FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- After an offseason in which the New England Patriots' three AFC East rivals all made bold, aggressive moves -- and the Patriots themselves had more high-profile defections than additions -- the question was asked: Had the gap finally closed in the division?

Miami paid big bucks for defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Buffalo hired Rex Ryan as head coach and traded for running back LeSean McCoy. New York hired Todd Bowles as head coach and revamped their secondary with the high-priced acquisition of free-agent cornerback Darrelle Revis.

As all three teams appeared to be building momentum, the Patriots seemed to be heading in the opposite direction.

Revis was gone. So was fellow cornerback Brandon Browner. Running back Shane Vereen, who saved his best for last in the Super Bowl, was also heading elsewhere. So was defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. All the while, quarterback Tom Brady was fighting his four-game suspension, giving hope to division rivals that perhaps there was an opening to seize.

It all made for good sports-radio type banter, but as we have arrived at Week 7 of the 2015 regular season, the reality is that despite all that change, things have essentially stayed the same: It's still the Patriots (5-0) and then everyone else.

Now comes the critical stretch for the Patriots to ensure things remain on that course.

Bill Belichick's bunch has two AFC East games in a span of five days, both at home -- against the Jets on Sunday Oct. 25 and then versus the Dolphins on Thursday, Oct. 29. If they take care of business, they'd improve to 3-0 in the AFC East, and then look ahead to Nov. 23 at home against the Bills before playing the final two games of the season at the Jets and at the Dolphins (will those teams still have something to play for at that point?).

That scheduling dynamic further highlights the importance of the Patriots' next two games.

Consider these numbers: The Patriots have won 11 division titles and have 11 playoff berths since realignment in 2002, the most in the NFL. And since 2001, the Patriots are 68-19 in regular-season AFC East games, the best intra-division record in the league over that span.

Are the Jets (4-1), Dolphins (2-3) or Bills (3-3) in position to change that in 2015?

What looked promising for them in the offseason hasn't unfolded as some thought it would. If they're going to make their move on the Patriots, this is the time on the schedule to do it.