FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots are AFC East champions again and will head into the final week of the regular season with a shot at the conference's No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
But Sunday's 42-10 win over the the New York Jets was about taking a moment to savor how unstoppable the Patriots have been away from their home stadium this season.
''Like that sign out there on the highway out there said: ‘Road Work Continues,''' Patriots coach Mike Vrabel told his team in the locker room after the victory gave his team an 8-0 road record. ''We have to have a mindset that there's a lot of work left. But what we've done is pretty special. But we've got to keep thinking ahead.''
No matter what, the Patriots will host their first home playoff game since 2019. That, paired with their first division title since that same season, checks off two preseason goals Vrabel set for his first team in New England.
But having already joined the Chicago Bears to mark the 20th time in the past 23 seasons (2003-2025) that at least one team has won its division after finishing last or tied for last the previous year, chasing the top seed adds stakes to a regular-season finale matchup with a Miami Dolphins (7-9) team that has already been eliminated from playoff contention.
The scenario is simple to win the top seed: beat Miami, plus a win by the Los Angeles Chargers over the Denver Broncos (13-3).
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez believes the Patriots can find a way to carry the success they've had on the road this season back home.
''Unfinished business was the theme of the week. Coming in here and getting a win and going 8-0 on the road,'' Gonzalez said. ''To be able to go out and win multiple tough games on the road – Tampa, Baltimore – and then come in here and finish the deal, as a young team, that's a really big thing for us. Now, we're on to Miami.''
