Patriots 2025-26 Season

[Redz]

AFC EAST CHAMPS COMING BACK TO FOXBORO!

New England Patriots clinched division for the first time since 2019!

Amazing run!

Such a fun team

[Vermont Green]

Unbelievable that this team has clinched the division and is in the hunt for the best record in the entire league.  Yes, the Pats did have the easiest schedule of any team and that is a consideration, but this is a remarkable turnaround.

As to the playoff seeding, right now, we would host BUF in the first round, but that is probably not how it will end up.  The simplest scenarios are based on either DEN beats LAC or LAC beats DEN, with the assumption that BUF beats NYJ and Pats beat MIA.  If DEN wins, LAC would drop behind BUF and be the #7 and Pats would host LAC in the first round, and then play JAX or BUF.  If LAC beats DEN, Pats are the #1 and get the bye, and their first playoff game would likely be HOU but could be PIT or BAL.

It is not certain that NE will take care of business vs. MIA.  Losing to MIA means that the Pats will the 2 or 3 seed and the only real difference is that it could be one more team (JAX) where they would not have home field.  They would probably still play BUF or LAC in the first round but then potentially have to go to JAX for the next round (this assumes JAX beat TEN in their final game).

I still have to pinch myself that I am really thinking about these playoff scenarios for this team.

[Phantom255x]

Unbelievable that this team has clinched the division and is in the hunt for the best record in the entire league.  Yes, the Pats did have the easiest schedule of any team and that is a consideration, but this is a remarkable turnaround.

As to the playoff seeding, right now, we would host BUF in the first round, but that is probably not how it will end up.  The simplest scenarios are based on either DEN beats LAC or LAC beats DEN, with the assumption that BUF beats NYJ and Pats beat MIA.  If DEN wins, LAC would drop behind BUF and be the #7 and Pats would host LAC in the first round, and then play JAX or BUF.  If LAC beats DEN, Pats are the #1 and get the bye, and their first playoff game would likely be HOU but could be PIT or BAL.

It is not certain that NE will take care of business vs. MIA.  Losing to MIA means that the Pats will the 2 or 3 seed and the only real difference is that it could be one more team (JAX) where they would not have home field.  They would probably still play BUF or LAC in the first round but then potentially have to go to JAX for the next round (this assumes JAX beat TEN in their final game).

I still have to pinch myself that I am really thinking about these playoff scenarios for this team.

Yeah I will say, it's a lot funner discussing these playoff scenarios and seeding as opposed to the last two years having to just talk draft position, tanking, etc.

The doomsday scenario that does exist though is, DEN + NE win, but BUF rests Allen and everyone else and loses their Week 18 game to NYJ (similar to how they lost Week 18 last year to the Jerod Mayo Patriots), and then BUF stays the 7 seed and faces us in the wild card.

Does Buffalo try to orchestrate it where they face us in the wild card and not JAX? It seems very likely 6 seed goes to JAX, while 7 seed goes to NE. BUF will finish 6 or 7 probably while HOU is 5 unless they blow it against the Colts next week.

[Vermont Green]

Unbelievable that this team has clinched the division and is in the hunt for the best record in the entire league.  Yes, the Pats did have the easiest schedule of any team and that is a consideration, but this is a remarkable turnaround.

As to the playoff seeding, right now, we would host BUF in the first round, but that is probably not how it will end up.  The simplest scenarios are based on either DEN beats LAC or LAC beats DEN, with the assumption that BUF beats NYJ and Pats beat MIA.  If DEN wins, LAC would drop behind BUF and be the #7 and Pats would host LAC in the first round, and then play JAX or BUF.  If LAC beats DEN, Pats are the #1 and get the bye, and their first playoff game would likely be HOU but could be PIT or BAL.

It is not certain that NE will take care of business vs. MIA.  Losing to MIA means that the Pats will the 2 or 3 seed and the only real difference is that it could be one more team (JAX) where they would not have home field.  They would probably still play BUF or LAC in the first round but then potentially have to go to JAX for the next round (this assumes JAX beat TEN in their final game).

I still have to pinch myself that I am really thinking about these playoff scenarios for this team.

Yeah I will say, it's a lot funner discussing these playoff scenarios and seeding as opposed to the last two years having to just talk draft position, tanking, etc.

The doomsday scenario that does exist though is, DEN + NE win, but BUF rests Allen and everyone else and loses their Week 18 game to NYJ (similar to how they lost Week 18 last year to the Jerod Mayo Patriots), and then BUF stays the 7 seed and faces us in the wild card.

Does Buffalo try to orchestrate it where they face us in the wild card and not JAX? It seems very likely 6 seed goes to JAX, while 7 seed goes to NE. BUF will finish 6 or 7 probably while HOU is 5 unless they blow it against the Colts next week.

That is a possible scenario but I would say it is too many variables for BUF to lose the game on purpose.  Even if they rest Allen, they can still beat NYJ easily.  NYJ don't want to win at this point.  They may rest Breece Hall for example, just to be sure they lose and don't sacrifice draft positioning.  And what if BUF did lose this game on purpose and then DEN loses?  Then BUF ends up having to go to DEN.  I don't think they want that.

[Donoghus]

Jets are currently in a 4 way tie with a record 3-13 and would have the #3 pick at the moment.  I have to imagine that unless Glenn decides to pull a Mayo, there is no way that team wants to win this Sunday. 

I think it'll probably end up being Chargers-Pats in the wild card with a lesser chance of Pats actually getting the bye.