FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS — After a bad night in Denver, Chad Ryland redeemed himself with a game-winning kick that cut through the thin Rocky Mountain air and into the uprights on Sunday, earning the Patriots an upset victory over the Broncos.
The Broncos were within striking reach of the playoffs when they were defeated. What about this week? Russell Wilson is no longer the starter, and reports suggest that he will not even be on the squad in spring.
Now, the Patriots go to Buffalo to face a Buffalo Bills squad that appears to have turned its ship around. (Do you remember Ken Dorsey?)
According to The Upshot’s 2023 N.F.L. playoff simulator, the Bills now have a 91 percent chance of making the playoffs. A loss to the Patriots would reduce that possibility. Can the Patriots once again play spoiler on Sunday?
Here’s what else you should know about the team:
Wilson will be replaced by former Patriot Jarrett Stidham, but is it really possible that he would return to Stidham’s old haunts?
The Athletic originally compiled a list of clubs that might be interested in Wilson, with beat reporter Chad Graff merely remarking that the Pats need a quarterback, which Wilson still is.
The Patriots’ first-round pick in 2024 is a huge caveat. Despite their struggles, the team could still be in the running for either Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, the two top quarterback prospects in the 2018 draft.
The win over Denver knocked them out of the top two picks, but a trade isn’t out of the question. Even if they do miss,
