The Patriots have already clinched the AFC East, so they will be guaranteed a home playoff game come December. However New England has much higher aspirations than that, and the next one on their list is clinching a bye. And there is a reasonable way the Pats can clinch that this upcoming week.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (vs. Tennessee, Sunday)
New England clinches a first-round bye with:
1. NE win + DEN loss OR
2. NE win + CIN loss + DEN tie
Pretty simple.