New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots are strongly positioned to return to the playoffs.
Thursday night’s 27-14 win over the New York Jets gives New England a 9-2 record with six games remaining. Tied with the Denver Broncos for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, the Patriots already have a 3.5-game cushion for a playoff bid.
ESPN’s Football Power Index thus points heavily toward a Patriots postseason appearance. The model projects a 97.3 percent chance of making the playoffs, a higher probability than any other AFC team. A cavernous NFC East lead gives the Philadelphia Eagles (99.7) the only higher playoff probability.
It’s also looking increasingly likely that the Pats will end the Buffalo Bills’ five-season reign as AFC East champions. FPI gives New England a 72.1 percent chance to win the division.
Even if the forecaster still doesn’t see the Patriots as the team to beat, their chances of making the Super Bowl have climbed to 11.6 percent.
That’s all despite anticipating a tepid finish. ESPN projects 12.3 wins, which would mean New England splits its remaining games to finish 12-5.
Going at least 3-3 is certainly a feasible goal given the remaining schedule. FPI may still view the Bills and Baltimore Ravens as stronger teams, but the Patriots can continue to roll when they face the 3-7 Cincinnati Bengals and 2-9 New York Giants before their Week 14 bye.
New England closes the season with favorable division contests against the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, so it would take a highly disappointing finish to keep Mike Vrabel and Co. out of the postseason.
