Patriots Can Clinch First-Round Playoff Bye This Weekend
BOSTON (CBS) -- A confluence events this past weekend quickly changed the AFC playoff picture, and in a positive way for the New England Patriots.
Losses by the Bengals and Broncos last Sunday afternoon preceded the Patriots victory, thereby guaranteeing the Patriots a postseason berth. And on Monday night, a Miami loss clinched the AFC East division crown for the Patriots.
The rich can get richer this weekend, so to speak, and here's how.
The Patriots can clinch a first-round playoff bye this weekend if they win their home matchup with the Titans and if the Broncos lose at Pittsburgh. It is that simple.
The Patriots could also clinch a first-round bye with a win of their own and a Cincinnati loss in San Francisco as well as a Denver tie, though the need for a tie makes such an outcome rather unlikely.
It's of particular interest that the Broncos have yet to name a starting quarterback for that game in Pittsburgh (Brock Osweiler was named the starter later in the week), which will take place after the Titans-Patriots game on Sunday afternoon. And the Steelers, currently at 8-5, enter the weekend on the outside of the playoff picture, so they'll certainly be motivated to win.
Of course, if the Patriots do indeed secure a first-round bye this weekend, they'd still be looking to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC and the home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs that would come with it. Yet that endeavor will wait another week. For now, the Patriots will look to take care of their own business and hope for more help from the outside.
