How Patriots can win AFC East, improve odds to get No. 1 seed in Week 17

The Patriots realized final week that they’ll be going again to the postseason for the primary time in 4 years, with their victory over the Ravens formally securing them a playoff spot. However New England needs greater than only a postseason berth.

“We’re going to attempt to win the division,” Vrabel advised reporters following the win over the Ravens. “We’re going to deal with that. Simply take it sooner or later at a time, or no matter occurs.”

Properly, the Patritos have an opportunity to win the division in Week 17 after failing to benefit from that chance in Week 15, after they misplaced to the Payments. At 12-3, the Patriots are additionally nonetheless within the combine to get the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Nonetheless, they don’t management their very own future there.

As we attain the penultimate week of the common season, let’s take a better take a look at the Patriots’ clinching situations for Week 17 and the way their odds to get the AFC’s No. 1 seed can enhance.

How the Patriots can clinch the AFC East or see their odds to win the division enhance in Week 17.

The simplest means for the Patriots to win the AFC East on Sunday is fairly easy: beat the Jets and hope the Payments lose or tie in opposition to the Eagles. Nonetheless, the Patriots might additionally win the division in the event that they tie in opposition to the Jets and the Payments lose on Sunday.

A win over the three-win Jets would put the Patriots in a fairly great spot to win the division getting into the ultimate week of the common season. In the event that they had been to beat the Jets on Sunday, the Patriots would solely want a Week 18 win over the Dolphins to safe a division title. The Patriots’ odds to win the division would additionally enhance from 83 to 85 % in the event that they and the Payments win on Sunday, per The Athletic’s Playoff Predictor. 

Within the occasion the Patriots lose and the Payments win, although, they’d lose management of their very own future within the AFC East for the primary time since October. The Payments would solely want a win over the Jets in Week 18 to be able to clinch the division in that situation as Buffalo holds the convention document tiebreaker. The Patriots’ odds to win the division would drop to 10 % in that situation, in response to The Athletic’s Playoff Predictor.

If the Patriots and Payments each lose on Sunday, New England would nonetheless management its personal future to win the division getting into Week 18. Its odds to win the division would really climb to 86 % in that situation, in response to The Athletic’s Playoff Predictor. 

How Patriots’ odds to get AFC’s No. 1 seed can enhance in Week 17. 

The Broncos’ victory over the Chiefs on Thursday evening ensured that the Patriots could be trying up at Denver within the AFC standings getting into Week 18. The Broncos maintain the widespread opponents tiebreaker over the Patriots, that means Denver would get the No. 1 seed even when New England additionally improves to 13-3 this weekend. 

If the Patriots had been to win on Sunday, they would want to win in Week 18 and for the Broncos to lose to the Chargers subsequent weekend to be able to get the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The Patriots are eradicated from No. 1 seed rivalry with a loss to the Jets on Sunday.

Within the situation that the Patriots win on Sunday, their odds to get the AFC’s No. 1 seed would leap from 30 % to 37 %, in response to The Athletic‘s Playoff Predictor.

There’s one other end in Week 17 that might assist the Patriots get the No. 1 general seed within the AFC. If the Chargers beat the Texans on Saturday, Los Angeles would enter that battle with Denver in Week 18 with the prospect of successful the division and getting the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Within the occasion the Chargers lose, they’d solely be taking part in for seeding functions in Week 18 and will worth relaxation forward of the opening spherical of the playoffs. 

New England nonetheless controls its personal future to get the AFC’s prime seed over Los Angeles, so rooting for the Chargers this weekend must be OK for Patriots followers.