{"id":1544405,"date":"2023-01-03T09:32:45","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T14:32:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1544405"},"modified":"2023-01-03T09:37:55","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T14:37:55","slug":"the-easiest-playoff-road-for-the-new-england-patriots-might-be-the-toughest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/the-easiest-playoff-road-for-the-new-england-patriots-might-be-the-toughest\/","title":{"rendered":"The Easiest Playoff Road for the New England Patriots Might Be the Toughest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The New England Patriots<\/a> can assure themselves of a playoff berth by beating the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. It won't be easy heading into Buffalo's Highmark Stadium to face the Bills, who entered the week as the favorite to win the Super Bowl.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should the Bills win, the Patriots could still find a way to sneak into that final spot in the AFC playoff picture, but that path is much tougher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The New England Patriots have a tough Week 18 ahead of them<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
New England Patriots offensive assistant\/ quarterbacks coach Joe Judge, senior football advisor\/ offensive line coach Matt Patricia, and quarterback Mac Jones talk during a game between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 1, 2023, at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. | Fred Kfoury III\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you're a glass-half-full Patriots fan, you'll gladly take the opportunity for a win-and-in matchup, even though it's against one of the best teams in their stadium. The Pats control their own destiny. Pull out the victory, and the season continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you're the glass-half-empty type, you know the opportunity is there, but the chances of getting it done are tough. You must either beat the top-seeded Bills, who opened Week 18 as a 7.5-point favorite. If that fails, there's still another opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should the Patriots lose to the Bills, they must get some help from three other teams in order to squeeze into the postseason. On Saturday, the Jacksonville Jaguars must beat the Tennessee Titans in a game to decide the AFC South champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Sunday, New England will need the rival New York Jets to go to Miami and knock off the Dolphins. The Jets are riding a five-game losing streak, but the Dolphins were down to their third-string quarterback<\/a> last week against the Patriots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They'll also need the Cleveland Browns to pull out a road win over the surging Pittsburgh Steelers, who have won three straight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Patriots have struggled mightily against the Bills lately<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Somehow the Patriots are still in the hunt for the playoffs

It\u2019s comforting that off years in New England are what many teams wish for.

Minus the QB trying to hurt guys (allegedly) and the OC looking at a Dennys menu instead of a play sheet.

Bills in Buffalo next week. Yikes.<\/p>— Football (@BostonConnr) January 1, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>