Patriots have solid chance to do the unthinkable for the rest of 2024 season

The Patriots' 2024 season was never meant to be anything special or truly memorable, given the state of their rebuilding, which was reflected in the predictions for their win/loss record during the offseason. But the addition of Drake Maye to the roster has sparked a bit of optimism that hadn't been there previously, and that remains present even when the Patriots lose, which is not something we could say with Mac Jones under center.

Now that the rookie quarterback finally has a (real) win under his belt, it's hard to imagine that will be the last one with seven games left on the schedule, a few of which are teams who should be easily beaten.

Much of their chances will depend on how they build upon their Week 10 win over the Bears if they are able to do that and not regress. The offense still had struggles but came alive when needed, while the defense held its own far better than anyone could have predicted before this matchup.

No matter what, it seems fair to assume they can add more wins to their season the rest of the way with Maye on the field. Looking ahead to the remaining games, there are a handful of easily predicted wins on the docket.

The Patriots have a good chance to add a few more wins during the remainder of the 2024 season

Week 11: vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams have won their last three games by a small margin, beating the Raiders, Vikings, and Seahawks. Besides their Week 2 blowout loss to the Cardinals, all of their games have been decided by one score or less, so they're not exactly dominant this season.

With the Patriots coming off a triumphant win over the Bears in Week 10, they'll want to keep that going as they play their next game at Gillette Stadium. If they can build upon what they did this past Sunday, their chances to beat the Rams are a bit better than they were one week ago.

Week 12: @ Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are the biggest wildcard team on the schedule, and their season has been nothing short of a roller coaster. From Tua Tagovailoa suffering an injury that kept him out several games to Tyreek Hill's near disappearance from the offense, Miami's unpredictability makes them a tougher guess as to what the Patriots' fate could be.

The last time the two teams matched up, Tagovailoa was not playing and Jacoby Brissett was still the starter for New England. Things certainly won't look the same this time around.

Now that Tagoavailoa is back in the lineup and Drake Maye is under center, it will be an entirely new ball game for both teams. But the Dolphins have lost the two games since Tua returned in Week 8, and if that continues, could work in the Patriots' favor.

Week 13: vs. Indianapolis Colts

This might be the easiest game remaining on the roster, especially if they're going to continue having Joe Flacco in at quarterback. While he had a solid start when initially taking over for Anthony Richardson in Week 4, adding three wins to their season, the 39-year-old has since lost three games in a row in heartbreakingly close fashion.

On top of that, the Patriots have historically been really good against the Colts, as they are a forever rival in Foxboro, which could also help them beat them this season.

Week 15: @ Arizona Cardinals

Watching the Cardinals demolish the Jets in Week 10 was a beautiful sight for Patriots fans, but it also created concerns about the team's chances when they travel to Arizona next month. The success of their run game, plus a dual-threat quarterback, is a recipe for disaster for the Patriots' defense unless they can keep up with how they slowed down the Bears' offense this past Sunday.

If they can manage that, they have a good chance to get a win over the Cardinals ahead of what will be a rough final stretch of the season.

Week 16: @ Buffalo Bills

The NFL's decision to have the Patriots meet the Bills in the final weeks of the season is not a tradition anyone would like to see continue, but that is their fate once again in 2024. To make it even worse, they play them twice in three weeks, likely with the Bills' playoff positioning on the line.

That could be solid motivation for New England to disrupt the perennial champions of the AFC East, but it won't be easy to do in a hostile environment like Buffalo, making it hard to imagine they get the job done in this game.

Week 17: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers are on a run right now, winning four of their last five games, a few of which have been by multiple scores. However, injuries have plagued their season, and most of their wins have been over pretty bad teams (Browns, Panthers, Saints), making their 6-3 record a little less impressive.

When they come to town in Week 17, the Patriots should still have a good chance of getting another win on the year.

Week 18: vs. Buffalo Bills

They might have played them just two weeks earlier, but the desire to finish the season strong and potentially further disrupt the Bills' playoff positioning could be all the Patriots need to end the year on a high. It might be even easier if Buffalo already clinched their spot, which could lead to them resting starters.

Even if that's not the case, the Patriots have been playing tougher recently and, by Week 18, could and should be playing their best football. So anything is possible, right?

If predicting how many wins the Patriots could add to the season is necessary, based on their remaining schedule, it seems safe to say four feels like the magic number.

That splits the games yet to be played; maybe that's presumptuous or wishful thinking. Or maybe it's riding the wave of Maye and the rest of the team's consistent progression. No matter what, it seems more comfortable to make that guess now than it did at the beginning of the season.

It would be quite a feat if the team that some predicted wouldn't win more than three games won double that or more. It won't be the most well-received by the entire Patriots fanbase, mainly by those crossing their fingers for a top-3 draft pick, but winning is great for the culture and will ultimately help attract free-agent players, all of which is what the team badly needs now and moving forward.

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