The New England Patriots just clinched their first AFC East title since 2019. That was Tom Brady's final season in Foxborough. The guy they're celebrating now? Drake Maye, a second-year quarterback who just put up one of the most dominant performances in franchise history.

Five touchdowns. Five different receivers. A 42-10 annihilation of the Jets. And an 8-0 road record to close out the regular season.

This isn't a rebuilding project anymore. This is a team that can hurt you in January.

The Quick Hit

• What happened: Drake Maye threw five TDs in a 42-10 blowout of the Jets
• The damage: 19-of-21 passing, 256 yards, 157.0 passer rating
• Why you should care: Patriots clinch AFC East, first division title since Brady left
• The stat: Maye is the first Patriot to throw 5 TDs to 5 different receivers in team history

The Maye Explosion

Let's be clear about what we just witnessed. Drake Maye didn't just beat the Jets — he embarrassed them so thoroughly that Mike Vrabel pulled him with 5:31 left in the third quarter because the game was already over.

The touchdown recipients read like a depth chart: Rhamondre Stevenson, Austin Hooper, Stefon Diggs, Hunter Henry, and Efton Chism III. When your fifth touchdown is going to a guy casual fans have never heard of, you're cooking.

Maye has now thrown for 30 touchdowns and just eight interceptions this season. He's the third Patriot to ever crack 4,000 passing yards in a single season, joining Brady and Drew Bledsoe.

The MVP conversation is real. When asked about it, Vrabel didn't dodge: "They don't give me a vote, but there is nobody else we want as our quarterback."

Road Warriors

The Patriots went 8-0 on the road this season. That's the best road record in the NFL and ties the franchise record for road wins in a single season.

Think about that for a second. This team — which most people picked to finish third or fourth in the AFC East — just ran the table away from Gillette Stadium. They beat good teams, they beat bad teams, they beat everyone.

The combination of Maye's precision, a defense that forces turnovers, and Vrabel's coaching has transformed this roster into something nobody saw coming.

The Bottom Line

The AFC East belongs to New England again. The post-Brady wilderness lasted five years, but the Patriots found their guy.

Drake Maye isn't a project. He isn't potential. He's an MVP candidate leading a 13-3 team into the playoffs with home-field advantage locked up and momentum on his side.

If you've been betting against the Patriots all year, congratulations — you've been getting killed. And if you're planning to fade them in January? You might want to reconsider.

The dynasty isn't dead. It just changed quarterbacks.