Everything changed for the AFC East on the night of June 28, when the Patriots signed Cam Newton.
Before that, the prognosis for the division was, for the first time in almost two decades, uncertain. Maybe this was the year the Jets, who finished 7–9 in 2019 despite a weak offensive line, a less-than-desirable slate of skill position players and a quarterback who missed a quarter of the season with mono, were ready to rise.
Or perhaps the Bills, who made the playoffs last year by scheming around still-developing quarterback Josh Allen and leaning on their deep defense, were poised to take charge.