patriots, remain in control of the conference and could claim the top seed with a Week 18 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Should the Bolts win, however, the Patriots could take over for the conference lead with a win over the Miami Dolphins next weekend.