The path is dead for the New England Patriots.
The 3-10 Patriots were mathematically eliminated from the NFL playoffs after the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
New England has four regular-season games remaining. It’s the earliest a Patriots team has been mathematically eliminated since Bill Belichick’s first season in 2000, per NFL Network.
Despite the fact the Patriots earned a Week 14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on “Thursday Night Football,” New England maintains the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Arizona Cardinals are on their Week 14 bye, which means the Patriots will keep that draft slot for another week.