The New England Patriots’ hopes of clinching a first-round bye in the NFL playoffs and securing another AFC East division title will have to wait at least another week.
The Miami Dolphins’ victory over the Arizona Cardinals, in addition to Pittsburgh Steelers beating the Buffalo Bills on Sunday mean the Patriots won’t be able to clinch anything when they welcome the rival Baltimore Ravens to Gillette Stadium for Week 14’s “Monday Night Football” matchup.
The Patriots, by beating the Ravens, could have won the AFC East with a Dolphins loss to the Cardinals. A win over the Ravens, coupled with Dolphins and Steelers losses in Week 14, would have given the Patriots a first-round bye.
New England, with a 10-2 record, took over the top spot in the AFC playoff race when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Oakland Raiders on Thursday night.
After playing the Ravens, the Patriots finish the regular season with games versus the Denver Broncos, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. The Broncos and Dolphins matchups are on the road.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
