Patriots’ playoff chances get a boost with win over Buffalo

It’s nonetheless early, and there’s loads of soccer left to be performed, however the Patriots’ win over the Bills on Sunday helped increase their probabilities of a possible playoff run.

They beat the final remaining undefeated crew within the NFL, and so they grabbed a divisional win that could possibly be helpful down the stretch this winter.

ESPN, within the latest edition of its Football Power Index, is giving the Patriots a 67.6 p.c probability to make the playoffs. The Payments, Colts, Jaguars, Steelers, and Broncos are the one groups within the AFC forward of the Patriots in these rankings in the meanwhile.

With Sunday’s win over Buffalo and a conquer Miami in Week 2, the Patriots are actually 2-0 in AFC East play. They received’t see Buffalo once more till Week 14, after they host the Payments 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 many best schedules within the league this yr. Again in August, ESPN ranked New England thirtieth out of 32 groups when it comes to power of schedule. New England’s subsequent three opponents, the Saints, Titans, and Browns, are all 1-4. Two of these three video games will probably be on the street.

The Patriots are “within the hunt” in accordance with NFL.com’s playoff picture projections. If the season ended as we speak, New England can be in because the seventh seed.

Once more, it’s early. There are 12 video games left within the season, and loads can occur between now and January.

However, occurring the street and beating final yr’s AFC East champs and the reigning MVP put the Patriots one step nearer to their objective of returning to the playoffs for the primary time since 2021.

Khari A. Thompson

Sports activities Reporter

Khari Thompson covers skilled sports activities for Boston.com. Earlier than becoming a member of the crew in 2022, Khari coated school soccer for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.