Here’s a Crazy Scenario Where Patriots Earn No. 1 Seed in AFC
By Peter Dewey
The New England Patriots still have a path to the No. 1 seed in the AFC after the Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17.
It’s a long shot that New England can re-take the lead in the AFC East and the AFC in Week 18, but we’ve seen some strange things happen before in the NFL.
Here’s a breakdown of the scenario for the Patriots to earn the top seed in the conference.
There's a long-shot path to the No. 1 seed for the Patriots. They need the following to happen:
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) January 3, 2022
1. Patriots beat Dolphins
2. Texans beat Titans
3. Broncos beat Chiefs
4. Jets beat Bills
The Titans, Chiefs and Bills are all double-digit favorites.
At WynnBET Sportsbook, the Patriots have opened as -290 favorites on the moneyline to beat the Miami Dolphins in Week 18, but the rest of the teams they need to win are major underdogs in Week 18.
Want to know every AFC team's odds to secure the No. 1 seed should the Titans lose on Sunday? We've got you covered!
- Chiefs' Odds for the No. 1 Seed in the AFC
- Bengals' Odds for the No. 1 Seed in the AFC
- Patriots' Odds for the No. 1 Seed in AFC
Odds for Patriots to Earn No. 1 Seed in AFC in Week 18
Let’s break down the moneyline odds for each team that would need to win for the Patriots to grab the top seed in the conference.
- New England Patriots (-290) at Miami Dolphins
- Houston Texans (+400) vs. Tennessee Titans
- Denver Broncos (+350) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- New York Jets (+775) at Buffalo Bills
The Patriots would need three teams that are double-digits underdogs in Week 18, and eliminated from any postseason contention, to come through and pull off upsets for this scenario to happen.
However, if you believe in the Patriots to get it done, you can take your shot on a parlay at WynnBET Sportsbook for all four of these games to go the Patriots’ way at +26376 odds.
A $25 bet would earn you 6,594.07 if all four of these teams won in Week 18.
Patriots Could Still Win AFC East
While the No. 1 seed is a long shot, the Patriots could grab the AFC East title if the Buffalo Bills lose to the New York Jets in Week 18. New England would also need to beat the Dolphins, but this scenario is a little easier for the Patriots than relying on multiple bottom dwellers in the AFC to pull off upsets.
Regardless, Mac Jones, Bill Belichick and company will be back in the playoffs this season after clinching against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.