This Crucial Non-Draft Patriots Info Will Be Revealed After Finale

Draft position won’t be the only thing on the line when the Patriots play their final game of the 2024 season Sunday.

The outlook of New England’s 2025 schedule also will be dictated by how Jerod Mayo’s side fares against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium. Even though the Patriots are in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 overall draft pick, they still haven’t cemented themselves into last place in the AFC East.

ESPN’s Mike Reiss broke down New England’s scheduling scenarios ahead of the Week 18 action.

“If they lose to the Bills, they would finish last in the division and play last-place teams from the AFC West (Raiders) and NFC East (Giants) at home next season and the last-place team from the AFC South (Titans) on the road,” Reiss wrote.

“If the Patriots beat the Bills and the Jets lose to the Dolphins at home, New England would finish third in the division as a result of splitting the season series with the Jets and having a better division record. The Patriots would then play third-place teams from the AFC West (Broncos) and NFC East (Cowboys) at home next season and the third-place team from the AFC South (Jaguars) on the road.”

So, for multiple reasons, it would be in the Patriots’ interest to close out the campaign with a seventh straight defeat.