The New England Patriots are headed back to the NFL Playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season. It is only the second time they have reached the postseason since legendary quarterback Tom Brady parted ways with the team following the 2019 campaign, after 20 seasons in New England.
With their defeat of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, the Patriots also finish with 14 regular-season wins, only the sixth time in the 66-year history of the franchise that New England has reached that total, or exceeded it.
What does it all mean?
Very simply, it means that the Patriots will host at least one playoff game, and if they win it, they will host a second one.
The AFC Championship game would be next, and if the No. 1-seeded Denver Broncos have survived that far, the Patriots would go on the road to Mile High Stadium to play that one for a chance to return to the Super Bowl for the 12th time in franchise history.
If the Broncos do not survive until the AFC Championship, but the Patriots do, New England would host that game as well.
Finishing with the No. 2 seed, the Patriots must play on Wild Card Weekend. That means their next game will take place on one of three days â Saturday, January 10, Sunday, January 11, or Monday night, January 12.
Patriots’ Opponent on Wild Card Weekend
Heading into Sunday’s game against the Dolphins, there were three possible opponents they could face in their opening playoff game, and four scenarios. They could face the Buffalo Bills â for the third time this season â the Los Angeles Chargers or the Houston Texans.
Or they could get the No. 1 seed and play no one, instead taking a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
As things turned out, however, the Patriots overcame a slow first half to blow by the Dolphins. The Jaguars crushed Tennessee, Houston survived a scare from the Colts, the Bills annihilated the Jets, and Denver held on to defeat the Chargers.
The result â the No. 2-seeded Patriots will host the No. 7 seed Los Angeles Chargers on Wild Card Weekend at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. That game will be the first postseason contest at Gillette since January 4, 2020, when New England faced the Tennessee Titans, then coached by Mike Vrabel, now head coach of the Patriots.
Tennessee won that one 20-13 in Brady’s final game as a Patriot.
Patriots Have Been Better on the Road
By securing the No. 2 seed, New England guaranteed that Gillette Stadium would host not just one but two playoff games â assuming that the Patriots defeat the Chargers in their Wild Card game. Their next opponent would be the winner of the first-round game between Jacksonville and Buffalo, in a Divisional Round game taking place on either January 17 or January 18.
Either way, the Patriots will be the home team in the Divisional Round game, if they beat Los Angeles and get there.
But is that an advantage for New England? All three of their losses this season came at home. In fact, with their 8-0 away record, the Patriots finished the season as the NFL’s only undefeated road team.
The Patriots are only the 12th team since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, creating the modern NFL, to go unbeaten on the road. Two of those other teams were also the Patriots, in 2007 and 2016. The San Francisco 49ers have also accomplished the feat three times, in 1984, 1989 and 1990.
The Detroit Lions (2024), Kansas City Chiefs (2020), Dallas Cowboys (2014), St. Louis Rams (2001), Washington Commanders (then called the “Redskins”) (1982) and Miami Dolphins (1972) are the only other teams to put together undefeated road seasons.
If the Patriots get to the AFC Championship game, whether they host or not, they will play on January 25. The Super Bowl will take place on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California â the second time that the 12-year-old stadium has hosted the NFLâs ultimate game.
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