Josh Allen: Patriots still 'best team in the division' after losing Tom Brady

The Patriots have dominated the AFC East over the last two decades largely in part to the services of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, but with Brady now off to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England could lose the division title for the first time since 2008.

New England appears to be more vulnerable than ever, and while they are in a relatively weak division, many NFL analysts have the Buffalo Bills taking the division title from the Patriots this season.

With the Bills keeping a majority of their roster intact and adding star wide receiver Stefon Diggs to their roster, it appears they'll be ready to step up if the Patriots falter. However, not everyone in the Bills organization is convinced that Brady's departure automatically makes them the favorite to win the division.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen recently appeared on SiriusXM NFL Radio to discuss Buffalo's chances heading into the 2020 campaign, and he believes New England's reign over the AFC East isn't over just yet.

“With Tom being gone everybody sees there’s an opportunity, but I still see the Patriots being the best team in the division right now,” Allen said, as transcribed by Curtis Crabtree of ProFootballTalk. “They’ve been to the playoffs the last 20 years, basically. Just because they lose one guy I don’t think it’s going to be that much of a difference. I know Tom is arguably the greatest quarterback of all time but they also have one of the greatest coaches of all time.”

Allen has appeared in just three games against the Patriots thus far in his career, and all had Brady on the other side of the ball. While he did show flashes of talent, he and the Bills struggled in those three games against New England which all turned out to be losses for Buffalo. He completed just 48.4% of his passes for a combined 578 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions.

Those numbers don't at all show what Buffalo will be capable of this season, though, and they're remaining optimistic about their chances against the Patriots. 

While it'll be difficult for the Bills to win the division, the Patriots offense won't be nearly as potent as in seasons past. With second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham and veteran Bryan Hoyer likely getting the nod this season, the Patriots are going to have some work to do. 

If the Bills pull off the division title, it'll be the first time since the 1995 season.