PatsFans.com Menu
PatsFans.com - The Hub For New England Patriots Fans
Search

New England Patriots > Patriots Blog

Patriots Now Last Remaining Unbeaten AFC Team, Control Own Destiny

Ian Logue
Ian Logue on Twitter
7 years ago at 6:00 am ET
Posted Under: Patriots Commentary

Patriots Now Last Remaining Unbeaten AFC Team, Control Own DestinyRobert Deutsch - USA TODAY Sports

Monday night’s battle between the Texans and Bengals held a little bit of significance for the Patriots, with Houston’s win over Cincinnati already having potential playoff implications with seven games to go heading into the final month and a half.  The Bengals loss left both the Patriots and Carolina as the two remaining undefeated teams at 9-0.

But there’s a little more significance than just being only one of two teams remaining unbeaten.  The loss by Cincinnati now puts the Bengals a game behind the undefeated Patriots, moving New England into the driver’s seat in the AFC for the number one seed in the postseason.  That would mean that any team New England would face would have to come into Gillette Stadium and would also ensure a first round bye, leaving the Patriots just two wins away at that point from another trip back to the Super Bowl.

This is all a bit premature given the fact we’re barely halfway through November, but it just goes to show how important each one of these games are going to be over this final stretch as the top teams in the conference begin jockeying for playoff positioning.  For New England, all they need to do is to continue to win to guarantee they’ll earn the top seed.

As far as finishing the year unbeaten, the biggest thing that will affect their approach toward that goal will likely come down to where they are this time next month in comparison to the rest of the teams in the conference.  If they are still unbeaten but lock-up the top seed sooner rather than later, the only way they’ll likely end up undefeated will be with Jimmy Garoppolo firing passes to players not named Rob Gronkowski, while the defense plays with players that likely won’t include Malcolm Butler and whoever else Bill Belichick chooses to protect heading into the postseason.

Could it happen?  Anything is possible.  But for now the Patriots at least control their own destiny, which is the first step in trying to trying to put themselves in position for another postseason run.


Posted Under: Patriots Commentary

  • Subscribe For Patriots Content Delivered by 6:30am Each Day


  • Comments are closed.

  • More News Headlines:

    Patriots Bring Back Defensive Back Jalen Mills

    Patriots Bring Back Defensive Back Jalen Mills

    By: Ian Logue
    After recently parting ways with defensive back Jalen Mills, the New England Patriots brought the veteran back on Wednesday.
    8 hours ago
    Wednesday Patriots Thoughts 3/22: Thoughts on the Lamar Jackson, WR Rumors, McCourty Retirement

    Wednesday Patriots Thoughts 3/22: Thoughts on the Lamar Jackson, WR Rumors, McCourty Retirement

    By: Ian Logue
    Seeing Devin McCourty's retirement press conference on Tuesday was a reminder that heading into the 2023 season, the New England Patriots definitely have a big…
    10 hours ago
    Six Tuesday Patriots Thoughts: Hightower’s Retirement, Harris Landing in Buffalo Stings
    1 day ago
    MORSE: More Thoughts on a Busy Patriots Free Agency

    MORSE: More Thoughts on a Busy Patriots Free Agency

    By: Mark Morse
    We are now a full week into Free Agency and the Patriots have been busy.  Here is a follow-up to my previous article on the…
    2 days ago
    Patriots News 03-19, Thoughts On Early Patriots Team Building

    Patriots News 03-19, Thoughts On Early Patriots Team Building

    By: Steve Balestrieri
    “He’s (Gesicki) a hard guy to cover,” Belichick said. “Long. He’s a good, crafty route-runner. He’s slick. He can get down the field.
    4 days ago

  • Share via
    Copy link
    Powered by Social Snap
    Search For Links: - CLOSE
    For searches with multiple players
    add commas (Ex: "Bill Belichick, Devin McCourty")