NFL playoff picture: How the New England Patriots can clinch the AFC East in Week 17

The New England Patriots missed a golden opportunity to clinch the AFC East in Week 15, when they blew a 21-0 lead and lost to the Buffalo Bills.

But the upstart Patriots can finish the job in Week 17, albeit with a little bit of help.

Here is how the Patriots can clinch the AFC East for the first time since the 2019 season, Tom Brady’s last campaign in New England.

New England Patriots division title clinching scenarios

The Patriots control their own destiny in the race with the Bills for the division title, but to clinch this weekend, they will need a little bit of help from a team that beat them in Super Bowl LII.

New England sits atop the division with a 12-3 record, one game ahead of the 11-4 Bills. With wins in their final two games (starting this weekend against the New York Jets, and then in the season finale against the Miami Dolphins), then the Patriots are division champions.

However, New England can clinch the division this weekend, and start celebrating early. With a win over the Jets, and a Bills loss or tie against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Patriots are AFC East champions.

New England can also clinch the division with a tie against the Jets, and a Bills loss to the Eagles.

The Patriots are also in the running for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but the advantage is in the Denver Broncos’ favor. Denver’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas night improved their record to 13-3, and the Broncos have already clinched a tiebreaker advantage over the Patriots based on common games, which is the third tiebreaker after head-to-head (these two teams did not play this year) and record in conference games.

New England needs to win to keep their hopes for the No. 1 seed alive. A loss eliminates the Patriots from contention for the top spot in the AFC.

AFC standings entering Week 17

Here are the full AFC standings entering Week 17:

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

x – Team has clinched a playoff spot
e – Team has been eliminated from playoff contention

AFC East standings entering Week 17:

Here are the current AFC East standings:

1. New England Patriots (12-3) – x
2. Buffalo Bills (11-4) – x
3. Miami Dolphins (6-9) – e
4. New York Jets (3-12) – e