Must-win for the Patriots?
Not so quick.
After Pittsburgh’s win Sunday evening, the Pats could make the postseason subsequent weekend in three situations:
A) a win
B) a tie and a Dolphins loss or tie and a Steelers loss or tie
C) a loss, a Dolphins loss, a Steelers loss and a Titans loss or tie
The Pats will kick off at Buffalo on Sunday at a time to be decided. The Patriots can solely clinch the No. 7 seed within the AFC and will probably be rooting for the Jaguars on Saturday evening versus Tennessee. Jacksonville is at the moment slated as a 7-point dwelling favourite.
On Sunday, Miami will host the Jets as 3-point dwelling favorites, although that unfold may change relying on the provision of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa missed Miami’s 23-21 loss at New England on Sunday with a concussion, and backup Teddy Bridgewater left early with a finger harm on his throwing hand. Bridgewater will reportedly miss the remainder of the season, leaving third-stringer Skylar Thompson doubtlessly in line to begin towards the Jets.
Thompson went 12-of-21 for 104 yards, one landing and an interception towards the Patriots. In Week 5, Thompson performed most of a 40-17 loss at New York and completed 19-of-33 for 166 yards and an interception. The Jets have been eradicated from the playoffs with a 23-6 loss at Seattle on Sunday, whereas the Steelers saved their hopes alive with a street upset at Baltimore.
The Steelers will host Cleveland of their regular-season finale subsequent weekend.
Below is each situation involving the Patriots and the AFC’s third and last Wild Card spot primarily based on FiveThirtyEight’s NFL projections:
Patriots win: Patriots
Patriots tie, Dolphins win: Dolphins
Patriots tie, Dolphins loss/tie, Steelers win: Steelers
Patriots tie, Dolphins loss/tie, Steelers loss/tie: Patriots
Patriots loss, Dolphins win: Dolphins
Patriots loss, Dolphins loss/tie, Steelers win: Steelers
Patriots loss, Dolphins tie, Steelers loss/tie: Dolphins
Patriots loss, Dolphins loss, Steelers tie: Steelers
Patriots loss, Dolphins loss, Steelers loss, Titans win: Jaguars (Titans clinch AFC South)
Patriots loss, Dolphins loss, Steelers loss, Titans loss/tie: Patriots
Source: www.bostonherald.com