5 intriguing NFL matchups to watch during Patriots bye week

The Patriots received’t be taking the sphere in Week 14, however throughout the NFL there are many essential matchups that might have an effect on the playoff picture in the AFC.

New England is a digital lock to make the playoffs and is within the driver’s seat to earn the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a primary spherical bye. However the playoff discipline round it might shift dramatically based mostly on the outcomes of each recreation down the stretch, starting with a couple of loaded AFC matchups on Sunday.

Listed below are 5 key matchups for Patriots followers to observe in Week 14:

Payments vs. Bengals, 1 p.m.

There are apparent the explanation why the Payments are a key group to observe on Sunday. They’re nonetheless within the hunt to win the AFC East, and will definitely be a group the Patriots see within the postseason. On high of that, New England will host the Payments in Foxborough in Week 15, making their week 14 matchup all of the extra compelling. 

The Patriots already maintain wins over each the Payments and the Bengals, but when Cincinnati arms Buffalo a loss Sunday, it might make the race for the AFC East much more lopsided. Whatever the end result of that recreation although, New England can assure an AFC East crown with a win over the Payments in Week 15. 

Nonetheless, Payments-Bengals can be precursor to the AFC East matchup that awaits. 

Chiefs vs. Texans, 8:20 p.m.

If the Patriots find yourself dropping out on the No. 1 seed within the AFC, this recreation might go a great distance in direction of figuring out their wildcard matchup.

Each the Chiefs and Texans are on the playoff bubble heading into Week 14. Houston is 7-5 and remains to be inside putting distance of the Colts and Jaguars within the AFC South. The Chiefs at 6-6, although, might want to go 5-0 or 4-1 to have any life like likelihood of constructing the playoffs.

If Kansas Metropolis does get in, they’d arguably be essentially the most harmful No. 7 seed for New England to face, given their above-average protection and main benefit in postseason expertise. So Patriots followers could be rooting for a Texans upset on Sunday Evening Soccer to place the Chiefs in a extra precarious place relating to their odds to make the playoffs. 

Ravens vs. Steelers, 1 p.m.

The Ravens-Steelers matchup might decide which group goes on to win the AFC North, given each groups sit at 6-6 heading into their convention conflict. 

New England can even see Baltimore in Week 16, so Patriots followers might get a have a look at what Vrabel and Maye can be up in opposition to in one of many tougher remaining video games on their schedule. 

The AFC North presently has just one projected playoff group, so this matchup wouldn’t have main implications on who New England may play within the first spherical. But when the Patriots safe the primary spherical bye, the AFC North winner might wind up being their divisional spherical foe. 

Jaguars vs. Colts, 1 p.m.

Equally to the Ravens and Steelers matchup, the Colts and Jaguars can be battling for a bonus over the opposite to win the AFC South. 

The Colts began out purple scorching, however are driving a two recreation dropping streak that put each Jacksonville and Houston again within the combine to win the division. The Colts and Jaguars are each 8-4 and have but to play one another, so the head-to-head matchups will go a great distance in direction of figuring out who wins the division. 

For the Patriots, whoever wins the AFC South can be a possible divisional spherical matchup. And for the reason that AFC South is projected to have two playoff spots, the second place group could be within the combine as a wildcard opponent for New England. Both method, each the Jaguars and Colts are groups to observe down the stretch.

Raiders vs. Broncos, 4 p.m.

The Broncos have more durable video games remaining on their schedule, however each matchup from right here on out can have implications for the No. 1 seed within the AFC.

Denver and New England have one of the best information within the AFC by a considerable sufficient margin to name the convention a two-horse race. So, if the Raiders upset the Broncos on Sunday, that might be a serious increase to the Patriots’ odds to earn the playoff bye.