Pats fans should root for these Week 18 results

2024 NFL Draft order: Pats fans should root for these Week 18 results originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

There’s a whole lot on the line for the New England Patriots in their season finale.

We’re talking, of course, about New England’s position in the 2024 NFL Draft. At 4-12, the Patriots have long since been eliminated from postseason contention, but the results of their Week 18 matchup with the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium as well as other games from around the league could land their first-round pick anywhere from No. 2 to No. 7.

That’s a massive difference if New England wants to draft a potential franchise quarterback like USC’s Caleb Williams, UNC’s Drake Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels. So, where do the Patriots stand entering Week 18, and which teams should fans be rooting for to improve New England’s draft stock?

Let’s break it all down.

Patriots’ current draft position

If the season ended today, the Patriots would have the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft. The first draft-order tiebreaker is reverse strength of schedule, meaning the team with the easier strength of schedule (calculated by combined opponent win percentage) earns the higher pick.

New England currently owns the SOS tiebreaker over the 4-12 Arizona Cardinals, but the 4-12 Washington Commanders (barely) own the SOS tiebreaker over the Patriots. Here’s a look at the current top seven, with each team’s strength of schedule in parentheses:

7. Tennessee Titans, 5-11 (.529 SOS)

6. Los Angeles Chargers, 5-11 (.526 SOS)

5. New York Giants, 5-11 (.511 SOS)

4. Arizona Cardinals, 4-12 (.567 SOS)

3. New England Patriots, 4-12 (.51493 SOS)

2. Washington Commanders, 4-12 (.51481 SOS)

1. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers, 2-14, .512 SOS)

Games to watch in Week 18

First, let’s state the obvious: If you want the Patriots to land a top-three pick, you’ll want them to lose to the Jets on Sunday.

The Commanders play the 11-5 Dallas Cowboys in Week 18, while the Cardinals finish with an 8-8 Seattle Seahawks team that…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/2024-nfl-draft-order-pats-170255829.html

Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2024-01-01 17:09:05

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