Will Pats hold onto No. 1 pick?

Patriots

A miserable 2024 Patriots is set to reach its end.

By Conor Ryan

January 5, 2025 | 11:31 AM

1 minute to read

A miserable 2024 Patriots is set to reach its end.

New England will close out its 3-13 campaign on Sunday when it hosts the Buffalo Bills, with the Patriots’ positioning in the 2025 NFL Draft holding more weight than what plays out on the field. 

Kick-off from Gillette Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on CBS, and you can also listen to the game on 98.5 The Sports Hub. 

While it remains to be seen what the future holds for Jerod Mayo and the rest of New England’s coaching staff, the Patriots also have a compelling case for losing their final game of the season.

A loss to the Bills would clinch the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft for New England, while a win against Buffalo would push the Patriots further down into the top five. 

However, a very dangerous Bills team likely won’t be at full strength on Sunday — with Buffalo potentially resting several of their starters after clinching the No. 2 seed in the AFC last week. As such, the door could be open for New England to deliver an upset win against an undermanned Buffalo roster. 

One thing worth keeping tabs on is Drake Maye, who is currently tabbed as “questionable” on the injury report due to a hand injury. 

As the Patriots close out their season, Chad Finn has his Unconventional Preview posted. 

Follow along here for live updates from Sunday’s game, and check back once the game wraps for some early observations.

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