Following a tough 28-24 win against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16, the New England Patriots improved to 12-3 on the season and have clinched a spot in the playoffs. After two turnovers in the first half, Drake Maye helped lead the Patriots to victory, leaving time to tell how much more momentum they can grow before the postseason begins.
After losing to the Buffalo Bills, Sunday's effort was a much-needed step in the right direction. While the Patriots have already clinched a playoff spot, they still need to win the division and have a chance of being the AFC's No. 1 seed. What will make things challenging for the Patriots is an unfortunate injury update.
On Tuesday, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel announced that offensive guard Jared Wilson, running back TreVeyon Henderson, and wideout Kayshon Boutte have entered the concussion protocol, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. Henderson exited the game in the first half against the Ravens with a head injury and didn't return, while Boutte hit his head on a catch attempt.
Should they miss the Week 17 game, the newly extended Ben Brown could get the start in place of Wilson, while Kyle Williams and Rhamondre Stevenson fill in for Boutte and Henderson.
Most of the time, injuries at the end of the season can doom a team's season. New England has had its fair share of injuries these past few weeks, with Robert Spillane being the most recent one before Week 16. Though some might view these as hurtful for the Patriots right now, given the Patriots' current standing and remaining schedule, a silver lining exists for New England.
Patriots' New Injuries Aren't the End of the World
For the last two games of the season, New England will take on the New York Jets in Week 17 and the Miami Dolphins in Week 18. Against the Jets in Week 17, the Patriots should be able to win even if they are down some starters. New York has struggled all year, holding a 3-12 record, and struggled against the New Orleans Saints in Week 16, only scoring six points.
The Patriots are also a one-sided 17-2 in their last 19 encounters against the Jets, which includes Week 11's 27-14 win at Gillette Stadium.
Miami, on the other hand, has shown a bit more fight than the Jets, but has still had a rough season with a 6-9 record. One thing to watch with the Dolphins is the quarterback position, with rookie Quinn Ewers taking over the starting role. Ewers didn't have the greatest first game and could be an easy win for the Patriots in the final week of the regular season.
Given that the Patriots have already clinched a playoff spot and have two easy games remaining, the team's new concussion concerns might not be as bad had they happened earlier in the season. The Pats have already beaten the Jets and Dolphins this season, so it isn't like they can't handle their AFC East rivals despite being a bit shorthanded.
Starting off January with a healthy Wilson, Boutte, and Henderson could be key to any noise that New England will make this postseason. If that means having the trio miss one or both of the next games, so be it.