"New England would secure a playoff spot and win the AFC East if it simply beats Buffalo in Week 15, giving it a home playoff game for the first time since 2019. But a loss could prevent the Patriots from handing out hats and t-shirts for a division title for at least another two weeks and place some pressure on them in their final three games of the season."
"We already know that the Patriots can win the AFC East if they beat the Bills on Sunday. But what if they lose? Well, in that scenario, the Patriots' odds to win the division would drop from 89 percent to 76 percent, per The Athletic's NFL Playoff Simulator. So, not too much of a drop off. However, the Patriots' margin for error would slip in that scenario."
The Patriots can clinch a playoff spot and the AFC East with a Week 15 win over the Bills, earning a home playoff game for the first time since 2019. At 11-2, New England is also chasing the AFC's No. 1 seed while trailing the Broncos. A Bills win would drop the Patriots' division-winning odds from 89 percent to 76 percent, per The Athletic's simulator, and shrink their margin for error. New England currently holds a tiebreak via its better division record, but Buffalo could claim the division via strength of victory if it wins out and the Patriots lose one of their final two games.
Read at Boston.com
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