This isn't so much about making the POs. It is not viable for the kind of collapse that would be required to miss the POs. Consider: Patriots lose even six out of seven games still almost guarantees a PO spot.
It isn't about division either. We're up 4 in the division with a win against every team. With no division team capable of winning the head to head, a win against any one of our remaining divisional games should slant tie breakers towards us. It would again require a very unlikely big collapse of 2-5 + jets or bills need to win every one of their remaining games for us to lose the division.
This is about winning the Bye as early as possible. And, if my math is right, we can clinch a Bye by winning the next two games plus 3 very possible outcomes in other games (Pitt loses in Seattle, PM-less Denver loses in Chicago, Jets lose their game this week or lose next week).
This is about winning HFA as early as possible. Due to Cincy having 8 wins it is too far off for a viable clinch scenario. As of right now I think we can go 6-1 the rest of the way as long the 1 loss is to Philly or, I believe, to a team Cincy won't play (plus we beat Houston). Too many tie break ??? to know if we can other wise go 6-1 the rest of the way if Cincy goes 7-0.
IMHO soonest realistic shot at clinching HFA is week 14: (1) Patriots win their next 4, (2) Cincy goes 2 and 2 in their next 4.
Patriots are now 13-3 and hold tie break on Cincy and Denver who both can end 13-3 at best.
Get these two as soon as possible. Then, IMHO, nothing is then more important than healing up in order to take as healthy and full strength a team as possible into the PO run.
