The New England Patriots have not participated in the NFL playoffs since 2021, but their hot start this year has put them in a favorable position to finally return to the tournament. Winning their fifth game of the season on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, the Patriots are the current No. 2 seed in the AFC and have one of the best statistical outlooks of any team in their conference.

In fact, according the playoff simulator over at The Athletic, the team has a 92% chance of qualifying for the playoffs at this point in time. Only one team in the entire league — the top-seeded Indianapolis Colts (96%) — has a higher postseason probability than New England at the moment.

Whether or not the Patriots will live up to the simulation remains to be seen. The mere fact that they are even in t

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