Bills' McDermott: 'Patriots remain the favorite' in AFC East

After the New England Patriots lost Tom Brady to free agency, the Buffalo Bills figure to open the 2020 season as favorites to win the AFC East.

The Bills have made improvements to a roster that qualified for the playoffs last season, but head coach Sean McDermott believes his squad has yet to earn anything.

"Anytime you bring up some of those words - expectations, pressure - No. 1, I think it shows you that people respect the way we're doing things overall, which is nice," McDermott told Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer. "But No. 2, and just as important, the Patriots - look, they've won the division for X amount of years ... Until someone is able to win the division, to us, the Patriots remain the favorite. Why shouldn't they? You tell me one reason why they shouldn't."

New England has captured the division crown 11 straight years and 16 of the last 17, but expectations won't be as high in 2020 with Jarrett Stidham likely to start at quarterback. The Bills, meanwhile, added a handful of players to an already-balanced roster this offseason, including Stefon Diggs, Mario Addison, and Josh Norman.

"We've got a lot of work to do, we really do," McDermott continued. "And our players work hard, there's no doubt about that. I think that's the one thing that I can say - we embrace that we've got to earn things."

Buffalo has topped its division rival just once in their last 10 meetings.