Ranking Patriots final four regular season games by level of difficulty

What is the hardest game left on the Patriots’ schedule?

There are only four games left in the regular season, and every one of them will feel like a playoff meeting for the New England Patriots from here on out.

The team is hanging by a thread in a bad AFC division with the No. 7 seed in the playoff picture. As of right now, they’re in control of their own fate, but their situation could be helped if the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Jets completely fall off a cliff. That would allow for at least some breathing room for the murderer’s row slate of opponents ahead.

The Patriots will finish the season out with an even split of two games on the road and two at Gillette Stadium. We’re far enough into the year to accept what we’re seeing is what we’re going to get the rest of the way from this Patriots team.

They’re going to play it completely safe offensively with their makeshift offensive line and underwhelming receiving corps. The main goal will be leaning on the defense to continue to make the sort of game-breaking plays we saw from safety Kyle Dugger an linebacker Raekwon McMillan on Monday night.

Will it be enough to win out or even three of the next four games? You won’t have to wait long to find out. One thing is certain: Nothing will come easy for this Patriots team.

Let’s rank the rest of the team’s schedule by level of difficulty.