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AFC Playoff Picture: Where the Patriots stand after beating the Ravens
The Patriots are currently the No. 2 seed, but that could change depending on what happens with Denver and Buffalo.
Sunday’s win over the Ravens officially put the Patriots in the playoffs for the first time since 2022. With three games to go in the regular season, New England and Denver (both 12-3) are atop the AFC.
The Broncos currently hold the tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed because of their tougher schedule. If the season ended today, the Patriots would be No. 2.
New England has set the AFC East crown within its sights. They’ve split the season series with Buffalo. The Bills are lurking not far behind at 11-4. With Buffalo still in the mix for the division title, the Patriots’ seeding is at risk of changing dramatically. Division winners get the top four slots and home-field advantage in the first round.
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“Yeah, that was one of the goals,” quarterback Drake Maye said. “We wanted to win the division, and that’s still what we’re fighting for, and it’s awesome to clinch the playoffs, but we want to win the division.”
Because of this, Buffalo is sixth. The Patriots would be seeded no higher than No. 5 if the Bills come back and win the division. Instead of hosting their first-round opponent, they would be on the road for the entire playoffs since there is no reseeding.
“We’re going to try to win the division. We’re going to focus on that, and we just take it one day at a time,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said. “Whatever happens, we figure out what’s the best thing for the team. And I’m excited. It’s, it’s all the credit to the players, you know, so when we win it’s because of them.”
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The Patriots are 3-1 in AFC East play, and the Bills are 3-2. With a pair of AFC East games left (at New York, home vs. Miami), the Patriots control their own destiny and could clinch with a pair of wins.
Drop one of those games, and there’s a chance tiebreakers may be involved. Drop both, and Buffalo could clinch with a win against the Jets in the regular-season finale.
If the Patriots and Bills finish the regular season with identical records, the first two tiebreakers would he head-to-head record and win-loss-tie percentage among games played within the division. If further tiebreakers are needed, the next one would be win-loss-tied percentage in common games. the fourth would be win-loss-tie-percentage in conference games. Strength of victory would come into play if there’s a fifth tiebreaker needed.
If the Patriots hang on for the division title, they’ll host an AFC Wild Card team in the Wild Card Round. If the season ended today, they’d host the No. 7 seed while top-seeded Denver would get a first-round bye. Houston is currently No. 7.
The standings are currently as follows:
1.Denver (12-3)
2. New England (12-3)
3.Jacksonville (11-4)
4. Pittsburgh (9-6)
5.LA Chargers (11-4)
6. Buffalo (11-4)
7. Houston (10-5)
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Since they have the same record as the Patriots and the strength of schedule tiebreaker, Denver would have to lose one of their two remaining regular-season games for the Patriots to overtake them in the standings. The Patriots would also have to beat the Jets and Dolphins.
The Broncos travel to Kansas City on Christmas Day. The Chiefs just lost quarterback Patrick Mahomes to an ACL injury and are out of the playoff hunt. The following week, Denver hosts the Chargers in a regular-season finale game that could have playoff implications.
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