"Playing at home throughout the playoffs before the Super Bowl is never a bad thing. But how bad would it be for the 2025 Patriots, who have managed an away schedule record any NFL team would envy, to play away? The Patriots have posted a 6-0 away record this season, including wins over the Bills, Bucs, and Bengals. This is a prodigious achievement that can't be overestimated."
"Playing in the Mile High City is never easy and never will be, even when the Patriots had the best quarterback in history, Tom Brady, slinging the rock for them. Even the GOAT had a 3-9 record overall in Denver. It's something about the air, and it's an advantage for the Broncos. It's cold, and the atmosphere is literally thinner at a mile high, and that impacts stamina."
The Patriots are 6-0 on the road this season with key wins over Buffalo, Tampa Bay, and Cincinnati. Denver poses a distinct challenge because the high altitude, cold and thinner air at Mile High can sap stamina and has troubled even elite quarterbacks. Earning the No. 1 seed guarantees a first-round bye, home-field advantage at Gillette Stadium, and eliminates travel logistics. The extra time from the bye allows injured offensive and defensive linemen more recovery before playoff competition. Beating the Bills in Foxborough would also deliver a psychological edge for potential postseason rematches.
Read at Musket Fire
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