Welcome to the Pats Fan’s Rooting Guide to Week 10. Herein we lay out all of the diehard fan’s interests in every game that could potentially or directly affect the Patriots’ playoff hopes.
Things didn’t break their way most of Week 9, save their last-minute win vs the Jets. And the Colts beat the Titans on TNF, leaving them tied for the AFC South lead at 6-3, the loser in pole position for a Wild Card slot as of now. BUT, a new week brings new hope and many games to cheer voraciously against division and conference foes aplenty. Anyone who believes the Pats should lose or tank for draft status can go pick up wet leaves with no gloves on.
Four games with potential playoff implications that will have already finished beyond the fan-free confines of Gillette Stadium where the Pats host the Ravens Sunday night. Ready? [Joker voice] And here ... we ... GO.
TEXANS (2-6) @ BROWNS (5-3) - 1 p.m.
The Patriots, who have their work cut out for them this week, face the Texans next week in Houston. They clearly control that path, whereas they don’t face the Browns, who have two games on the Pats for a potential Wild Card birth. Classic NFL playoff behavior, to root for a team one week, only to turn your back against them the following week. We’ll worry about the collective toll this behavior takes on our soul later. Go TEXANS.
CHARGERS (2-6) @ DOLPHINS (5-3) - 4:05 p.m.
The Dolphins, lead by rookie Tua Tagolailoa, are two games ahead of the Pats, and this weekend host the Chargers, lead by rookie Justin Herbert. The Chargers might be the greatest “get an early lead only to find a way to blow it” team in recent history, whereas the Dolphins are one of the sneakier “How did these guys get to five wins already?” teams we can think of. The Pats play the Chargers and the Dolphins once each the rest of the way, and there’s no time better for the other LA team to figure out how to finish games out than when it benefits New England’s slim playoff hopes. Go CHARGERS.
BRONCOS (3-5) @ RAIDERS (5-3) - 4:05 p.m.
Well ain’t this a damned if you do, damned if you do as well type of game. The Pats already beat the Raiders, but they have the better record. While the Pats lost, embarrassingly so if we may editorialize, to the Broncos, therefore setting both teams ahead of New England in the postseason pecking order. Denver has the much tougher schedule ahead, so we’ll let the rest of the league’s lumber take care of them after this week. In the immediate let’s hope the sun shines on a Broncos rear on the road in Vegas Sunday. Knock on wood if you’re with me. Go BRONCOS.
BILLS (7-2) @ CARDINALS - 4:05 p.m.
Buffalo has a 3.5 game lead on the Pats in the AFC East, plus the head-to-head tiebreaker. And though a Wild Card birth is much more likely we’re not in give up country just yet. The Pats have games with both of these teams the rest of the way. We’ll worry about how many points the Kyler & Company can hang on the Pats later. For now let’s hope Arizona can start picking at Buffalo’s chunky East lead for us. Go CARDINALS.