The New England Patriots are headed to the postseason. That we know, with the team clinching a playoff berth after their win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. We do not know, however, where they’ll sit in the standings or who they’ll face to open the playoffs.
The most likely opponent is the Buffalo Bills. But there is a scenario where the Patriots could jump up to the No. 1 seed and get a first-round bye. Pretty much anything is possible. So let’s dive into the potential playoff opponents. Here’s a ranking of the AFC teams that have not been eliminated from playoff contention heading into Week 18. It’s not just a pure ranking. It’s a look at which teams are and aren’t a good matchup for New England.