The New England Patriots returned to practice today after a much-needed bye week. The team got healthy during the week, and they received help from around the league. The trajectory of their season has now changed, and the Patriots have a golden opportunity ahead of them.
Over the weekend, the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers helped the Patriots by defeating the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Chargers. The losses put the Patriots firmly in playoff position and give them a shot at winning the division. If the playoffs started today, the Patriots would be the seventh seed and would face the Miami Dolphins in the Wild Card round.
Earlier in the season, the Patriots’ playoff chances and division hopes were slim, but they are now firmly in the mix. Everything is falling into place for the Patriots as they are getting healthy, and they were able to address their problems during the bye week. The challenge for the Patriots will be their tough schedule following the bye. In a 12-day span following the bye, the Patriots will play the New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, and Buffalo Bills, who are all playoff teams.
The tough schedule means the Patriots need to be ready to go following the bye. Last season, the Patriots fell apart following the bye week, and it started with a 10-point loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots need to start strong following the bye and take care of business. Mac Jones and the offense need to have their problems figured out because they are holding the team back.
The Patriots have a golden opportunity in front of them as they control their destiny and could make noise down the stretch. With four division games remaining, the Patriots have a chance to win the division and host a playoff game. This would be a tremendous achievement considering the start of the season.
At the end of the season, the impact of the bye week will be seen in where the Patriots finish.
Talking Pats 