The Patriots aren't looking good for a return to the AFC playoffs. New England dropped its third consecutive game to fall to 7-8 after Saturday's 22-18 home loss to Cincinnati.
With only two weeks left in the 2022 regular season, the best the Patriots can finish is 9-8, or one game behind where they finished as an AFC wild card No. 6 seed last season.
Here's breaking down where the Patriots currently stand in the NFL playoff picture and their updated wild-card chances:
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Patriots playoff picture
The Patriots remain No. 8 in the AFC. They are two games behind the No. 6 Chargers (9-6), who clinched a wild-card spot with their win over the Colts and Monday night. The Patriots' only remaining path to the playoffs is jumping the No. 7 Dolphins (8-7), who are one game ahead. The Patriots are up a conference-record tiebreaker over both the No. 9 Jets (7-8), whom they swept and the No. 10 Titans (7-8), whom they don't play.
The only other teams alive in the AFC playoff picture are the No. 11 Steelers (7-8) and No. 12 Raiders (6-9).
What playoff tiebreakers are in the Patriots' favor?
The Patriots have their two wins over the Jets and a road victory over the Steelers in Week 2. They lost to the Raiders in Week 15 and lost their first meeting with the Dolphins in Week 1 with the rematch at New England looming in Week 17.
MORE: Explaining of NFL's tiebreakers work for playoff picture
Patriots' remaining schedule
The Patriots close the season with two tough division games, at home against the Dolphins and on the road against the Bills, who could be resting players in Week 18 depending on whether they have locked up the AFC No. 1 seed as East champions.
Can the Patriots still make the playoffs?
The Patriots have a less than 5 percent chance to make the playoffs at 7-8. They will be eliminated with one more loss, so they must win out vs. a tough slate and hope for some big-time help.
