San Francisco Frontiers - Revived Patriots face Bills test in hunt for playoffs

The Patriots -- who dominated the NFL under Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in the 2000s and 2010s -- have been quietly rebuilding, and have not even reached the post-season for four years.

But after winning 10 games on the bounce, they have surpassed all expectations and boast the joint-best record in the NFL at 11-2.

Their eyes are now firmly set on finishing above the highly rated Bills in the AFC East.

"They have won the division for five years -- so we've got something we need to go take," said Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.

"There's no better way to win the division than (beating) the team that's fighting to crawl back and keep themselves as division champs," he added.

Maye, 23, is an early favorite to win this year's Most Valuable Player -- an accolade won last season by Bills quarterback Allen.

The Bills have been heavily reliant on Allen once again, suffering inconsistent form despite being among the hot Super Bowl favorites.

Still, a road win in Boston would take the Bills to 10-4, almost guaranteeing a post-season berth.

"Our main goal is to make the playoffs. We have an opportunity to put ourselves in a better position... playing in a really hostile environment against a really good team," said Allen.

Elsewhere, the Denver Broncos (11-2) can secure their own post-season berth early if they beat the Green Bay Packers.

So too can the Los Angeles Rams (10-3) if they overcome the Detroit Lions. The matchup pits both quarterbacks -- Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford -- against their former teams, following a 2021 blockbuster trade.

- Chiefs 'tough reality' -

Meanwhile the Kansas City Chiefs' season could be officially over if key fixtures go against Patrick Mahomes' floundering side.

They face a mountain to climb against their divisional rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers, who sit three wins ahead in the AFC West.

"We understand we've gotta win... whatever it takes," said quarterback Mahomes, calling his team's predicament a "back-against-the-wall spot."

The Chiefs -- with three Super Bowl wins from five recent appearances -- have not failed to reach the playoffs since 2014.

But even victory might not be enough to keep them in the hunt, with just four regular-season games remaining.

"Looking at the playoffs, this is a tough reality to be in, especially with how we've always found a way in years past," said Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce, on his "New Heights" podcast.

Also desperately battling to remain in contention are the Indianapolis Colts, who may be forced to call upon a quarterback who retired five years ago and has been coaching high-school football since.

Philip Rivers, 44, could step in after the Colts lost Daniel Jones to a season-ending injury last weekend, only to see his rookie replacement Riley Leonard suffer a knee issue.

The Colts topped the AFC South until last weekend, but their season now threatens to fall off a cliff, with a tough visit to Seattle against the 10-3 Seahawks next.

"I wasn't really hanging on any hope of playing again -- I kind of thought that ship had sailed," said Rivers, who raced to Indiana early this week to suit up with his former team.

Rivers joked he is "not sure" what he currently weighs, and said his wife was "nervous about the physical aspect" of his return to one of sports' most dangerous positions after so long away.

"All of us, even me... (are) a little scared, a little nervous," he said.

Other key games include the Baltimore Ravens' near must-win visit to a Cincinnati Bengals side boosted by the return of star quarterback Joe Burrow, and Sunday night's clash between the Dallas Cowboys and the Minnesota Vikings.

H.King--SFF