NFL Power Rankings, Week 17: Eagles bury Cowboys, Ravens clinch No. 1 seed
By Dan Parzych
6. New England Patriots (9)
Over the last month or so, the New England Patriots have received all sorts of criticism due to the fact the team just didn’t seem like a top contender in the AFC, especially with some of the struggles on offense.
But after watching the Patriots fight their way to a victory over the Buffalo Bills Saturday night, this was the kind of statement win New England needed to show there’s no reason for concern once the playoffs get underway in January.
If anything, the story seems all too familiar when it comes to New England since there have been numerous occasions throughout the Bill Belichick era in which the Patriots quickly eliminate any concerns once January rolls around.
During the win over the Bills, thank goodness the Patriots found a way to kick things up when it mattered the most by outscoring their rivals 11-0 in the fourth quarter before securing the 24-17 win in Week 16 to improve to 12-3 on the year.
Most likely, there will still be plenty of critics pointing out concerns over New England come playoff time, but as usual, New England will be another one of those teams no one should want to face in a few weeks from now.