'A lot on the line'; Patriots can clinch first-round bye with win vs. Jets.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Author: Garven, Rich
• Date: 21 December 2014

Byline: Rich Garven

The Patriots have clinched the AFC East and an automatic berth in the playoffs for the 12th time in the past 14 seasons. Now, with two games remaining in the regular season, it's all about positioning.

The Patriots (11-3), Denver Broncos (11-3) and Indianapolis Colts (10-4) are competing for the first-round byes given to the top two finishers in the conference. The New Englanders can secure one with a win today against the sad sack, but still hated New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

How important is that? Well, the Patriots have never made the Super Bowl under coach Bill Belichick unless they've received a first-round bye.

Furthermore, they can clinch the top seed in the AFC, which comes with home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs with a win today and a loss by the AFC West champion Broncos, who play the AFC North-leading Bengals on Monday in Cincinnati.

"(There) is a lot on the line for us,'' cornerback Kyle Arrington admitted. "So obviously, we're going to give it our all. But obviously ,we're focused on this weekend, and it's the Jets.''

It's been another down season in the Jersey Swamp, and likely the last for coach Rex Ryan, who led the Jets to the AFC Championship Game in each of his first two seasons but will finish out of the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

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