The New England Patriots can clinch a playoff berth in Week 16 and still control their own destiny in their pursuit of the AFC East title but are no longer in the driver’s seat for the conference’s top seed.
Following the Patriots’ Week 15 loss vs. the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos’ win over the Green Bay Packers, head coach Sean Payton’s crew now holds a one-game lead atop the AFC standings.
Even if Denver and New England were to finish with identical records at the end of the regular season, Bo Nix and company would earn the lone first-round bye in the AFC thanks to holding the common opponent tiebreaker over the Patriots.
Well before becoming an MVP candidate, New England quarterback Drake Maye had a pedestrian outing in the group’s Week 1 upset loss vs. the Las Vegas Raiders. The Broncos, meanwhile, swept their season series against the Raiders.
ESPN NFL analyst Ben Solak argued on Tuesday that Denver should be viewed as the AFC favorites heading into Week 16 and matches up particularly well with Mike Vrabel’s bunch.
Story continues below advertisement
“I love Denver’s matchup against New England, for example. The Broncos can swallow up the Patriots’ deep but starless core of receivers in man-to-man. They can pressure Drake Maye fast, especially with New England’s offensive line in disarray. And Nix can take his shots against a man-coverage-heavy defense,” Solak wrote. “The Broncos should be the favorites in the AFC over the Bills, Patriots and Jaguars — but we still have three weeks to learn about the field before the postseason kicks off. The AFC race remains tight.”
The Patriots can’t clinch the division in Week 16 but could be right back in contention for a first-round bye if they defeat the Baltimore Ravens on “Sunday Night Football” and see the Broncos fall to the AFC South-leading Jacksonville Jaguars.
Featured image via Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images
