The Bills Now Have Largest Division Lead Over the Patriots in 20 Years

It wasn't a pretty first half of football, but the Bills got the job done against the New York Jets on Sunday with an 18-10 victory, thanks to rookie kicker Tyler Bass' six field goals.

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The win improves the Bills record to 5-2, with a week 8 matchup against rival New England next Sunday at Bills Stadium in Orchard Park.

The Patriots, on the other hand, have had a rough start to the 2020 season. They lost at home to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, 33-6 and that dropped New England's record to 2-4.

The Bills lead the AFC East division by 1.5 games over the Miami Dolphins (3-3) and 2.5 games over the Patriots (2-4).

The 2.5-game lead over New England is the largest division lead the Bills have had over the Patriots, through the first seven weeks of the season, since 1995! That year the Bills started 5-1 through the first 7 weeks of the season, while New England started 1-5.

The last time the Bills finished with a 3 games or better record over the Patriots was 2000, when the Bills finished 8-8 and New England, 5-11.

You can look up past season records at Pro Football Reference.

I was a toddler the last time the Bills were that far ahead of New England in the standings.

The Patriots don't have Tom Brady anymore (who's in Tampa Bay now) and their team doesn't look anywhere near as it's been over the past two decades.

The Bills could really help themselves in the division race with a victory over the Patriots next Sunday.