It’s been a while, but it really does feel like the New England Patriots are Super Bowl contenders again. They have had lackluster seasons over the past few years, but they now lead the AFC East with no signs of slowing down.

Their edge over the Buffalo Bills in the division is tight, and the Indianapolis Colts share their record, but the Patriots face encouraging odds to earn the top seed in the AFC.

According to PFF, they have a 24 percent chance of securing home-field advantage in the playoffs this postseason.

The Patriots are here to stay 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/KGS9NDPNej

— PFF (@PFF) November 12, 2025

Quarterback Drake Maye has become an NFL MVP candidate, which in turn has made the Patriots legitimate contenders in the conference. But with such expectations comes a lot of pressure.

These odds support the optimism surrounding the team, but it also means they cannot afford any mistakes. Even games that should be easy wins, like in Week 11 at home against the New York Jets on “Thursday Night Football,” leave little room for error.

It’s also important to note that the Jets, as bad as they have been, have won two games in a row. They would love to make an example of their rivals.

The good news for the Patriots is that many people consider the rest of their schedule to be rather easy. They have only one more game against a team that currently has a winning record.

The Patriots are looking to win their eighth consecutive game, which would increase their chances of claiming the No. 1 seed. Meanwhile, the Jets are hoping to show that they do have some fight in them after all and can take down one of the best teams in the league.

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