5 intriguing NFL matchups to watch during Patriots bye week

New England Patriots

Multiple games on Sunday will carry major playoff implications in the AFC.

The Patriots won’t be taking the field in Week 14, but across the NFL there are plenty of important matchups that could affect the playoff picture in the AFC.

New England is a virtual lock to make the playoffs and is in the driver’s seat to earn the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first round bye. But the playoff field around it could shift dramatically based on the outcomes of every game down the stretch, beginning with a few loaded AFC matchups on Sunday.

Here are five key matchups for Patriots fans to watch in Week 14:

Bills vs. Bengals, 1 p.m.

There are obvious reasons why the Bills are a key team to watch on Sunday. They’re still in the hunt to win the AFC East, and could certainly be a team the Patriots see in the postseason. On top of that, New England will host the Bills in Foxborough in Week 15, making their week 14 matchup all the more compelling. 

The Patriots already hold wins over both the Bills and the Bengals, but if Cincinnati hands Buffalo a loss Sunday, it would make the race for the AFC East even more lopsided. Regardless of the outcome of that game though, New England can guarantee an AFC East crown with a win over the Bills in Week 15. 

Still, Bills-Bengals will be a good precursor to the AFC East matchup that awaits. 

Chiefs vs. Texans, 8:20 p.m.

If the Patriots end up losing out on the No. 1 seed in the AFC, this game could go a long way towards determining their wildcard matchup.

Both the Chiefs and Texans are on the playoff bubble heading into Week 14. Houston is 7-5 and is still within striking distance of the Colts and Jaguars in the AFC South. The Chiefs at 6-6, though, will need to go 5-0 or 4-1 to have any realistic chance of making the playoffs.

If Kansas City does get in, they’d arguably be the most dangerous No. 7 seed for New England to face, given their above-average defense and major advantage in postseason experience. So Patriots fans might be rooting for a Texans upset on Sunday Night Football to put the Chiefs in a more precarious position regarding their odds to make the playoffs. 

Ravens vs. Steelers, 1 p.m.

The Ravens-Steelers matchup could determine which team goes on to win the AFC North, given both teams sit at 6-6 heading into their conference clash. 

New England will also see Baltimore in Week 16, so Patriots fans could get a look at what Vrabel and Maye will be up against in one of the harder remaining games on their schedule. 

The AFC North currently has only one projected playoff team, so this matchup would not have major implications on who New England might play in the first round. But if the Patriots secure the first round bye, the AFC North winner could wind up being their divisional round foe. 

Jaguars vs. Colts, 1 p.m.

Similarly to the Ravens and Steelers matchup, the Colts and Jaguars will be battling for an advantage over the other to win the AFC South. 

The Colts started out red hot, but are riding a two game losing streak that put both Jacksonville and Houston back in the mix to win the division. The Colts and Jaguars are both 8-4 and have yet to play each other, so the head to head matchups will go a long way towards determining who wins the division. 

For the Patriots, whoever wins the AFC South would be a potential divisional round matchup. And since the AFC South is projected to have two playoff spots, the second place team might be in the mix as a wildcard opponent for New England. Either way, both the Jaguars and Colts are teams to watch down the stretch.

Raiders vs. Broncos, 4 p.m.

The Broncos have tougher games remaining on their schedule, but every matchup from here on out will have implications for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Denver and New England have the best records in the AFC by a substantial enough margin to call the conference a two-horse race. So, if the Raiders upset the Broncos on Sunday, that would be a major boost to the Patriots’ odds to earn the playoff bye.