If you don’t know by now, the New England Patriots (8-4) have a big test against the Buffalo Bills (7-4) in Week 13 on Monday Night Football.
In this AFC East battle for first place in the division, the winner could come out as the top seed in the AFC while the losing team will be pushed back in the crowded race for an AFC Wild Card spot.
This is a prime spot for the Patriots, who are riding a six-game winning streak and once again looking like a top team in the conference. As 3-point underdogs, they ride into Buffalo to take on a Bills team who must be feeling some pressure with Bill Belichick and crew rising from the ashes to take over the AFC East once again.
The key to this game is obviously rallies around the quarterback position. Can Belichick solve Josh Allen and keep that dangerous Bills’ offense from exploding? How will rookie quarterback Mac Jones perform in a hostile environment with weather threatening to become a factor?
The New England Patriots will have a big advantage in the playoff race with a win
Whichever way this game goes, the Patriots will still find themselves in a good position heading into their bye week. With another game against the Bills at Gillette Stadium, the Pats will still have a chance to win the AFC East. As far as the No. 1 seed in the conference, a win would put the Patriots either on top or keep them a game behind depending on how other games in the AFC go in Week 13.
Win or lose, here are three teams every New England Patriots fans should be rooting against as the AFC playoff race starts to really get heated.
NFL Week 13: Los Angeles Chargers (6-5) vs Cincinnati Bengals (7-4)
While the Patriots feature the top rookie quarterback, this showdown between the Los Angeles Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals feature two second-year quarterbacks trying to lead their teams to the playoffs.
Joe Burrow and the Bengals hold the edge here as 3-point favorites. Not only are they playing at home, but the offensive talent surrounding Burrow is a bigger advantage and challenge for the Chargers. It starts with running back Joe Mixon, who has been dominant on the ground all season long. Burrow also has outstanding rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and second year wide receiver Tee Higgins dominating on the outside.
Can the Chargers defense led by Joey Bosa keep the Bengals’ offense tamed? If not, it will be an offensive track meet as Justin Hebert isn’t too shabby himself.
While this game is advantage Bengals, root for the Chargers. The Patriots own the tiebreaker against the Chargers due to their head-to-head matchup and would remain ahead of them even with a loss to the Bills. It would also keep them ahead of the Bengals in the wild card race as Cincinnati enters Week 13 a game behind the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North.
NFL Week 13: Denver Broncos (6-5) vs Kansas City Chiefs (7-4)
Well, Patrick Mahomes II and the Kansas City Chiefs weren’t down for long.
Riding a four-game winning streak and a resurgent defensive led by Chris Jones, the Chiefs are heavy favorites against a Denver Broncos team that finds themselves in the mix for a Wild Card spot and just a game behind the Chiefs in the AFC West.
It will be a tough ask for a Broncos team led by Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback to go into Arrowhead and upset the Chiefs with the division lead on the line, but stranger things have happened in the NFL this season.
This Sunday Night Football matchup only impacts the New England Patriots if they lose on Monday night. If they win and the Chiefs win, they remain a half game ahead of them as far as top seeding goes. A Patriots loss and a Chiefs loss keeps them ahead of them in the Wild Card, at least following Week 13.
As far as the Wild Card, it may be more beneficial to root against the Denver Broncos, but it is just fun to root against the Chiefs and just thinking down the road, Kansas City even with a loss is a team the Patriots want to have homefield advantage against whether it is as one of the top seeds or as a Wild Card team.
It smells like a Kansas City Chiefs blowout, but the feisty Denver Broncos will find away to make this game competitive. If they score an upset, New England Patriots fans can wake up with a smile on their face…and then hope for a Patriots victory in Buffalo.
NFL Week 13: Baltimore Ravens (8-3) vs Pittsburgh Steelers (5-5-1)
As gratifying as a Kansas City Chiefs loss would be for New England Patriots fans, it would be even more rewarding if the Baltimore Ravens fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13.
Currently the No. 1 seed in the AFC, a Ravens loss and Patriots’ victory on Monday night would propel Bill Belichick and crew to the No. 1 seed entering their bye week.
In this AFC North battle, the Steelers will look to stay in the Wild Card race with a victory. Taking down Lamar Jackson and the Ravens would also put them back in the conversation for the division title.
With Ben Rothlisberger announcing that this will be his last NFL season, it would be fitting for the Steelers to make one last playoff run under the leadership of their franchise quarterback who looks a big hit away from ending his career.
The Steelers will also get a boost with the return of T.J. Watt on defense, which should help them against a Ravens’ offense that has been struggling to score points over the last couple weeks. They did survive the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns, but will the Steelers have their number?
New England Patriots fans should certainly hope so. Come late Monday night, their team could go from a 2-4 start to the top team in the AFC if all goes right in NFL Week 13.