Patriots begin planning for season finale with major draft implications looming
With a loss to the Buffalo Bills in the regular season finale on Sunday, the New England Patriots would clinch the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Will that reality impact how they approach the game?
With the New York Giants’ win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the New England Patriots are now in position to land the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. They are one of four teams tied with a 3-13 record heading into the final week of the regular season, but due to the strength of schedule tiebreaker sit at the top of the draft order as things currently stand.
A loss to the Buffalo Bills in the regular season finale this Sunday would clinch the top spot for the Patriots. At this point even through tiebreakers no other team can jump them in the draft order – unless the Patriots pick up a fourth win by beating the Bills to close out the year at Gillette Stadium.
That being said, don’t put that draft order in permanent marker just yet. The Patriots will be welcoming the Bills into Foxborough after playing them close two weeks ago. Plus, this time around the Bills may not be going all-out to win the game in their own right. Buffalo is already locked into the second seed in the AFC playoff picture, meaning the outcome of this game cannot impact their playoff outlook at all.
Would the Patriots sit their own starters as well, given the draft pick implications? Head coach Jerod Mayo was asked that during his Monday morning press conference.
“We’re 100% focused on beating the Buffalo Bills, and that’s what we have to do,” Mayo replied.
At the same time, there’s also an argument to be made for the Patriots sitting key players out of caution, to make sure they don’t pick up any injuries in a meaningless game heading into 2025.
“I would say right now, everything is in consideration, and we’ll see how the week goes,” Mayo said when asked about that possibility, adding “my expectation is if the guys are healthy, then they’re expected to be ready to go out there and play. Again, we’ll have to see how the week goes. I understand the question. The guys are working hard and we need to play football.”
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Lineup changes have been a popular talking point around the Patriots’ coaching staff over the last couple of days. Prior to the 40-7 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, Mayo told the television and radio broadcasts that running back Rhamondre Stevenson would not start after fumbling for a league-leading seventh time the week before. Despite that, Stevenson started the game, and out-repped backup Antonio Gibson until the final drive.
After the game, Mayo called that a “coach’s decision.” Asked for more clarity on Monday, Mayo declined. “I’m just going to stick with coach’s decision on that,” he said.
There’s a real chance we’ll have to wait until Sunday to see what lineup changes – if any – the Patriots make. It’s a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff from Gillette Stadium, with pregame coverage beginning at 10:00 a.m. on 98.5 The Sports Hub and the Patriots Radio Network.
