New England Patriots - NESN.com
Barring an epic collapse, the New England Patriots will make the playoffs this winter for the first time in four years.
New England also enters Week 11 with a 1 1/2-game lead in the AFC East as it seeks its first division crown in six seasons.
Even though all the momentum seems to be in the Patriots’ favor, and they’ve already beaten the Buffalo Bills on the road this season, one NFL insider isn’t counting out Josh Allen and company yet.
“Two years ago, it looked like the Dolphins were going to run away with the division, and the Bills still caught them in the final week to claim the crown. Buffalo has won the AFC East five years in a row. It knows how to do it,” ESPN senior NFL national reporter Dan Graziano wrote. “… But coach Sean McDermott and his staff have shown time and again that they can get their defense into playoff shape by December and January. The Patriots are legit, don’t get me wrong, and Drake Maye is a deserving favorite for MVP at the moment. But the Bills have done this, and the current iteration of the Patriots have not. I need to see that little ‘x’ next to New England in the standings before I believe it.”
It’s true that the Bills have largely dominated the AFC East this decade during the Allen-Sean McDermott era, but Buffalo is coming off its worst loss of the year (a 30-13 stunner vs. the Miami Dolphins).
New England, meanwhile, is continuing its Super Bowl odds rise following a Week 10 road victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Among the Patriots’ primary concerns heading into Week 11 vs. the New York Jets is the health of their backfield.
Starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson has missed the last two games with a toe injury, while second-year pro Terrell Jennings exited Sunday’s win early with a knee issue. Veteran Antonio Gibson is out for the year due to a torn ACL as well.
With electric rookie TreVeyon Henderson currently the only healthy running back on the active roster, New England could look to poach a running back off another team’s practice squad before “Thursday Night Football” against the New York Jets.
