Patch Patriots Roundup: Can Pats Stall Buffalo's March To The Playoffs?

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Chad Ryland redeemed himself after a tough night in Denver when his game-winning kick cut through the thin Rocky Mountain air and through the uprights on Sunday, delivering the Patriots an upset over the Broncos.

The loss delivered a big blow to the Broncos, who were within striking distance of the playoffs. This week? Russell Wilson is no longer the starter, and reports indicate that he won't even be on the team come this spring.

Now, the Patriots head to Buffalo for a matchup against a Buffalo Bills team that looks to have righted their once-sinking ship. (Remember Ken Dorsey?)

The Bills now have a 91 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to The Upshot’s 2023 N.F.L. playoff simulator. A loss against the Patriots would lessen that chance. Can the Patriots play spoiler again on Sunday?

Here's what else to know around the team:

Russell Wilson ... In New England?

The quarterback vibes are so melancholy in New England that multiple outlets have published pieces weighing the pros and cons of bringing in the now-benched Russell Wilson if he is indeed released in the offseason.

Wilson will be replaced by former Patriot Jarrett Stidham, but is it really a possibility he moves on to Stidham's old stomping grounds?

The Athletic first came up with a list of teams that could be interested in Wilson, with beat writer Chad Graff stating simply that the Pats need a quarterback, and Wilson is in fact still that.

A major caveat is the Patriots' 2024 first-round pick. With the team struggling, it's still possible they'd be in striking distance for either Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, the two top quarterback prospects in the upcoming draft.

The win against Denver took them out of the first two picks, but that doesn't mean a trade is out of the question. Still, if they do miss on the two prospects, Wilson could be a bridge option for the team.

A Win-Lose Situation

The Patriots won against the Broncos, which is a good thing. The point of football is to win. However, there was a negative to the victory.

Coming into the week, the Patriots were in position to land the number two overall pick in the upcoming draft, almost guaranteeing them a chance to land Drake Maye or Caleb Williams. If the team determined they didn't want to go that direction at quarterback, they would land a major trade package if they moved a top-two pick.

Then Ryland nailed the kick, and now the team sits at fourth in the draft order, according to Tankathon.

To be clear, fourth isn't a bad spot in this draft, but it does mean you miss out on three of the best prospects in recent memory, with Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. serving as a can't miss wide receiver prospect a la Julio Jones, Calvin Johnson and Ja'Marr Chase.

The Patriots could, however, upgrade the offensive line if the draft plays out in a way that sees two QBs and Harrison go off the board ahead of them.

How To Watch, Listen

• Kickoff: 1 p.m.
• TV: CBS
• Streaming: Paramount+
• Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub