Nitpicks & Nitwits: Looking Ahead, Because That’s What We Do

One week at a time, one game at a time.

It’s a tired, trite cliche, but it’s a mantra that coaches and players live by, no matter the sport. Bill Belichick is famous for his “we’re onto Cincinnati” focus, meaning that his attention is on nothing but the next game on the schedule.

Sure, that makes sense. But that doesn’t mean we have play by those rules.

Suddenly, thanks to Sunday’s play, the New England Patriots find themselves squarely IN the postseason picture within the AFC, through 10 weeks. With the Chargers’ loss to San Francisco Sunday night – as bad as it may have seemed for the Patriots at various points thus far – New England presently holds the final playoff position in the conference.

In fact – all FOUR of the AFC East teams may well be postseason-bound, which has never before happened in NFL history, for all teams within a single division.

The possibilities are endless. The last seven weeks of the regular season should be fraught with fantastic finishes (did we get a sneak peek with Buffalo-Minnesota Sunday?) and fabulous failures.

And the Patriots are square in the middle of it all. Isn’t that really all you can ask for?

Peeling back the curtain on what lies ahead:

Home vs. New York Jets, Nov. 20

The Patriots managed one of their better overall performances against the J-E-T-S the first time around at the end of October, winning 22-17 on the road. Since then, they beat the Bills and have likely been licking their chops for the rematch at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots’ winning streak is 13-straight over New York. Is that lucky or unlucky?

At Minnesota, Nov. 24

A rare Thanksgiving Day/Night matchup with a team that is currently 8-1 and pulled off an unlikely win Sunday against – those Buffalo Bills. Why does it seem like everyone, but New England, is picking on Buffalo? Justin Jeffersons‘ amazing one-handed grab – on a 4th and 18 play, no less – is the Play of the Year thus far in Minnesota’s OT win over the Bills.

They’ve got some serious juju going on. The short week and quick turnaround – for both teams – can be a disadvantage. But the Vikes have this game at home, with juju.

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Home vs. Buffalo, Dec. 1

Oh yeah. The Bills. Almost forgot they were still on the schedule…twice! Miami has surged ahead of the Bills in the AFC East, and as a result, Buffalo falls to 3rd in the division (behind the J-E-T-S!) and in the six-spot within the postseason chase.

Raise your hand if you believe Buffalo will stay in this position or drop further from this point forward. Raise your hand if you’re suffering from BDS – Bills Delusional Syndrome. This team still hasn’t punted the ball against the Patriots in a year.

At Arizona Dec. 12/at Las Vegas Dec. 18

Suddenly, this two-game western swing doesn’t appear to be as daunting as it looked to be over the summer, does it? Granted, neither team presently is positioned for their own postseason push, but stranger things have happened.

Like Miami AND the NY Jets jumping Buffalo in the AFC East. The Patriots will need to contend with season-long (thus far) trouble containing a mobile quarterback (Kyler Murray) and kick a former loyal soldier struggling in his debut as the head coach of the Raiders (Josh McDaniels) while he’s down.

Hey Josh, you’ve always got a spot here in New England. How many times do you think those words have been said recently?

Home vs. Cincinnati, Dec. 24

Finally, the Patriots will be “onto Cincinnati,” even if this one is played Christmas Eve. The Bengals have not (yet) played to their defending AFC Championship capabilities, but they’re certainly still in the hunt for the postseason. They also still have arguably the most dynamic young QB in the league (Sorry, Mac) with Joe Burrow still upright. Will a playoff spot be waiting under the tree for the victor?

Home vs. Miami, Jan. 1

It’s too far out yet to zero in on the matchup particulars here. But we can say this – Miami may very well have the best one-two punch at receiver in the league, with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle doing their best impressions of Mark Duper and Mark Clayton from the ’80s and early ’90s.

Tua Tagovailoa is like the watch from the old Timex TV commercials of the same era – he “takes a lickin’, and keeps on tickin”. And Miami has since added Bradley Chubb to the edge on defense. September seems like a long time ago.

At Buffalo, Week 18

Only because right now, we don’t know exactly when they’ll play, flex schedules being what they are these days. But chances are very strong this game will have major playoff implications with it, not to mention potential seeding involved for both.

Two major questions should arise: 1) Is Josh Allen healthy enough for the Patriots’ defense to try to stop; 2) is Buffalo’s defense capable of giving up another lead like the one they gave up (27-10, 3rd quarter) to Minnesota?

As of this moment, the Patriots are a p-p-playoff team.

Said in my best Jim Mora voice: “Playoffs? Are you kiddin’ me? Playoffs?”

It’s true. But there’s still a long road to travel. The possibilities are endless, the actual outcomes too numerous to consider.

Said in my best Bart Scott voice – “can’t wait.”