AFC East Notes: Bills, Jets, Patriots

Bills

Bills QB Josh Allen was responsible for Buffalo’s only touchdown in Saturday’s 22-19 overtime playoff loss to the Texans — a receiving touchdown in the first quarter — but it was overshadowed by how the second-year passer played in the late stages of the game. Allen completed just 11 of his 26 passes and looked frenetic and overmatched at times, heaving up a prayer to his fullback in double coverage on second down in overtime and attempting a wild lateral that nearly killed Buffalo’s game-tying drive on its first play. 

“Teams go how their quarterbacks go, and I have to be better for this team,” Allen said via the Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn. “We had our chances and we didn’t finish, and that’s on my shoulders. I will forever say that — that I’ve got to finish and I’ve got to be better for this team moving forward.”

• Bills G Quinton Spain said he told his agent he would like to re-sign with the team before free agency if they want him back. (Sal Capaccio)
• Bills DT Jordan Phillips, who’s slated to be a free agent in 2020, said he wants to stay in Buffalo. (Marcel Louis-Jacques)

Jets

• ESPN’s Rich Cimini says the Jets are projected to have about $60 million in cap space this offseason and can get close to $80 million by releasing CB Trumaine Johnson ($3 million in cap savings), G Brian Winters ($7.3 million), LB Avery Williamson ($6.5 million) and WR Quincy Enunwa ($2.4 million).
• Cimini adds former Redskins interim HC/OL coach Bill Callahan would be a great target for the Jets, as he coached their offensive line from 2008-2011. 
• Cimini also thinks the Jets should make a greater investment at the backup quarterback position after going 0-6 without Sam Darnold the past two seasons. 

Patriots

• Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots still remain unlikely to re-sign WR
• Antonio Brown: “We learned our lesson the hard way with him.”
• ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports no one expects Patriots HC Bill Belichick
•  to do anything but continue coaching for at least five more years. 
• Belichick was not ready to discuss the future of anyone in the New England organization in his end of season press conference, including QB Tom Brady who’s slated to be a free agent in 2020: “We’re less than 12 hours from the end of the game. I’m sure there are a lot of questions about the future. Nobody has thought about the future. Whatever is in the future, we’ll deal with it at some other later time.” (Jeff Darlington)
• Belichick said he had no timeline for a decision with Brady. (Karen Guregian)
• Belichick did acknowledge Brady’s importance to the organization and added any contract decision would not be “a one-way street,” meaning both the team and Brady need to be on the same page: “Tom is an iconic figure in this organization. No one respects Tom more than I do…” (Michael Giardi)
• An unnamed Patriots player acknowledged Brady’s elbow injury affected the team down the stretch: “He’ll never tell you he’s hurt. It’s not his way. But what did your eyes tell you? That’s all I’d ask you: what did you eyes see?” (Giardi)
• Patriots S Devin McCourty said he “definitely” plans to keep playing in 2020. McCourty is also slated to be a free agent. (Jeff Howe)
• Patriots C Ted Karras and QB Cody Kessler both expressed a desire to be back with the team in 2020. (Andrew Callahan)
• Patriots special teamer Matthew Slater said he would need to pray before deciding if he would return in 2020 at the age of 35.