The New England Patriots, with an 11-2 record, could become the first team in the NFL to clinch a division title this season when they host Josh Allen and the rival Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon for a Week 15 matchup at Gillette Stadium.
All the Patriots need to do to win the AFC East is beat the Bills. But that’s not the only way New England can return to the AFC playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Here are the six ways the Patriots can clinch a playoff spot by the end of Week 15.
Patriots clinch AFC East with:
A win over the Bills on Sunday
Patriots clinch playoff berth with:
A win over the Bills OR
Tie vs. Bills plus a Chargers loss OR
Tie vs. Bills plus a Texans loss or tie OR
Tie vs. Bills plus Colts loss or tie OR
Tie vs. Bills plus Jaguars loss OR
Texans loss or tie plus Colts loss or tie as long as both games don’t end in a tie.
So, as you can see above, there are six different ways for the Patriots to secure a playoff berth this week. The scenarios that include ties are unlikely to happen simply because ties are rare. There’s only been one of them in the league so far this season.
The easiest way for the Patriots to clinch on Sunday is just by beating the Bills and reclaiming the division crown. The Patriots haven’t won the AFC East since 2019. They won it an astounding 17 times from 2001 through 2019.
The Bills have won the division five straight years, but their reign could be coming to an end.
Even if the Patriots lost to the Bills, they would still hold a one-game lead over Buffalo in the division title race.
If the Patriots do win the division, they will be guaranteed a top-four playoff seed and at least one home playoff game in January.
The only team that receives a first-round bye is the No. 1 seed. The Patriots are still very much in play for that top seed, but they need the Denver Broncos (11-2) to lose at least one more game.