Contrary to popular belief, the sky is not falling. The world is not ending. The New England Patriots are going to be OK.
Sure, they currently aren’t in position for a first-round bye in the NFL playoffs. But there still are four more weeks of football and, as Patriots fans have learned, things can change quickly.
Plus, they still kind of control their own destiny. If New England wins out, they’re assured no lower than the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs.
The Patriots can a step toward that goal this week against the Houston Texans. A win clinches a playoff berth, but the division is up for grabs, too.
Here are the Patriots’ (and a few other teams’) playoff scenarios from NFL.com.
AFC
PATRIOTS
New England (at Houston Texans, Sunday) clinches AFC East division with:
1. NE win + NE clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over New York Jets OR
2. NE win + NYJ loss or tie OR
3. NE tie + NYJ loss OR
4. NE tie + NYJ tie + NE clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over NYJ OR
5. NYJ loss + NE clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over NYJ
(Note: NE clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker in scenarios 1, 4 and 5 if two of the following occur: Buffalo Bills win, Pittsburgh Steelers win, Miami Dolphins loss, Cleveland Browns loss)
New England clinches a playoff spot with:
1. NE win OR
2. PIT loss OR
3. NYJ loss OR
4. NE tie + Kansas City Chiefs loss OR
5. NE tie + PIT tie OR
6. NE tie + NYJ tie
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Cincinnati (vs. Pittsburgh, Sunday) clinches AFC North division with:
1. CIN win or tie
Cincinnati clinches a playoff spot with:
1. NYJ loss OR
2. KC loss
DENVER BRONCOS
Denver (vs. Oakland Raiders, Sunday) clinches AFC West division with:
1. DEN win + KC loss or tie OR
2. DEN tie + KC loss
Denver clinches a playoff spot with:
1. DEN win + NYJ loss or tie OR
2. DEN win + PIT loss or tie OR
3. DEN tie + NYJ loss OR
4. DEN tie + PIT loss
NFC
CAROLINA PANTHERS (clinched NFC South)
Carolina (vs. Atlanta Falcons, Sunday) clinches a first-round bye with:
1. CAR win or tie OR
2. Minnesota Vikings loss or tie + Green Bay Packers loss or tie
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Arizona (vs. Minnesota, Thursday) clinches NFC West division with:
1. ARI win + Seattle Seahawks loss or tie OR
2. ARI tie + SEA loss
Arizona clinches a playoff spot with:
1. ARI win or tie OR
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss or tie + ATL loss or tie OR
3. TB loss or tie + GB win or tie
Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images
