Even if a postseason is out of the question, the New England Patriots still have six games left on their 2024 regular season schedule.
They are at a point in football where other teams might consider pushing through, but their situation is very different to last season. They have a talented rookie quarterback and a few unproven receivers who still need work and experience on the field.
There are also other positions, particularly along the offensive line, that are being evaluated for the future. This is a chance for the rebuilding Patriots to select the players they want to keep long-term. Therefore, none of the snaps and reps from practice and upcoming games should be considered worthless since a playoff spot is not at stake.
This all plays a role in the process of getting the team back to where it needs to be. Here's a prediction for every remaining game on the Patriots' 2024 regular season schedule:
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Hard Rock Stadium in Miami was a house of horrors for the Patriots. It's hard to imagine it coming to an end when the defense is struggling. The Dolphins have elite talent all over the pro positions, and Tua Tagovailoa is back in the saddle at quarterback.
Prediction: Loss
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Anthony Richardson can be an explosive dynamic weapon or a turnover machine under center. The Patriots hope the latter will be the case when the Indianapolis Colts visit Foxborough in December. There is reason to be concerned about New England's run defense, but this is a winnable home game against a struggling Colts team.
Prediction: Victory
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The Cardinals were a much better football team with Kyler Murray at quarterback. However, the Patriots will have two weeks to schedule a bye week for him. This will be their best opportunity to get back-to-back wins and they will finally get the job done with an unexpected upset.
Prediction: Victory
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The Bills have yet to lose at home this season and just suffered their first loss of the year at the hands of the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. Drake Maye is a promising young quarterback, but he doesn't yet have enough firepower to compete with the likes of Josh Allen and the Bills' offense.
Prediction: Loss
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It's difficult to accurately assess how good the Chargers are considering they've had one of the easier schedules in the league. One thing is for sure: This is not the same Chargers team that held the Patriots to just six points in 2023. Jim Harbaugh coaching against Jerod Mayo sounds like a recipe for disaster in New England.
Prediction: Loss
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Placement in the AFC playoffs could have a big impact on how this game ultimately plays out. Buffalo could opt to bench its starters and rest them for the playoffs. Regardless, it's hard to beat the same division opponent twice in one year. The Patriots upset the Bills at Gillette Stadium last season, and they'll play spoilsport again to ride off into the sunset with a win in the season finale.
Prediction: Victory
