2021 NFL playoff picture Where Patriots
For a minute there, it looked like the were in the midst of another lost season. After retooling the roster over the offseason following a 7-9 campaign in 2020, Bill Belichick's team limped out to a 2-4 start and was winle s at home following Week 6. It was at that point where the team looked lost. A chunk of the new faces struggled to mesh and the defense was breaking at points in the game where they could barely afford to bend.However, following that Curtis Lazar Women Jersey overtime lo s to Dallas, the Patriots would flip a switch and turn the season on its head. They went on a seven-game wining streak that breathed new life into the 2021 campaign and now has them in the thick of the AFC playoff picture at 9-5. The defense has blo somed into one of the top unit in the and the offense has started to click both in the pa sing game and on the ground. As I've noted previously during this streak, .But where does New England go from here with three weeks remaining in the regular season? Below, we're going to take a look at the current playoff picture and where the Patriots stand in it all. We'll also di sect the club's remaining schedule, highlights some areas of improvement, and predict where they'll ultimately finish.The Patriots had their winning streak snapped on Saturday in Indianapolis as the Colts handed them a 27-17 lo s. That defeat highlighted some i sues that we've highlighted for quite some time, especially the team's inability to stop the run. That lo s did knock New England out as the No. 1 seed in the conference as the Chiefs have since leaped over them as Bill Belichick's team falls to the No. 2 seed. Kansas City does have a one-game led over the Patriots in the standings, but the Patriots do currently have the tiebreaker thanks to their strong record within the conference. If K.C. drops a game down the stretch and the Patriots are able to draw Matthew Tkachuk Women Jersey even with them, that tiebreaker could come into play.Meanwhile, they hold the No. 2 seed in the AFC thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker they own over the Titans, who also are at 9-5 on the year.Here's a look at each of the Patriots' three remaining opponents.Week 16: BuffaloWeek 17: JacksonvilleWeek 18: @ MiamiWeek 16 is the highly anticipated rematch with the Bills, which could very well be a division-clinching opportunity for the Patriots. A win would not only give New England a two-game lead over the Bills, but it'd also give them the season sweep of their division rival, which puts them firmly in the driver's Mike Vernon Men Jersey seat to ultimately be crowned AFC East champions. They wrap up the regular season in Foxborough with what should be a layup win against the before traveling down to Miami to put a bow on the year. That game for the -- who have won six straight -- could be a tough one for New England as playing in Miami late in the season has historically been unkind to the Patriots.Stopping the run. While New England's defense has been superb on balance, the one weak area has been stopping the run. Teams have been able to have their way with the Patriots front seven on the ground if they truly commit to it. That was on full display in Week 15 against the Colts where Jonathan Taylor had his way with the unit, rushing for 170 yards, which included a back-breaking 67-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.Red zone execution. This has been one area where the Patriots have been a bit inconsistent, which could be a fatal flaw when you get into potential shootouts in the playoffs. New England's touchdown percentage in the red zone is just 54, which ranks 24th in the NFL. Over the last three weeks, they are blow that mark at just a 40% conversion rate. How far will New England go this season? Gary Roberts Women Jersey While nothing is clinched at this point, it would take an utter collapse for the Patriots to mi s the playoffs. The real question is whether or not they'll be able to claw back as the No. 1 seed in the conference and earn that first-round bye. Rasmus Andersson Kids Jersey It's certainly po sible, but that lo s in Indianapolis certainly didn't help. They'll now need to hope that Kansas City drops a game or two down the stretch, which isn't entirely impo sible as they play the Steelers, at Bengals and at Browns to finish up the season.I do think New England be able to beat their other three opponents in the Bills, Jaguars, and Dolphins, bringing them to a 12-5 record. That should be good enough to keep them in contention for the top seed, especially with such a strong record against the AFC. Meanwhile, Caesars Sportsbook has the Patriots at +1000 to win the (third-best odds in the NFL) and are +450 to win the AFC (second-best odds in the conference). They are -175 to win the AFC East.