The New England Patriots could face the Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs or Houston Texans in the divisional round of the playoffs, but there's one opponent they still have to beat: the injury bug.
It's rare that the Patriots' playoff hopes are pinned on any one man, unless that man's name is either quarterback Tom Brady or head coach Bill Belichick, but this year appears to be giving a new exception to that rule. The Patriots are 2-4 in their past six games, which is one fewer game than they have been without wide receiver Julian Edelman.
And if the Patriots are going to advance in the postseason, Edelman is one of the guys that is being counted on the most to make it happen.