Heading into the final week of the regular season, New England holds the seventh and final seed in the AFC playoffs. The Patriots (8-8) can clinch a playoff spot with a win at Buffalo on Sunday.
However, New England has lost its past three games against the Bills, getting outscored by 56 points. If New England loses its fourth straight to the Bills, its playoff path gets harder.
To make the playoffs with an 8-9 record, the Patriots need wins from the Jaguars vs. the Titans, Jets vs. the Dolphins, and Browns vs. the Steelers.
Here’s a brief look at each game:
Tennessee at Jacksonville (Jaguars are a 6.5-point favorite, per OddsChecker)
The winner of this game claims the AFC South title and a playoff spot.
Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence has taken a leap since his middling rookie season. He has eight touchdown passes, two interceptions and four wins in the last five games.
Earlier this season against Tennessee, Lawrence threw for 368 yards and three touchdowns in Jacksonville’s 36-22 win. Lawrence is listed as questionable for the fifth straight week with a toe injury, but undoubtedly will play in the team’s biggest game of the season.
Tennessee, which has lost six straight, will start journeyman backup Josh Dobbs over rookie Malik Willis at QB.
New York at Miami (Dolphins are a three-point favorite)
For Miami (8-8), which still has playoff hopes, Tua Tagovailoa is “not an option” to start at QB because he’s in the concussion protocol, per Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel.
The Dolphins will start journeyman Skylar Thompson at QB in place of the injured Teddy Bridgewater, who has knee and finger injuries. Miami signed veteran QB Mike Glennon to the practice squad on Wednesday.
Miami has a 41 percent chance of making the playoffs, per the New York Times Playoff Picture.
New York (7-9) will start immobile Joe Flacco at QB, a surefire way to get Miami’s front four excited.
Cleveland at Pittsburgh (Steelers are a two-point favorite)
The Steelers (8-8) have incentive to make the playoffs and preserve Mike Tomlin’s streak of never finishing a season with a losing record in his 16 years as an NFL head coach.
Per the New York Times Playoff Picture, the Steelers have a 16% chance to make the postseason.
The dismal Browns (7-9) are out of the playoff picture and apparently out of the mind of OLB Jadeveon Clowney. The team sent him home Friday after he told the media there was “95 percent” chance he would not return in 2023.
