The growing rivalry between Drake Maye and Josh Allen doesn’t look like it is going anywhere, anytime soon.
The two quarterbacks will once again take center stage as the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills prepare to meet for the second time this season.
Bills players wrestling on the field in the downpour of snow in Buffalo
With both quarterbacks playing at MVP levels and the AFC East hanging in the balance, the matchup has evolved into something far more compelling than a simple divisional showdown.
Josh Allen, the reigning MVP, has steered the Bills to a 9-4 record despite early-season inconsistencies. Buffalo opened 4-0 before slipping in a primetime loss to Maye‘s Patriots, a defeat that helped propel New England into one of the league’s most surprising turnarounds.
Now, the Patriots sit one win away from clinching their first AFC East title since 2019, a stunning resurgence powered by their breakout quarterback.
Head coach Mike Vrabel didn’t downplay the weight of the moment. He called the upcoming rematch a “championship” game – the type of stakes that would feel at home in January, not mid-December.
“They’re both really good at what they do,” Vrabel told reporters early in the week. “Josh has probably got a couple (pounds) on him, and can probably throw his shoulder in there, probably a little more than I’d want Drake to. But I think they’re both great competitors. A lot of respect for Josh.”
A rising star meets an established MVP
Maye has validated every bit of hype he carried into the 2024 draft. After a strong rookie year, he has erupted in Year 2, entering Week 15 as the consensus MVP favorite.
His precision as a passer, especially with the deep ball, has transformed the Patriots offense from stagnant to explosive. New England ranks among the league’s top scoring units, and Maye‘s ability to stretch the field has revived the kind of vertical attack the franchise hasn’t consistently displayed since the peak years of its previous MVP quarterback.
A 10-game winning streak underscores just how far the Patriots have come. Analysts across the league, including those at ESPN and NFL Network, have praised Maye‘s poise, improvisation, and command of the offense. His chemistry with young receivers has drawn comparisons not only to Allen, but to early-career Patrick Mahomes in terms of immediate impact.
In their three matchups to date, including last year’s largely meaningless season finale where both starters briefly appeared, Maye has the advantage, with the Patriots winning two of the contests. But this meeting has the potential to redefine the trajectory of the rivalry.
The Bills, still fighting to reclaim their long-held divisional throne, understand the urgency. New England, now the team with momentum, recognizes the magnitude of what stands in front of them.
“(Buffalo is) a really good football team,” Vrabel said. “There’s a reason they’ve won this division five years in a row. A lot of respect for them.”
The AFC East, once dominated by Tom Brady and later controlled by Josh Allen, now features a new contender with the poise, and production, to reshape the power structure.
On Sunday, Drake Maye and Josh Allen won’t just be competing for positioning – they’ll be competing for legacy.
