The Patriots host the 7-9 Miami Dolphins for the final game of the regular season, and although they’ve already won the division, there’s still plenty of significance to the matchup.
Seeding scenarios
How the AFC bracket shakes out is largely outside of the Patriots’ control, but they should still push to win Sunday. A Broncos loss to the Chargers, (unlikely given Justin Herbert’s rest) could elevate the Patriots to the 1-seed and gift them the valuable lone bye in the playoffs. If the Broncos and the Jaguars, (who face the 3-13 Titans), both win and the Patriots lose, the Jags will move into the 2-seed and push the Patriots down to the 3-seed.
What’s equally intriguing, however, is where Buffalo will end up. Josh Allen hasn’t practice this week, which would indicate he’s likely to rest in Week 18.
If the Bills lose to the Jets behind backup Mitch Trubisky, they remain the 7-seed and would travel to Foxboro Wild Card Weekend. The outcome will be the same if the Chargers, Texans, and Jaguars all win in Week 18 – regardless of how the Bills perform.
Drake Maye MVP campaign
Week 18 is an opportunity for second-year quarterback Drake Maye to either further strengthen his case for MVP against 37-year-old Matthew Stafford, or play himself out of the lead he currently holds by most oddsmakers.
Head coach Mike Vrabel will also need to consider protecting Maye’s health ahead of the playoffs, especially as other starting quarterbacks around the conference take the week off.
Best record in 9 seasons
With a victory over Miami, the Patriots would finish the season 14-3. The last 14-win season they posted was in 2016, when Bill Belichick and Tom Brady went on to beat the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl.
Contract incentives
Stefon Diggs made $500,000 last week when he passed 80 catches, one of many performance incentive bonuses written into his agreement. He can win another $500,000 by: recording eight more catches (90 total), or reaching 30 more receiving yards, (1,000 total).
Hunter Henry made $250,000 last week when he reached 55 receptions, a single-season career high. He can make another $250,000 if he reaches 60, or a total of $500,000 if he reaches 65.
K’Lavon Chaisson has already earned an extra $500,000 by passing the 5-sack threshold with his 6.5 this season. Another half-sack will earn him a further $500,000.