Patriots rooting guide for NFL Week 17: Christmas edition

Happy holidays! The New England Patriots already made themselves an early Christmas present last Sunday, when they clinched a playoff spot thanks to their 28-24 win in Baltimore. This week, they have their sights set on the next challenge: beating the New York Jets to keep their one-game advantage in the AFC East heading into the regular season finale.

That game is only one of 16 to be played this weekend, however, and several of those other contests either directly or indirectly impact the Patriots in some shape or form as well. Let’s take a look at those games and find out who to root for between Thursday and Sunday.

Thursday

1 p.m. ET

Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1) at Washington Commanders (4-11): Go good game! This game has no real impact on the Patriots. | Netflix

4:30 p.m. ET

Detroit Lions (8-7) at Minnesota Vikings (7-8): Go good game! Another game that matters next to nothing for New England. | Netflix

8:15 p.m. ET

Denver Broncos (12-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-9): Go Chiefs! This is a big one, even though a Chiefs win with their third-string quarterback is highly unlikely. Still, if they manage to pull off the upset, it would help the Patriots in the race for the No. 1 playoff seed in the AFC. | Amazon

Saturday

4:30 p.m. ET

Houston Texans (10-5) at Los Angeles Chargers (11-4): Go Texans! In theory, the Chargers could still overtake the Broncos in the AFC West and end up claiming the No. 1 seed in the AFC for themselves. A Texans win would prevent that from happening.| NFL Network

8 p.m. ET

Baltimore Ravens (7-8) at Green Bay Packers (9-5-1): Go Ravens! The Patriots would benefit from the Steelers failing to make the playoffs, thanks to the draft pick they received in the Kyle Dugger trade. For that to happen, the Ravens must leap-frog them in the final standings. | Peacock

Sunday

1 p.m. ET

Seattle Seahawks (12-3) at Carolina Panthers (8-7): Go good game! This game matters not for New England. | CBS

Arizona Cardinals (3-12) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-10): Go Bengals! This has nothing to do with the Patriots and everything with the Jets competing for the top picks in the 2026 draft. The more of the other bottom-feeders this season lose, the better. | FOX

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) at Cleveland Browns (3-12): Go Browns! As mentioned in the Saturday portion of this week’s rooting guide, the Steelers ending up on the outside looking in in the AFC playoffs would help the Patriots’ draft portfolio: the sixth-round pick they received from the Kyle Dugger trade would be better positioned in that case. | CBS

Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) at Indianapolis Colts (8-7): Go Colts! The Jaguars can still play spoilers in the AFC playoff race, and overtake the Patriots. Indianapolis winning would help with that. | FOX

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8) at Miami Dolphins (6-9): Go Dolphins! Miami won’t make the playoffs, but they can further distance themselves from the top draft picks next spring. | FOX

New Orleans Saints (5-10) at Tennessee Titans (3-12): Go Saints! Another game that does not help or hurt the Patriots but whose outcome would potentially negatively impact the Jets’ draft position. | CBS

4:05 p.m. ET

New York Giants (2-13) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-13): Go good game! This game has no meaning from a Patriots perspective. | CBS

4:25 p.m. ET

Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) at Buffalo Bills (11-4): Go Eagles! If the Patriots beat the Jets at 1 p.m, the Bills losing in the late window would win them the AFC East. | FOX

8:20 p.m. ET

Chicago Bears (11-4) at San Francisco 49ers (11-4): Go good game! The Patriots hold draft picks from both teams next year, but with the two already qualified for the playoffs that game has no meaning. | NBC

Monday

8:15 p.m. ET

Los Angeles Rams (11-4) at Atlanta Falcons (6-9): Go good game! The Patriots can sit back and enjoy this one, because its outcome matters not to them. | ESPN

This article also serves as an open thread for this week’s games. Please head down to the comment section to discuss and share your thoughts on the games as they unfold.