AFC East

The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots (representing Boston, formerly known as the Boston Patriots through 1970), and New York Jets (formerly nicknamed the Titans through 1962). All are former members of the American Football League (AFL), three of which are charter members of the AFL (the Dolphins were an AFL expansion team added in 1966).

The division was formed in 1960 as the AFL Eastern Division. The Bills, Patriots, and (New York) Titans were joined by the Houston Oilers in the original alignment, with the Dolphins joining in 1966. The division was absorbed nearly intact with the AFL-NFL Merger in 1970, but Houston was moved to the AFC Central (formerly the NFL Century Division, now the AFC North) and replaced by the closer Baltimore Colts (from the NFL Coastal Division, which became the NFC West). Despite relocating to Indianapolis, Indiana in 1984, the Colts continued to play in the AFC East until NFL expansion from 31 to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans and 2002 re-alignment when they were moved to the AFC South (the successor franchise to the Oilers, the Tennessee Titans, is also in the AFC South).

Although Miami is farther south than the home cities of the other three teams, all of which are in the Northeast, all four AFC East teams have historical rivalries among them, dating from their years in the AFL during the 1960s.

None of the AFC East teams currently plays within the central city of their metropolitan area:
 * The Bills play 7 games in Orchard Park, New York and 1 in Toronto, Ontario (they played in the city of Buffalo from 1960–72).
 * The Jets play in East Rutherford, New Jersey (they played in the New York City borough of Manhattan from 1960–63, and in the borough of Queens from 1964–83)
 * The Dolphins play in Miami Gardens, Florida, a suburb of Miami (they played in the city Miami from 1966–86)
 * The Patriots play in Foxborough a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts (they played in Boston proper from 1960–70)

All of the teams are or were coached by a 1st or second generation member of the Bill Parcells Coaching Tree, the Patriots have Bill Belichick, the Dolphins have Tony Sparano, the Jets had Eric Mangini (who served as an assistant with both Belichick and Parcells) and the Bills had Dick Jauron (fired on November 17, 2009), who served as an assistant with former Parcells assistant Tom Coughlin. The Jets are now coached by Rex Ryan and the Bills are now coached by Chan Gailey.

Parcells himself coached the Patriots (1993–6) and the Jets (1997–9) and was Vice President of Football Operations for the Dolphins until summer, 2010.

ESPN's Chris Berman often calls this division the "AFC Adams" due to its geographical similarity to the old Adams Division of the NHL, now known as the Northeast Division.

Along with the AFC (formerly AFL) West, the AFC East is the oldest NFL division in terms of creation date (1960).

Division lineups
1960–62 Four of the teams above are enfranchised in the American Football League's Eastern Division.
 * Boston Patriots
 * Buffalo Bills
 * Houston Oilers
 * New York Titans

1963–65 New York Titans renamed New York Jets.
 * Boston Patriots
 * Buffalo Bills
 * Houston Oilers
 * New York Jets

1966–69 Miami Dolphins enfranchised.
 * Boston Patriots
 * Buffalo Bills
 * Houston Oilers
 * Miami Dolphins
 * New York Jets

1970 Due to the AFL-NFL Merger, the AFL Eastern Division becomes AFC East. Baltimore Colts moved in from the Capitol Division (renamed NFC East). Houston moved to AFC Central.
 * Baltimore Colts
 * Boston Patriots
 * Buffalo Bills
 * Miami Dolphins
 * New York Jets

1971–83 Boston moved to Foxborough as New England Patriots.
 * Baltimore Colts
 * Buffalo Bills
 * Miami Dolphins
 * New England Patriots
 * New York Jets

1984–2001 Baltimore moved to Indianapolis.
 * Buffalo Bills
 * Indianapolis Colts
 * Miami Dolphins
 * New England Patriots
 * New York Jets

2002–present Indianapolis moved to the AFC South division.
 * Buffalo Bills
 * Miami Dolphins
 * New England Patriots
 * New York Jets

Division champions
{| class="wikitable" ! Season !! Team !! Record !! Playoff Results
 * - bgcolor="#efefef"
 * 1960 || Houston Oilers || 10–4–0 || Won AFL Championship Game
 * 1961 || Houston Oilers || 10–3–1 || Won AFL Championship Game
 * 1962 || Houston Oilers || 11–3–0 || Lost AFL Championship Game
 * 1963 || Boston Patriots || 7–6–1 || Lost AFL Championship Game
 * 1964 || Buffalo Bills || 12–2–0 || Won AFL Championship Game
 * 1965 || Buffalo Bills || 10–3–1 || Won AFL Championship Game
 * 1966 || Buffalo Bills || 9–4–1 || Lost AFL Championship Game
 * 1967 || Houston Oilers || 9–4–1 || Lost AFL Championship Game
 * 1968 || New York Jets || 11–3–0 || Won Super Bowl III
 * 1969 || New York Jets || 10–4–0 || Lost Inter-Divisional Playoffs
 * 1970 || Baltimore Colts || 11–2–1 || Won Super Bowl V
 * 1971 || Miami Dolphins || 10–3–1 || Lost Super Bowl VI
 * 1972 || Miami Dolphins || 14–0–0 || Won Super Bowl VII
 * 1973 || Miami Dolphins || 12–2–0 || Won Super Bowl VIII
 * 1974 || Miami Dolphins || 11–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1975 || Baltimore Colts|| 10–4–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1976 || Baltimore Colts|| 11–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1977 || Baltimore Colts|| 10–4–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1978 || New England Patriots || 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1979 || Miami Dolphins || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1980 || Buffalo Bills || 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1981 || Miami Dolphins || 11–4–1 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1982+ || Miami Dolphins || 7–2–0 || Lost Super Bowl XVII
 * 1983 || Miami Dolphins || 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1984 || Miami Dolphins || 14–2–0 || Lost Super Bowl XIX
 * 1985 || Miami Dolphins || 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
 * 1986 || New England Patriots || 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1987 || Indianapolis Colts || 9–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1988 || Buffalo Bills || 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
 * 1989 || Buffalo Bills || 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1990 || Buffalo Bills || 13–3–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXV
 * 1991 || Buffalo Bills || 13–3–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXVI
 * 1992 || Miami Dolphins || 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
 * 1993 || Buffalo Bills || 12–4–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXVIII
 * 1994 || Miami Dolphins || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1995 || Buffalo Bills || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1996 || New England Patriots || 11–5–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXXI
 * 1997 || New England Patriots || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1998 || New York Jets || 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
 * 1999 || Indianapolis Colts || 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2000 || Miami Dolphins || 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2001 || New England Patriots || 11–5–0 || Won Super Bowl XXXVI
 * 2002 || New York Jets || 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2003 || New England Patriots || 14–2–0 || Won Super Bowl XXXVIII
 * 2004 || New England Patriots || 14–2–0 || Won Super Bowl XXXIX
 * 2005 || New England Patriots || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2006 || New England Patriots || 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
 * 2007 || New England Patriots || 16–0–0 || Lost Super Bowl XLII
 * 2008 || Miami Dolphins || 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
 * 2009 || New England Patriots || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
 * 2010 || New England Patriots || 14–2–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1985 || Miami Dolphins || 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
 * 1986 || New England Patriots || 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1987 || Indianapolis Colts || 9–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1988 || Buffalo Bills || 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
 * 1989 || Buffalo Bills || 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1990 || Buffalo Bills || 13–3–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXV
 * 1991 || Buffalo Bills || 13–3–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXVI
 * 1992 || Miami Dolphins || 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
 * 1993 || Buffalo Bills || 12–4–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXVIII
 * 1994 || Miami Dolphins || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1995 || Buffalo Bills || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1996 || New England Patriots || 11–5–0 || Lost Super Bowl XXXI
 * 1997 || New England Patriots || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1998 || New York Jets || 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
 * 1999 || Indianapolis Colts || 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2000 || Miami Dolphins || 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2001 || New England Patriots || 11–5–0 || Won Super Bowl XXXVI
 * 2002 || New York Jets || 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2003 || New England Patriots || 14–2–0 || Won Super Bowl XXXVIII
 * 2004 || New England Patriots || 14–2–0 || Won Super Bowl XXXIX
 * 2005 || New England Patriots || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2006 || New England Patriots || 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
 * 2007 || New England Patriots || 16–0–0 || Lost Super Bowl XLII
 * 2008 || Miami Dolphins || 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
 * 2009 || New England Patriots || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
 * 2010 || New England Patriots || 14–2–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 1998 || New York Jets || 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
 * 1999 || Indianapolis Colts || 13–3–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2000 || Miami Dolphins || 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2001 || New England Patriots || 11–5–0 || Won Super Bowl XXXVI
 * 2002 || New York Jets || 9–7–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2003 || New England Patriots || 14–2–0 || Won Super Bowl XXXVIII
 * 2004 || New England Patriots || 14–2–0 || Won Super Bowl XXXIX
 * 2005 || New England Patriots || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2006 || New England Patriots || 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
 * 2007 || New England Patriots || 16–0–0 || Lost Super Bowl XLII
 * 2008 || Miami Dolphins || 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
 * 2009 || New England Patriots || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
 * 2010 || New England Patriots || 14–2–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2005 || New England Patriots || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2006 || New England Patriots || 12–4–0 || Lost AFC Championship Game
 * 2007 || New England Patriots || 16–0–0 || Lost Super Bowl XLII
 * 2008 || Miami Dolphins || 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
 * 2009 || New England Patriots || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
 * 2010 || New England Patriots || 14–2–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2008 || Miami Dolphins || 11–5–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
 * 2009 || New England Patriots || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
 * 2010 || New England Patriots || 14–2–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2009 || New England Patriots || 10–6–0 || Lost AFC Wild Card Playoffs
 * 2010 || New England Patriots || 14–2–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs
 * 2010 || New England Patriots || 14–2–0 || Lost AFC Divisional Playoffs


 * ! – The Patriots and Bills each finished with identical 7–6–1 records in the regular season. The Patriots would win the ensuing playoff game for the right to represent the East in the AFL Championship Game.
 * + – A players' strike in 1982 reduced the regular season to nine games. Thus, the league used a special 16-team playoff tournament just for this year. Division standings were ignored, Miami had the best record of the division teams.

Wild Card qualifiers

 * Since 1969


 * 1969 – Houston Oilers
 * 1970 – Miami Dolphins
 * 1971 – Baltimore Colts
 * 1972 – None
 * 1973 – None
 * 1974 – Buffalo Bills
 * 1975 – None
 * 1976 – New England Patriots
 * 1977 – None
 * 1978 – Miami Dolphins
 * 1979 – None
 * 1980 – None
 * 1981 – Buffalo Bills, New York Jets
 * 1982 – *
 * 1983 – None
 * 1984 – None
 * 1985 – New England Patriots, New York Jets
 * 1986 – New York Jets
 * 1987 – None
 * 1988 – None
 * 1989 – None
 * 1990 – Miami Dolphins
 * 1991 – New York Jets
 * 1992 – Buffalo Bills
 * 1993 – None
 * 1994 – New England Patriots
 * 1995 – Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins
 * 1996 – Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts
 * 1997 – Miami Dolphins
 * 1998 – Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots
 * 1999 – Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
 * 2000 – Indianapolis Colts
 * 2001 – Miami Dolphins, New York Jets
 * 2002 – None
 * 2003 – None
 * 2004 – New York Jets
 * 2005 – None
 * 2006 – New York Jets
 * 2007 – None
 * 2008 – None
 * 2009 – New York Jets
 * 2010 – New York Jets

* – A players' strike in 1982 reduced the regular season to nine games. Thus, the league used a special 16-team playoff tournament just for this year. Division standings were ignored.

Total playoff berths
1 The Bills tied the Patriots for their 1963 regular season division title, but lost the ensuing playoff game. 2 Known as the Baltimore Colts before 1984. Realigned into the AFC South beginning with the 2002 NFL season. 3 Won Super Bowl V as member of AFC East. 4 Realigned into the AFC Central in 1970, and into the AFC South in 2002. Known as Tennessee Oilers from 1997–98, and Tennessee Titans since 1999.