Patriots clinch AFC East; No. 1 seed still up for grabs – NBC Boston

The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos will enter the ultimate week of the 2025 NFL common season with a first-round playoff bye at stake.

Because of their dominant win over the New York Jets, the Patriots’ hopes for the AFC’s No. 1 seed are nonetheless alive heading into Week 18. They are going to want a win over the Miami Dolphins subsequent week and a Broncos loss to the Los Angeles Chargers to clinch the highest spot.

As for the race for the AFC East crown, the Patriots formally edged out the Buffalo Payments for his or her first division title since 2019. Buffalo wanted a win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday to remain in competition, however fell 13-12.

So, the place does every little thing stand heading into the regular-season finale? This is a breakdown of the AFC playoff image heading into Week 18:

Present AFC standings

This is a take a look at the AFC standings and the remaining schedules of the groups nonetheless within the playoff hunt. Each workforce not on this record has been eradicated from postseason competition.

1. Denver Broncos (13-3, AFC West chief)
2. New England Patriots (13-3, AFC East chief)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4, AFC South chief)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, AFC North chief)
5. Houston Texans (11-5, First wild card)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5, Second wild card)
7. Buffalo Payments (11-5, Third wild card)
8. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

Race for the No. 1 seed

Since each the Broncos and the Patriots received their Week 17 matchups, the battle for the AFC’s No. 1 seed will come right down to the ultimate week of the common season. Denver owns the tiebreaker over New England attributable to its higher document in opposition to widespread opponents. (New England misplaced to the Raiders in Week 1, whereas Denver beat Las Vegas twice.)

So, for the Patriots to earn the No. 1 seed, this is what should occur:

• The Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins in Week 18.
• The Broncos lose to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18.

The Chargers have received seven of their final 9 video games, and so they handed the Broncos one in every of their three losses earlier this season. If the Broncos lose and the Patriots beat the Dolphins, New England would end because the AFC’s No. 1 seed for the primary time since 2017 and safe a first-round bye within the playoffs.

The Broncos would clinch the highest seed with a Week 18 win, as they personal the tiebreaker over the Patriots. It is also price noting that the Jacksonville Jaguars would overtake the Patriots for the No. 2 seed in the event that they beat the Tennessee Titans and the Pats lose to Miami subsequent week, as Jacksonville owns the tiebreaker (higher convention document).

Race for the AFC East

The Patriots clinched their first AFC East title since 2019 with their Week 17 win over the Jets and the Payments’ loss to the Eagles.

Present playoff matchups

If the season ended at present, the No. 2 seed Patriots would meet the No. 7 Payments for the groups’ third matchup of the season. New England and Buffalo break up their regular-season collection, with the Patriots winning on the road in Week 5 and the Bills returning the favor in Week 15.

• No. 1 Broncos: BYE
• No. 2 Patriots vs. No. 7 Payments
• No. 3 Jaguars vs. No. 6 Chargers
• No. 4 Steelers vs. No. 5 Texans