After grinding out a 28-24 win over the Ravens in Week 16, the New England Patriots are officially playoff-bound at 12-3. It wasn’t the cleanest performance-two early turnovers had them playing catch-up-but rookie quarterback Drake Maye showed poise beyond his years, leading a second-half rally that kept New England in the driver’s seat heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Coming off a tough loss to the Bills, this was a bounce-back the Patriots needed. The AFC playoff picture is still far from settled, and while the Patriots have punched their ticket, there’s still plenty on the line.
A division title is within reach, and the No. 1 seed is still in play. But as the postseason inches closer, New England’s depth is about to be tested.
On Tuesday, head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed that three key offensive contributors-guard Jared Wilson, running back TreVeyon Henderson, and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte-have entered concussion protocol. Henderson exited the Ravens game in the first half and didn’t return, while Boutte took a hit to the head on a contested catch. Wilson’s status also raises concerns, especially given his role in anchoring the offensive line.
If any of the trio is sidelined for Week 17, the Patriots will have to shuffle the deck. Ben Brown, who just inked a contract extension, could slide in for Wilson.
In the backfield, Rhamondre Stevenson and Kyle Williams are likely to shoulder the load if Henderson can’t go. And with Boutte out wide potentially unavailable, Williams might also see increased snaps in the passing game.
This kind of late-season injury news usually sends up red flags. Depth gets tested, chemistry gets disrupted, and momentum can stall.
But for New England, there’s reason to believe this won’t derail their trajectory. Not yet, anyway.
The final two games of the regular season are against the Jets and the Dolphins-two divisional opponents who, on paper, don’t pose the same threat as Baltimore or Buffalo. The Jets limp into Week 17 with a 3-12 record and just six points scored last week against the Saints.
They’ve struggled all year offensively, and history isn’t on their side either. The Patriots have dominated the matchup in recent years, going 17-2 in their last 19 meetings, including a 27-14 win back in Week 11.
Week 18 brings the Dolphins, who have shown more fight than the Jets but still sit at 6-9. Miami is in the midst of a transition at quarterback, with rookie Quinn Ewers now under center.
Ewers had a rocky debut, and while he may develop into a long-term answer in Miami, right now he’s still finding his footing. That could work in New England’s favor, especially if they’re looking to rest starters or manage injuries ahead of the postseason.
So yes, the injuries are unfortunate. But the timing?
It could be worse. The Patriots have already clinched, and they’ve already beaten both the Jets and Dolphins this season.
Even if they’re a bit shorthanded, they’re not walking into unfamiliar territory.
The bigger picture is this: if sitting Wilson, Henderson, and Boutte for a week-or even two-means they’re healthy for January football, it’s a trade-off New England can afford to make. Because when the postseason starts, the margin for error shrinks, and every healthy body counts.
The Patriots aren’t limping into the playoffs-they’re managing the stretch run. And if they can close out the regular season with smart decisions and a little help from their depth chart, they’ll be in a strong position to make noise when it matters most.