Patriots playoff picture: Updated NFL scenarios for New England to clinch AFC No. 1 seed

1 week ago 2

Patriots playoff picture: Updated NFL scenarios for New England to clinch AFC No. 1 seed originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

One year after finishing bottom of the AFC East with a 4-13 record, the Patriots find themselves in prime position to land the AFC's top seed in the 2026 playoffs.

New England has found life throughout the regular season, with Mike Vrabel's side racing out to a 13-3 record through 17 weeks. Fueled by Vrabel's tactical nous and Drake Maye's exploits, the Patriots picked up an AFC East title, the first such accomplishment to be handed to a team other than the Bills since 2019.

New England will need some help if its hopes to scale the AFC's regular-season mountaintop. Fortunately, the Patriots have responded to most challenges directed their way. Maye has been at the heart of those reactions, tossing feathers across the field en route to emerging as the NFL MVP frontrunner. Can he direct a still-developing New England side to postseason success? Only time will tell.

With that, here's a look at the Patriots' playoff picture in 2026.

MORE WEEK 18 NFL:

NFL playoff bracket 2026

Here's a look at the current potential initial matchups for this year's playoffs:

Patriots playoff picture

The Patriots remain in the thick of the race for the AFC's top-seed, posting an identical 13-3 record to the current No. 1 seed, the Broncos. Denver has the advantage by way of common games tiebreaker, sporting a 5-0 record against common foes compared to New England's 4-1.

As a result, New England either needs to win its game against the Dolphins while the Broncos lose or draw their game against the Chargers or tie its game against the Dolphins while the Broncos lose to the Chargers to capture top billing in the AFC.

Seed	Team	Record
1	Denver Broncos*	13-3
2	New England Patriots*	13-3
3	Jacksonville Jaguars*	12-4
4	Pittsburgh Steelers	9-7
5	Houston Texans*	11-5
6	Los Angeles Chargers*	11-5
7	Buffalo Bills*	11-5
8	Indianapolis Colts - eliminated	8-8
9	Baltimore Ravens	8-8
10	Miami Dolphins - eliminated	7-9
11	Cincinnati Bengals - eliminated	6-10
12	Kansas City Chiefs - eliminated	6-10
13	Cleveland Browns - eliminated	4-12
14	Tennessee Titans - eliminated	3-13
15	New York Jets - eliminated	3-13
16	Las Vegas Raiders - eliminated	2-14

*=clinched playoff spot

Patriots clinching scenarios

The Patriots can clinch the AFC's No. 1 seed with either a win against the Dolphins and a Broncos' loss or draw to the Chargers OR a tie against the Dolphins and a Broncos loss to Los Angeles.

Read Entire Article