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Patriots rooting guide for NFL Week 6

The New England Patriots look to extend their winning streak to three games this Sunday when they face the New York Jets, but their playoff aspirations hinge on outcomes beyond Foxborough. In a packed weekend slate, several matchups carry indirect weight for Bill Belichick’s team, particularly those involving rivals or teams competing for playoff spots.

The Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos clash on Thursday, with a Seattle victory preferred despite New England’s recent loss to them—the Broncos pose a bigger AFC playoff threat. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars meet Sunday morning, where a Texans upset could benefit the Patriots’ draft capital tied to the Marte Mapu trade.

The Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons square off at 1 p.m. ET, with a Bears win adding momentum ahead of their showdown with New England, while the Ravens-Browns and Titans-Colts games later in the afternoon offer minimal impact but could influence AFC North dynamics.

The Giants and Saints face off in a game where a Giants win could accelerate the Patriots’ 2026 sixth-round pick, while the Steelers-Bucs matchup pits NFC strength against AFC relevance, with a Bucs win hurting New England’s tiebreakers. The Chargers-Chiefs game stands out as the most unlikely upset pick, with a Chargers victory aligning with Patriots’ long-term interests, while the Raiders-Bills tilt could determine AFC East positioning if the Patriots trail Buffalo by one game.

The Cowboys-Packers and Commanders-49ers games round out the weekend, with the latter offering little direct consequence for New England’s playoff hopes.

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