So today was a mixed bag for the Patriots.
Jets lose. Good.
Chargers lose. Good.
Dolphins lose. Good. But probably irrelevant to the Pats' playoff hopes.
Titans lose. Immaterial. They're not losing that division.
Ravens win. Not good. We want both the Ravens and Bengals to lose. Even though one of them will win the AFCN, we want the other to be as bad as possible.
Bengals win. Not good. See above.
Raiders win. Not good, as it gives them something to play for vs. the Pats, AND it's another team creeping into the playoff mix.
So here are the current AFC playoff standings...
1. Buf 9-3
2. KC 9-2
3. Bal 8-4
4. Ten 7-5
5. Cin 8-4
6. Mia 8-4
7. NYJ 7-5
8. NE 6-6 - But would have the tiebreaker over the Jets should they be tied.
9. LAC 6-6
10. LV 5-7
11. Cle 5-7
12. Pit 5-7
The Pats are very much in the thick of it. If the Pats can win one more game than the Jets, unless other teams leapfrog them, the Pats would take the #7 slot, which would give them, as of now, a road game against KC in the WC round. Lambs led to the slaughter, yes, but still, a playoff game.
But it also could go south really quickly and it's not at all inconceivable to think the Pats might go 1-4 the rest of the way and finish at 7-10, which would, at least, mean a much better draft slot. Silver linings and all.