The Patriots may have already done enough to make the playoffs. That’s right, it’s possible that they could lose their remaining five games and would likely still make the postseason.
After three straight losing seasons, the worst New England can finish is 10-7, and that’s been good enough for a playoff berth in all but one instance since the NFL went to 17 games in 2021. The 2024 Seattle Seahawks have the dubious distinction of being the only team with double-digit wins that missed the playoffs since the schedule was lengthened.
The 2020 campaign was the first one with seven playoff teams from each league (four division winners plus three wild cards). In that season, the Miami Dolphins were 10-6 and didn’t make it.
Most 10-win teams in the current era get in. But The Athletic’s computer simulation projects that 10 won’t be enough in 2025. It has the Chargers and Bears each finishing 10-7 and just missing the postseason.
So New England should feel optimistic, but not confident already. If they win one more, however, they’re all but locked. No team with 11 wins has ever missed since the postseason was expanded to seven teams in each league.
Mathematically, if the Patriots win three more games, they’d have 13 wins and be uncatchable.
In their final five games, the Patriots face three teams with losing records, including the Jets (2-9) and Giants (2-10), who are each already assured of finishing with a losing record.
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