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          New England Patriots

          Detailing Patriots playoff scenarios

          • Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff WriterDec 9, 2014, 07:00 PM ET
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              Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. You can follow Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReiss.
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          FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots are 10-3 and atop the AFC standings. Here are their updated playoff scenarios entering Sunday's home game against the Dolphins:

          1. The Patriots clinch the AFC East division with a win or a tie.

          2. The Patriots clinch a first-round bye with one of the two following scenarios:

          • NE win + IND loss + PIT loss or tie + CIN loss or tie

          • NE win + IND loss + PIT loss or tie + DEN loss

          3. The Patriots clinch a playoff spot even with a loss with one of the following scenarios:

          • BUF loss or tie + CIN loss + PIT loss + BAL loss + HOU loss or tie

          • BUF loss or tie + CIN loss + PIT loss + KC loss or tie + SD loss

          • BUF loss or tie + HOU loss or tie + KC loss or tie + SD loss + BAL loss