The Patriots are still hanging around the playoff race, but the path forward is getting narrower by the week.
New England enters Week 10 three games behind the Bills in the AFC East, which makes a division title look like a long shot. The more realistic route is a wild-card spot, where the Patriots are currently tied with Cleveland for the final playoff position, the No. 7 seed, while sitting behind Kansas City and Cincinnati. New England does hold the tiebreaker over the Browns because of its 5-1 record against conference opponents.
That’s the good news. The rest of it is a mess the Patriots haven’t figured out how to clean up.
They’ve been all over the map in 2026, starting with sloppy football, showing some progress, and then sliding right back into the same mistakes. That pattern showed up again in last week’s 45-27 home loss to the Green Bay Packers, when New England turned it over four times. Now the Patriots are in Munich preparing for a matchup with the 6-2 Detroit Lions, and a 5-5 return home feels like the most likely outcome.
There’s also the possibility the AFC East gap grows again, with Buffalo heading to East Rutherford, New Jersey, to face the Jets this week.
Even so, the teams chasing New England for that final playoff spot haven’t exactly inspired fear. Cleveland is 5-4, Las Vegas and Baltimore are both 4-5, and Houston is 3-5. That’s why there’s still a sliver of hope here - if the Patriots can get back to playing cleaner football and finally get healthier.
Right now, though, the turnover problem is dragging everything down.
Drake Maye has been at the center of it. He has 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions through nine games, and the Patriots’ 19 giveaways are second only to the winless Chargers in games played. After an MVP-worthy 2025, Maye has looked like a quarterback searching for his rhythm in his third season.
Some of that can be traced to the injuries around him. A.J.
Brown and Romeo Doubs were supposed to be New England’s top two receivers, but both have been limited. Doubs has missed the last three games with a shoulder injury, while Brown has sat out the past two with knee and ankle issues.
Even when they’ve been on the field, they haven’t made much of an impact.
That leaves Maye with a lot to carry, but the burden still falls on him to overcome the problems in front of him. If he can’t, the Patriots could wind up on the outside looking in when playoff time arrives.
The issues aren’t limited to the passing game, either. New England needs healthier bodies across the roster, including offensive linemen Alijah Vera-Tucker and Ben Brown, plus running back TreVeyon Henderson. The offensive line depth has become a glaring concern, and the numbers around Maye tell the story: 20 sacks, 29 hurries, 27 hits, 76 pressures, and 28 scrambles, the most in the NFL over nine games.
That lack of protection has fueled more questions about the Patriots’ offseason approach, along with the decision to cut Stefon Diggs and trade Kayshon Boutte. Fans are also still looking at the team’s choice to stand pat at the trade deadline and wondering what might have changed if the roster had been reinforced.
Injuries are part of every NFL season, but New England doesn’t have much coming to the rescue now. The Patriots are in the playoff hunt, but they don’t look like the team that made a spirited run through the AFC last season.
In Other News...
Patriots Suddenly Face A Bigger Problem Than Just The Lions
The Patriots are heading into Week 10 at 5-4, but the bigger concern may be what their own locker room looks like after a rough defensive showing against the Packers. DeMario Douglas said the team needs more energy and better cohesion on the sideline, a reminder that New Englands push to stay in the race is going to depend on more than just one side of the ball.
Injuries and roster issues have already made the margin for error thinner, and the Patriots know they need to tighten up their complementary football if they want to remain competitive the rest of the way. Detroit is the next test, but the more immediate challenge is making sure the group comes together quickly enough to avoid letting a promising start slip into something far less stable. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Suddenly Have A Backfield Fix Worth Watching
The Patriots backfield has been thinned out enough that the next move at running back is suddenly worth watching. Treveyon Henderson is out indefinitely because of neurological issues, Rhamondre Stevenson is also dealing with an injury, and that has left New England looking at outside help to keep the position from becoming a week-to-week scramble.
Najee Harris has emerged as a name that fits the moment. The veteran running back was recently released by the Giants, and he would give the Patriots a player who could help right away while also offering some stability later in the season. There has been no official signing or even reported negotiations yet, but the fit is obvious enough that this is the kind of roster thread New England cant ignore for long. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Offense Suddenly Has A Huge Munich Concern
The Patriots trip to Munich has picked up some late-week uncertainty on offense, with A.J. Brown and Rhamondre Stevenson both landing on the questionable list for Sundays game against the Lions. Brown is dealing with ankle and knee injuries after being limited in practice, while Stevenson is working through a knee issue of his own and also took part on a limited basis.
For a New England offense already trying to find its footing, the timing is less than ideal. The team also ruled out three players and added several more to the questionable group, leaving the injury report crowded enough to make the final availability picture worth watching right up to kickoff. [Read more 🡒]