Upset win over Buffalo boosted Patriots’ playoff chances significantly

The Patriots now have a 67.6 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to an ESPN projection

Hunter Henry (left) and Mack Hollins (right) celebrate a first down AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

October 7, 2025

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It’s still early, and there’s plenty of football left to be played, but the Patriots’ win over the Bills on Sunday helped boost their chances of a potential playoff run.

They beat the last remaining undefeated team in the NFL, and they grabbed a divisional win that could be useful down the stretch this winter.

ESPN, in the latest edition of its Football Power Index, is giving the Patriots a 67.6 percent chance to make the playoffs. The Bills, Colts, Jaguars, Steelers, and Broncos are the only teams in the AFC ahead of the Patriots in those rankings at the moment.

With Sunday’s win over Buffalo and a triumph over Miami in Week 2, the Patriots are now 2-0 in AFC East play. They won’t see Buffalo again until Week 14, when they host the Bills at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 14.

The Jets are 0-5, and the Patriots have two upcoming matchups with them on the schedule. Miami, which is 1-4, will come to Gillette Stadium for the regular-season finale in January.

The Patriots have one of the easiest schedules in the league this year. Back in August, ESPN ranked New England 30th out of 32 teams in terms of strength of schedule. New England’s next three opponents, the Saints, Titans, and Browns, are all 1-4. Two of those three games will be on the road.

The Patriots are “in the hunt” according to NFL.com’s playoff picture projections. If the season ended today, New England would be in as the seventh seed.

Again, it’s early. There are 12 games left in the season, and a lot can happen between now and January.

But, going on the road and beating last year’s AFC East champs and the reigning MVP put the Patriots one step closer to their goal of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.