AFC Playoff Picture: Patriots Playoff Seeding Scenarios The New England Patriots currently occupy the fifth position in the AFC Playoff Picture. In Week 17, New England secured a playoff berth with a 50-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. So then what? We know next weekend is Wild Card weekend, right? Ideally, New England will host a playoff game at Gillette Stadium, but at this time, the Patriots do not know when, where, or against whom their first playoff game will be.
- All of this, however, will change Sunday evening.
- If the Patriots defeat the Dolphins, the Bills defeat the Jets, and the Bengals lose to the Browns on Sunday, the Patriots will play in Cincinnati in the Wild Card Round.
- Alternatively, if the Patriots, Bills, and Bengals all win, the Patriots and Bills will meet in round three during Buffalo Wild Card weekend.
- Here is the current playoff picture for the AFC.
Did the Patriots make the playoffs in 2022?
Where does your franchise stand as 2022 approaches? Adam Rank sets the stage for the upcoming season by providing a State of the Franchise analysis of all 32 teams, highlighting the key figures to watch and establishing the stakes for the upcoming campaign.
Members of the Patriots’ organization, Patriots fans around the globe, and those who pondered, “How did we survive an entire season without making the playoffs?” This is becoming somewhat ridiculous for New England. In 2021, the Patriots missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008; however, they returned with a rookie quarterback the following season.
In the interim, the Celtics reached the NBA Finals. Chris “C.T.” Tamburello of Boston won Spies, Lies, and Allies, marking his second consecutive MTV Challenge victory. He is gaining on Johnny Bananas in terms of total victories. I must say, it’s becoming a little tedious.
However, we’re here to discuss the Patriots, so let’s consider what this season holds. One highlight from the previous season was the Week 13 Monday Night Football victory over the Bills. I am aware that the weather was awful. Bill Belichick led his team to victory despite his quarterback throwing three passes.
After that, the Bills were heated, pun intended. I admired classic Belichick for doing whatever was necessary to secure a victory without regard for anything else. One low point from the previous season was losing four of their final five games. The Patriots lost three of their final four games of the regular season and then lost to the Bills in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
- Perhaps the football gods punished Tom Brady for his courageous victory in Buffalo, but the Patriots lost three of their final four games of the regular season and then lost to the Bills in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
- But they eventually arrived.
- And that is the most significant factor.
- Bill Belichick is the current head coach for the New England Patriots.
Belichick, who has won six Super Bowls and 290 regular-season games (third-most all-time), is widely regarded as the greatest NFL head coach of all time. But it’s human nature to wonder how much of his success was due to Tom Brady in his prime playing quarterback for those six championships; we’ve all had those moments of doubt, and there’s nothing shameful about it.
In 2020, the Patriots did not qualify for the postseason in Belichick’s first season without Brady. But after seeing Belichick lead the Patriots to a 10-7 record and a playoff berth with a rookie quarterback last season, that doubt must be gone. Clearly, he did not pull a George Seifert during Brady’s absence.
(If you’re wondering who George Seifert is, you’re proving my point.) The Patriots are doing well in this situation. I need not devote much more time to this summary. How badly must Belichick want to win another Lombardi Trophy, however? Quarterback: Mac Jones,
- Mac Jones is a winner, so when I thought he was going to sign with my Chicago Bears last season, I was all for it.
- It comes as no surprise that the No.15 overall pick led all rookie quarterbacks in wins (10), passing yards (3,802), and passing touchdowns (22) in 2021.
- He won a championship at Alabama.
He ranked eighth among all NFL players with a completion percentage of 67.6. He was the first rookie to record 10 or more victories since Dak Prescott in 2016. Furthermore, he was only the third rookie quarterback since 1950 to win six road games. (The other two were Dak and Ben Roethlisberger.) I’m certain that many of you will label Jones as a game manager or something equally ridiculous.
In passing attempts, he was in the middle of the pack (521, 14th in the NFL). In five games last season, he also threw at least two touchdown passes and had a 70% completion percentage. That is more than Justin Herbert, Dak, Roethlisberger, or RGIII ever had as a rookie. For the sake of the sanity of Jets fans, I hope that Zach Wilson, whom New York chose over Jones with the No.2 overall pick last year, can start putting it together, because if he doesn’t, Mac’s ability to accumulate victories will hurt more and more with each passing year.
In addition, Mac Jones is in the best shape of his life; therefore, you are all doomed. Jones is projected as the 2022 Most Valuable Player. Belichick’s New England squads have frequently been built on defense. Last season, the Patriots’ defense ranked fourth overall and second in scoring, playing a significant role in their success.
In games in which they allowed fewer than 15 points, the Patriots went 8-0; in games in which they allowed more than 15, they went 2-8, including a playoff loss. But it won’t kill critics to give Jones some credit; he won almost as many games by himself as the other six rookie quarterbacks who will start in 2021 combined (11).
The Patriots scored at least 45 points in three games, the most in the NFL, with the quarterback posting an 8:0 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a passer rating of 127.2 in those games. Jones compiled an 8:8 touchdown-to-interception ratio and an 80.3 passer rating in six games in which they scored 20 or fewer points.
If Jones and the offense can complement the defense by being a more consistent threat without the assistance of ex-coordinator Josh McDaniels, who left to become the head coach of the Raiders, then this team’s ceiling would be significantly raised. Malcolm Butler, cornerback, is a new name to learn. I am excited for Patriots fans to meet this individual! A former undrafted player from West Alabama, he is merely awaiting an opportunity in the NFL.
Oh, I’m just pulling your leg. It’s great to have Butler back with the Patriots after his legendary goal-line interception of Russell Wilson in Super Bowl XLIX. The return of the 32-year-old veteran, who last played for the team in 2017, is indicative of a trend in roster construction that will be discussed in greater detail below.
Christian Barmore, defensive end, will be a breakout star in 2022. The 22-year-old, 6-foot-4, 310-pound mountain of a man began receiving more playing time as his rookie season progressed last year. Barmore is one of those players who possessed first-round talent but were drafted in the second round. The great Patriots teams of the past all had a dominant presence on the defensive line, and Barmore appears to be the next in line.
According to Pro Football Focus, he led all rookie interior defensive linemen with a 75.4 pass-rush grade. (It’s somewhat annoying.)
Can the Patriots finish seventh?
No.7 seed: If the Patriots lose to the Dolphins, the Colts defeat the Jaguars, and the Raiders defeat the Chargers, the Patriots will have a 10-7 record and be the No.7 seed. All three teams would have identical records of 10-7, but the Colts hold the head-to-head tiebreaker after defeating the Patriots earlier in the season.
Who is the top seed in the NFC?
The Green Bay Packers are now the top seed in the NFC. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers currently hold the top seed in the NFC. ASSOCIATED PRESS There are still 11 days until Christmas. However, the Green Bay Packers may wish to send Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams some gifts.
- Monday night, Stafford threw three touchdown passes as the Rams defeated Arizona, 30-23.
- At 10-3, the Packers, Buccaneers, and Cardinals are tied for the best record in the NFC.
- Due to a multitude of tiebreakers, the Packers currently hold the No.1 seed in the NFC.
- Tampa Bay is now the No.2 seed in the conference, while Arizona, which began the weekend as the top seed, is now the No.3 seed.
The Cowboys are the No.4 seed while the Rams are the No.5 seed. The remaining schedules of the teams vying for the No.1 seed are as follows: 1. Green Bay (10-3) Schedule: at Baltimore, vs. Cleveland, vs. Minnesota, vs. Detroit Opponents’ combined record: 22-29-1 Opponents’ winning percentage:.433 Analysis: The Packers have the second-easiest remaining schedule among teams in contention for the top seed.
Sunday, Green Bay plays Baltimore, who leads the AFC East, but the Ravens may be without quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Packers’ three remaining opponents are currently eliminated from the playoffs.2. Tampa Bay (10-3) Schedule: vs. New Orleans, at Carolina, vs. New York Jets, vs. Carolina Opponents’ combined record: 19-33 Opponents’ winning percentage:.365 The defending Super Bowl champions have won four consecutive games and have the easiest remaining schedule among teams vying for the No.1 seed.
All four opponents of Tampa Bay have losing records and are outside of the playoff picture.3. Arizona (10-3) Schedule: vs. Detroit, vs. Indianapolis, vs. Dallas, vs. Seattle Opponents’ total record: 22-29-1 Opponents’ winning percentage:.433. Aside from a matchup against the mediocre Lions (1-11-1), the Cardinals’ remaining schedule is challenging.
- Both Dallas and Indianapolis are currently in the playoffs.
- Seattle’s recent play has also improved, as the team has won its last two games.4.
- Three of Dallas’ final four opponents have losing records.
- The most difficult matchup for Dallas will be at home against Arizona.5.
- Los Angeles Rams (9-4) Schedule: vs.
Seattle, vs. Minnesota, vs. Baltimore, vs. San Francisco Opponent’s combined record: 26-26 Opponent’s winning percentage:.500 Analysis: The Rams cleared a major hurdle with their victory in Arizona on Monday, putting them back in contention for the division crown.
