Patriots News: New England Has Playoff Bye, Schedule Could Allow Team To Pass Chiefs For Top Seed

The New England Patriots are working their way towards another first-round playoff bye. Despite a slow start to the season and an inexplicable loss a few weeks ago, Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are, once again, in the driver’s seat for a top-two seed in the AFC.

New England regained the No.2 seed from the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12. Pittsburgh lost on the road to the Denver Broncos, while the Patriots won at MetLife Stadium against the New York Jets. New England faces a couple of good teams on their upcoming schedule, but they are in a good position to finish with one of the NFL’s best records.

The Patriots are expected to win in Week 13 against a playoff contender. New England is a six-point favorite, according to OddsShark, against the Minnesota Vikings at home, where the Patriots are undefeated in 2018.

Week 14 and Week 15 will feature New England’s final two road games of the regular season. The Patriots will visit the Miami Dolphins as heavy road favorites. Their Week 15 matchup in Pittsburgh could determine which team gets the No.2 seed.

Pittsburgh has suffered two losses at home, and they have trouble with New England each year. In five matchups since the 2013 season, the Patriots are a perfect 5-0 against the Steelers. They’ve won in Pittsburgh twice since 2016, including last year’s Dec. 17 matchup at Heinz Field.

The Patriots will likely be double-digit favorites in Week 16 and Week 17 when they host the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. New England has beaten New York and Buffalo by a combined 33 points in their two meetings this season.

The Steelers are a half-game behind the Patriots in the standings. New England and the Houston Texans have the same record, though the Patriots own the tiebreaker because they beat the Texans in Week 1.

There’s still a chance for the Patriots to earn home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. They are a game behind the Kansas City Chiefs, whom New England defeated in Week 6.

Aside from two matchups with the Oakland Raiders, the Chiefs will face the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks to conclude their regular-season schedule.

The Patriots have had a first-round bye in each of the last eight seasons.