The Patriots will finish the 2008 regular season with a trip to Buffalo to face the Bills. New England enters this week's contest having won three straight games as it closes out the campaign with a playoff push. With a win over the Bills, the Patriots would claim a playoff berth if either the Miami Dolphins or Baltimore Ravens lose later in the day.
Playoff Scenarios
The Patriots can qualify for the playoffs on Sunday with a win over the Bills and a loss by either the Miami Dolphins or the Baltimore Ravens. If the Patriots defeat Buffalo in their 1:00 p.m. game and the New York Jets defeat the Dolphins in their 4:15 p.m. matchup, New England would win the AFC East championship for the sixth consecutive season and claim the third seed in the AFC playoffs, hosting a first-round playoff game on Jan. 3 or Jan. 4. If the Patriots don't win the AFC East title, they could still qualify for the playoffs as a wild card team if they beat Buffalo and the Jacksonville Jaguars defeat the Ravens in their 4:15 p.m. matchup. In that scenario, New England would hold the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs and would play a firstround playoff game on the road on Jan. 3 or Jan. 4. Additional Patriots playoff scenarios involving ties are listed below.
Patriots win AFC East title with:
1. NE win and MIA loss or tie OR 2. NE tie and MIA loss
Patriots clinch wild card with:
1. NE win and BAL loss or tie OR 2. NE tie and BAL loss
Patriots in December
Since the beginning of December 2003, the Patriots have compiled a 23-2 (.920) record in the 12th month, achieving the league's best December record over that period. San Diego ranks second with a 20-6 (.769) December record since 2003. New England has won 11 straight December games dating back to 2006, is 3-0 in December 2008 and went undefeated in December in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007.
TV
This week's game will be broadcast to a regional audience by CBS.
The game can be seen in the Boston area on WBZ-TV Channel 4.
Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf will call the game.
Every NFL game is broadcast live on DIRECTV.
This week's game can be seen on Channel 706.
RADIO
WBCN 104.1 FM is the flagship station for the Patriots Rock Radio Network.
Play-by-play broadcaster Gil Santos is in his 32nd season as the voice of the Patriots and will call the action along with Patriots Hall of Famer Gino Cappelletti. Santos and Cappelletti are celebrating their 25th anniversary season as a tandem.
Every NFL game is broadcast LIVE on SIRIUS Satellite Radio.
This week's game can be heard on Channel 122.
ONLINE
NFL.com provides live, play-by-play scoreboards in real time.
Here is the link to this week's Game Center.
POSTGAME
Bill Belichick's postgame press conference can be heard live on WBCN 104.1 FM.
The postgame show is also streamed live on patriots.com.
Patriots 5th Quarter can be seen immediately following the game on Boston's TV38. WBZ-TV Sports Reporter Steve Burton is joined by former Patriots players Scott Zolak and Steve DeOssie to provide instant reaction and analysis in studio and at the stadium. Patriots 5th Quarter also features exclusive live coverage of the Patriots postgame press conferences with Bill Belichick and Matt Cassel.
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