Ex-Chiefs QB Alex Smith picks between Drake Maye's Patriots and Josh Allen's Bills for AFC East title

Former Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith chose the team he believes will take the AFC East title. He picked between Drake Maye's New England Patriots and Josh Allen's Buffalo Bills on Monday.

“I like the Patriots, as crazy as that is to say I can’t believe it, because of the play of Drake Maye," Smith said, via ESPN’s "Get Up." "But especially on this defense, they have the better defense, right? This is a team sport again. Bills still have a lot of question marks on that side.”

Smith pointed to New England’s performance with the second-year quarterback. Maye has impressed this season, completing over 75% of his passes for 2,026 yards, 15 touchdowns and just three interceptions through seven games. He notably led the team to a 23-20 win over Buffalo in Week 5, completing 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards. The Patriots are leading the division with a 6-2 record.

Meanwhile, Buffalo is 5-2. Allen has thrown for 1,560 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions, and has also rushed for 261 yards and five touchdowns. Despite his strong play, the Bills defense and consistency remain a concern for Smith.

Drake Maye strengthens MVP case as Patriots overcome Myles Garrett’s record-breaking game

Drake Maye delivered another statement performance in Week 8 as the New England Patriots beat the Cleveland Browns 32-20. The quarterback threw for 282 yards, completed 75% of his passes and tossed three touchdowns against one of the NFL’s top defenses. The win pushed the Patriots to 6-2 and kept them atop the AFC East.

Even a historic effort from Browns defensive end Myles Garrett couldn’t stop New England. Garrett set a franchise record with 5.0 sacks and became just the ninth player since 1982 to do so.

However, Maye and the Patriots offense still recorded 422 yards, including 177 on the ground. The performance shattered Cleveland’s defensive averages, as the team entered the game allowing just 256 yards per matchup.

Maye is fourth in the league in passing yards (2,026) and QBR (76.2), with 250 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He has accounted for 17 of New England’s 22 scores. Maye's MVP odds have improved to +500, behind only Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.

Under Mike Vrabel, the Patriots have rediscovered balance. With a favorable remaining schedule, they have a strong chance to reclaim the AFC East title for the first time since 2019. Maye could also be the frontrunner in the MVP race at this pace.