All the New England Patriots have to do is win or tie to clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
Here’s how the Patriots can clinch the No. 1 seed entering Week 17 now that the Denver Broncos beat the Cincinnati Bengals:
— If the Patriots beat or tie the Miami Dolphins, they will clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
— If the Patriots and Broncos lose, New England would wind up with the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
If the Patriots (loss), Broncos (win) and Bengals (win) finish 12-4, the Broncos would wind up with the No. 1 seed, the Patriots would finish with the No. 2 seed, and the Bengals would have the No. 3 seed.
The Patriots are traveling to Miami on Thursday night because the NHL Winter Classic is being played at Gillette Stadium, where the Patriots practice, on Friday.
Thumbnail photo via Chris Humphreys/USA TODAY Sports Images
