Patriots' Playoff Chances Take A Hit Prior To Blowout Win In Los Angeles
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots entered Sunday with an outside chance to reach the postseason. Before their game even began, their chances took a hit.
That's because the Raiders, Dolphins, Colts and Browns -- four of the five teams ahead of New England in the standings -- all won their games.
The Patriots did their part by absolutely dominating the Los Angeles Chargers, winning 45-0 and improving to 6-6 on the year. But unfortunately for them, it didn't help them advance in the standings.
The Colts' win -- combined with a Titans loss -- actually vaults Indy into a virtual tie for first place in the AFC South, but the Titans (8-4) own the tiebreaker at the moment. Regardless, having both the Colts and the Titans at 8-4 doesn't do anything to help the Patriots.
The Raiders nearly lost, with the Jets coming up with a red zone stop in the final minutes. But the Jets punted back to Las Vegas, and Derek Carr connected with Henry Ruggs for a 46-yard touchdown with just seconds remaining to win the game. The Raiders improved to 7-5.
The Colts also flirted with a loss, as the Texans had a second-and-goal from the 2-yard line while trailing by six in the final minutes. But Deshaun Watson couldn't handle a bad shotgun snap, and the Colts recovered. Indianapolis improved to 8-4 with the win.
The Browns dominated in the first half in Tennessee before having to hold on to fend off a late charge from the Titans. Cleveland improved to 9-3 with the victory.
And the Dolphins came out on top in a feisty affair against the Bengals, improving to 8-4 in the process.
WILD CARD STANDINGS (AFTER SUNDAY'S GAMES)
1. Cleveland Browns, 9-3
2. Miami Dolphins, 8-4
3. Indianapolis Colts, 8-4
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4. Las Vegas Raiders, 7-5
5. Baltimore Ravens, 6-5
6. New England Patriots, 6-6
So, for the 6-6 Patriots to now gain any ground in the race for a playoff spot, they'll need an improbable assist from the Cowboys, who play the 6-5 Ravens on Tuesday. The Patriots will have a chance to make a jump on Thursday night, when they play the Rams in L.A.
