Following the 34-13 win over the Bengals on Sunday to clinch a playoff berth, the Patriots are 11-3 on the year, but there's still a lot on the line over the final two weeks with home games against the Bills and Dolphins.
Depending on what happens, the Patriots could be anywhere from the No. 1 seed to the No. 5 seed in the postseason.
A win over the Bills on Saturday would clinch the AFC East for an 11th straight season. Even with a loss, they would still win the division with a win over Miami in Week 17, but a win Saturday would go a long way into making things a lot easier for the final week of the season. Two losses to close the year, combined with two Bills wins (vs. Jets in Week 17), would give Buffalo the division title and the Patriots would then be looking at the No. 5 seed.
When it comes to seeding, the Patriots are battling the Chiefs for the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.
As of now, the Patriots are one game ahead of Kansas City (10-4), so if the Patriots win their final two games, they would clinch the No. 2 seed and the bye. But, if they were to drop a game and Kansas City wins out (at Bears, vs. Chargers), the Chiefs would jump them because of their win at Gillette Stadium a few weeks ago. New England would be the No. 3 seed in that scenario.
There's a very slim chance of the Patriots still getting the No. 1 seed, as that would require Baltimore losing its final two games of the year (at Browns, vs. Steelers) and the Patriots winning out. That is extremely unlikely.
So, in simple matters, if the Patriots win their final two games they will win the AFC East and be the No. 2 seed. If they split the final two games, they will be the No. 2 or 3 seed, and if they drop their final two games they will likely be the No. 5 seed.
