FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots are AFC East champions again and will head into the final week of the regular season with a shot at the conference’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
But Sunday’s 42-10 win over the the New York Jets was about taking a moment to savor how unstoppable the Patriots have been away from their home stadium this season.
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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel talks during a news conference after is team defeated the New York Jets in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin)
New England Patriots defensive tackle Cory Durden reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8) celebrates after a touchdown against the New York Jets with teammate Demario Douglas (3) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) passes against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin)
New England Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins (21) celebrates an interception against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin)
“Like that sign out there on the highway out there said: ‘Road Work Continues,’” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel told his team in the locker room after the victory gave his team an 8-0 road record. “We have to have a mindset that there’s a lot of work left. But what we’ve done is pretty special. But we’ve got to keep thinking ahead.”
No matter what, the Patriots will host their first home playoff game since 2019. That, paired with their first division title since that same season, checks off two preseason goals Vrabel set for his first team in New England.
But having already joined the Chicago Bears to mark the 20th time in the past 23 seasons (2003-2025) that at least one team has won its division after finishing last or tied for last the previous year, chasing the top seed adds stakes to a regular-season finale matchup with a Miami Dolphins (7-9) team that has already been eliminated from playoff contention.
The scenario is simple to win the top seed: beat Miami, plus a win by the Los Angeles Chargers over the Denver Broncos (13-3).
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez believes the Patriots can find a way to carry the success they’ve had on the road this season back home.
“Unfinished business was the theme of the week. Coming in here and getting a win and going 8-0 on the road,” Gonzalez said. “To be able to go out and win multiple tough games on the road – Tampa, Baltimore – and then come in here and finish the deal, as a young team, that’s a really big thing for us. Now, we’re on to Miami.”
New England’s offense had its best start to a game this season, scoring touchdowns on each of its first six drives, including all five in the first half. The Patriots didn’t even see a third down on either of their first two scoring drives.
Special teams. A week after botching a fake punt of their own, the Patriots gave up a successful fake punt to the Jets on Sunday. New England was leading 35-3 early in the third quarter when New York punter Austin McNamara took a fourth-and-2 snap from the Jets 43 and tossed a 3-yard pass to Malachi Moore for a first down. It was all for naught, though, when the Jets tried another fake punt four plays later and were stopped.
QB Drake Maye. He has saved his best performances for the end of the season, following up his first career 300-yard passing game last week at Baltimore by throwing a career-high five passes and completing 19 of 21 passes against the Jets. The 23-year-old has 4,203 yards passing and 30 touchdown passes in 2025, making him the sixth player under 24 with at least 4,000 yards passing and 30 touchdown passes in a season. The others are: Blake Bortles (2015 with Jacksonville), Justin Herbert (2020 and 2021 with the Los Angeles Chargers), Patrick Mahomes (2018 with Kansas City), Dan Marino (1984 with Miami) and Matthew Stafford (2009 with Detroit).
K Andy Borregales. He missed a 41-yard field goal attempt off the right upright in the third quarter, ending the Patriots’ streak of six straight scoring drives to open the game.
Fullback Jack Westover injured an ankle in the fourth quarter. ... Wide receiver Mack Hollins was placed on injured reserve on Saturday with an abdomen injury. Hollins currently ranks third on the team with 46 receptions for 550 yards.
3 — Maye joined Lynn Dickey (Dec. 13, 1981, with Green Bay) and Frank Ryan (Dec. 12, 1964, with Cleveland) as the only players with five touchdown passes and a completion percentage of 90-or-higher in a single game.
The Patriots will be looking for their first sweep of the Dolphins since the 2016 season.
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New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel talks during a news conference after is team defeated the New York Jets in an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin)
New England Patriots defensive tackle Cory Durden reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8) celebrates after a touchdown against the New York Jets with teammate Demario Douglas (3) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) passes against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin)
New England Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins (21) celebrates an interception against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin)
HELSINGBORG, Sweden (AP) — NATO allies and defense officials expressed bewilderment Friday at U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would send 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland just weeks after ordering the same number of forces pulled out of Europe.
The apparent change of mind came after weeks of statements from Trump and his administration about reducing — not increasing — the U.S. military footprint in Europe. Trump's initial order set off a flurry of action among military commanders and left allies already doubtful about America's commitment to Europe's security to ponder what forces they might have to backfill on NATO's eastern flank with Russia and Ukraine.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it was reducing levels in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and U.S. officials confirmed about 4,000 service members were no longer rotating into Poland from Germany. The dispatch to Germany of U.S. personnel trained to fire long-range missiles was also halted.
But in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said he would now send "an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” citing his strong ties with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed in elections last year.
“It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,” Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters Friday at a meeting she was hosting of her NATO counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Ministers from the Netherlands and Norway were sanguine about Trump’s latest move, as was Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, who said allies knew the U.S. troop “posture was being reconsidered, and now there is no change of posture. For now.”
U.S. defense officials also expressed confusion. “We just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don’t know what this means either,” said one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.
But Rubio said Washington’s allies understand that changes in the U.S. troop presence in Europe will come as the Trump administration reevaluates its force needs. “I think there’s a broad recognition that there are going to be eventually less U.S. troops in Europe than there has historically been for a variety of reasons,” he said.
The latest surprise came despite a U.S. pledge to coordinate troop deployments, including one from NATO’s top military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, on Wednesday.
Trump's initial announcement that he would withdraw troops came as he fumed over remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in that war.
Trump told reporters that the U.S. would be cutting even more than 5,000 and also announced new tariffs on European cars. Germany is the continent’s biggest auto producer.
Rubio insisted that Trump’s decision “is not a punitive thing. It’s just something that’s ongoing.”
About 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Europe. The Pentagon is required to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment on the continent unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests.
The withdrawal of 5,000 troops might drop numbers below that limit.
But Trump's latest post suggests that troop numbers in Europe would not change. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed the decision to send more forces to his country, saying it ensures that “the presence of American troops in Poland will be maintained more or less at previous levels.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also welcomed the move. On Thursday, before Trump took to Truth Social again, Rutte had underlined that it was important for Europe to take care of its own security. “We have a process in place. This is normal business,” he told reporters.
At NATO headquarters in Brussels, meanwhile, U.S. officials briefed the allies on the Pentagon's aims for its commitments to the NATO Force Model, which involves contingency planning for Europe’s defense in the event of serious security concerns. It was widely expected that a further reduction of U.S. forces would be coming.
Asked whether any cuts were announced, Rutte said: “I’m afraid it’s much more complicated than that.” He said the procedure “is highly classified” and declined to give details.
Rubio played down concerns about a shift in U.S. force levels in Europe, saying: "Every country has to constantly reevaluate what their needs are, what their commitments are around the world, and how to properly structure that.”
Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Emma Burrows in London contributed.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, front second left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, front left, speak with each other during a group photo at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte look at each other as they deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže speaks at the doorstep of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting at Sea U in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives with his wife Jeanette at Malmo Airport, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Malmo-Sturup, Sweden, ahead of a NATO foreign ministers meeting. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, second from left, shakes hands with Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson, as he is greeted by King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Silvia of Sweden and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard, right, before a dinner at Sofiero Castle in Helsingborg, Sweden, Thursday May 21 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)
