The Patriots get their shot at the Jets on Sunday, but the real playoff implications this week aren't in East Rutherford. They're in Denver. While a Seattle win over the Broncos might sting given New England's Week 5 loss to the Seahawks, it's actually the outcome Mike Vrabel's staff should be pulling for — and the math is simple.
Denver isn't just another AFC team. The Broncos are a direct playoff competitor in the AFC West, and in a tight postseason race, every divisional loss compounds. The Patriots are fighting for playoff position right now, and watching Denver rack up losses is more valuable than taking solace in Seattle's stumble against New England. That's the unsexy reality of modern playoff positioning: sometimes your own loss is worth it if it knocks out a rival's conference record.
This is exactly the kind of granular thinking that separates competitive teams from pretenders. Vrabel knows the landscape. He knows which teams are clogging up the AFC bracket. He knows that a 3-3 Broncos team is easier to leapfrog than a 4-2 one, regardless of head-to-head results. The rooting guide this week reflects that bigger-picture mentality — not vindication, but mathematics.
Of course, none of this matters if the Patriots can't handle their business against the Jets. Three wins in a row would be genuine momentum, the kind that transforms a roster's narrative heading into the season's second half. But while Vrabel and the offense are preparing for New York, it doesn't hurt to have a rooting interest in Thursday night's matchup. That's how you build a playoff team: executing your own game plan while staying locked in on the AFC's overall landscape.
The Jets game is the priority. Seattle-Denver is just good housekeeping.
Based on reporting from Pats Pulpit.