 The Patriots have locked up the top seed in the AFC, giving them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. (USA TODAY Images) |
The road to the Super Bowl comes through New England.
After the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Denver Broncos 37-28 on Monday Night Football, the New England Patriots officially locked up the No.1 seed in the AFC. They had already won the division and secured a first-round bye, but now the Pats have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Broncos must win next week against the Oakland Raiders in order to clinch a first-round bye. If the Broncos lose and the Bengals beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, then Cincinnati will sneak into the No. 2 seed.
Locking up the top seed in the AFC doesn't guarantee the Patriots a trip to the Super Bowl, but it does give them a significant edge in the playoffs. The Patriots are 15-0 at home over the past two seasons. It's officially Super Bowl or bust.
Do you have a Twitter account? Be sure to follow me: @PatriotsHaven
Listen to our "Patriots 4th and 2 Podcast" on Blog Talk Radio as writers Russ Goldman, Steve Balestrieri and I from PatsFans.com discuss the latest Patriots news on Wednesday.
More News Headlines:
Patriots Rookie Lomu Reveals “Weird” First Days at Right Tackle
By: Ian LoguePatriots rookie Caleb Lomu details his 'weird' initial adjustment to right tackle after college, now feeling natural with veteran Morgan Moses' help.
Vrabel’s Goal For Christian Barmore in 2026: “Being able to finish”
By: Ian LogueVrabel challenges Christian Barmore to 'finish' plays and increase sacks in 2026. His season management is also detailed.
MORSE: Day 3 of Patriots Mini-Camp
By: Mark MorseAnalyzing Patriots mini-camp Day 3, Drake Maye's red zone work, a late hit, and defensive dominance highlighted a spirited practice.
TRANSCRIPT: Mike Vrabel Press Conference 6/11
By: Ian LogueHere's the full transcript of what New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel had to say during his press conference on Thursday, June 11th, 2026.
MORSE: Day 2 of Patriots Mini-Camp
By: Mark MorseAnalyzing Day 2 of Patriots Mini-Camp, Elijah Ponder and DeMario Douglas impressed, while Drake Maye works on pre-snap reads with consistent coaching.