4 p.m. window update: The Eagles beat the Bills courtesy of a last second stop on a Buffalo two-point conversion attempt. The Bills loss means the Patriots have clinched the AFC East title. They now will play for the No. 1 seed in Week 18.
Game update: The Patriots’ blowout win over the Jets has New England on the cusp of clinching the AFC East title. If the Bills lose or tie against the Philadelphia Eagles later today, the Patriots will wrap up the division title.
If the Bills win that game, the Patriots will have to wait until Week 18 to clinch the division. New England would just need a win over the Miami Dolphins to clinch their first division title since 2019.
New England’s win also denied the Broncos a chance at wrapping up the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Both teams are now 13-3, and while the Broncos have a tiebreaker advantage over New England based on their record against common opponents, the Patriots can still secure the No. 1 seed in Week 18 with a win and a Denver loss.
Two AFC East rivals meet on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
One team has already clinched a playoff spot, but the other would love to play spoiler.
Here is what is at stake Sunday when the New York Jets host the New England Patriots.
New England Patriots playoff picture
The Patriots control their own destiny in the race with the Buffalo Bills for the division title, but to clinch this weekend, they will need a little bit of help from a team that beat them in Super Bowl LII.
New England sits atop the division with a 12-3 record, one game ahead of the 11-4 Bills. The Patriots missed a golden opportunity to clinch the division back in Week 15 when they blew a 24-7 halftime lead to the Bills, but still remain in the driver’s seat in the division title race. With wins in their final two games (starting this weekend against the New York Jets, and then in the season finale against the Miami Dolphins), then the Patriots are division champions.
However, New England can clinch the division this weekend, and start celebrating early. With a win over the Jets, and a Bills loss or tie against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Patriots are AFC East champions.
New England can also clinch the division with a tie against the Jets, and a Bills loss to the Eagles.
The Patriots are also in the running for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but the advantage is in the Denver Broncos’ favor. Denver’s win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas night improved their record to 13-3, and the Broncos have already clinched a tiebreaker advantage over the Patriots based on common games, which is the third tiebreaker after head-to-head (these two teams did not play this year) and record in conference games.
New England needs to win to keep their hopes for the No. 1 seed alive. A loss eliminates the Patriots from contention for the top spot in the AFC.
With the Jets already eliminated from the playoffs, this game has no tiebreaker implications between the two teams.
However, it could play a role in the chase for the AFC East title. Right now the Patriots have a one-game lead over the Bills, and with the two teams having split the season series, the second tiebreaker is division record. New England has a 3-1 record in AFC East games (with the Jets and Miami Dolphins remaining) while the Bills are 3-2, with the Jets on the schedule in Week 18. A New England loss to the Jets opens the door to the Patriots and Bills finishing with the same division record, which would then move the AFC East title to the third tiebreaker, which is record in common games. Right now the Patriots are 9-1 in those games while the Bills are 9-2, but a loss to the Jets would drop New England to 9-2.
Which would potentially mean the AFC East title would be decided by the fourth tiebreaker, AFC record. Entering Week 17 the Bills have a better record in conference games, 8-3 versus 7-3.
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![Deadspin | President Trump booed while attending Game 3 of NBA Finals in New York [US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; U.S. President Donald Trump attends during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Howard-Reuters via Imagn Images President Donald Trump, the first sitting U.S. president to attend the NBA Finals, was booed by fellow New York Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden on Monday before Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs. Shown on the jumbotron saluting the American flag during the national anthem, Trump received a chorus of boos but downplayed the reception after the game — a 115-111 Spurs win that cut the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1. “It was certainly amazing. It was, I think, mostly cheers,” he told reporters ahead of boarding Air Force One bound for Washington after staying until the game ended. “It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.” The Athletic reported that Trump, 79, a native New Yorker, drew louder boos than the Spurs. Invited to attend Game 3 by Knicks owner James Dolan, Trump sat in a suite near midcourt, halfway up the seating area, in a box constructed for his visit with bulletproof glass. The glass was one of several security measures taken with Trump in attendance. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Trump was welcome to the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999, when the Knicks lost to the Spurs, adding that the President is a “genuine Knicks fan.” “What makes sports so special, especially when there’s so much that divides people, is that it’s something we have in common,” Silver told ESPN’s “Inside the NBA” before Game 3. “We should look for those things we have in common and build off that.” According to ESPN, fans made rude gestures toward Trump upon his motorcade’s arrival at MSG, along with others holding signs that read “Trump must go.” Multiple checkpoints were set up for fans, the media and stadium workers to show their ticket or pass to gain entry. Police and Secret Service personnel covered every corner outside the arena. “Yes, there’s some inconvenience to the fans, but looking around at the arena, it’s packed,” Silver said. “People listened, they came early, they got through the extra security, which is necessary.” Both coaches downplayed any talk that President Trump’s presence was a distraction to the teams ahead of Game 3. “My focus is just what’s next and what’s in front of me, and Game 3 is front of us right now,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “I feel our group is that way, too.” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also attended Game 3. He told the media he purchased his own standing-room-only ticket, spending nearly $1,000. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #President #Trump #booed #attending #Game #NBA #Finals #York](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200,fo-auto/29154804.jpg "Deadspin | President Trump booed while attending Game 3 of NBA Finals in New York [US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; U.S. President Donald Trump attends during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Howard-Reuters via Imagn Images President Donald Trump, the first sitting U.S. president to attend the NBA Finals, was booed by fellow New York Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden on Monday before Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs. Shown on the jumbotron saluting the American flag during the national anthem, Trump received a chorus of boos but downplayed the reception after the game — a 115-111 Spurs win that cut the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1. “It was certainly amazing. It was, I think, mostly cheers,” he told reporters ahead of boarding Air Force One bound for Washington after staying until the game ended. “It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.” The Athletic reported that Trump, 79, a native New Yorker, drew louder boos than the Spurs. Invited to attend Game 3 by Knicks owner James Dolan, Trump sat in a suite near midcourt, halfway up the seating area, in a box constructed for his visit with bulletproof glass. The glass was one of several security measures taken with Trump in attendance. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Trump was welcome to the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999, when the Knicks lost to the Spurs, adding that the President is a “genuine Knicks fan.” “What makes sports so special, especially when there’s so much that divides people, is that it’s something we have in common,” Silver told ESPN’s “Inside the NBA” before Game 3. “We should look for those things we have in common and build off that.” According to ESPN, fans made rude gestures toward Trump upon his motorcade’s arrival at MSG, along with others holding signs that read “Trump must go.” Multiple checkpoints were set up for fans, the media and stadium workers to show their ticket or pass to gain entry. Police and Secret Service personnel covered every corner outside the arena. “Yes, there’s some inconvenience to the fans, but looking around at the arena, it’s packed,” Silver said. “People listened, they came early, they got through the extra security, which is necessary.” Both coaches downplayed any talk that President Trump’s presence was a distraction to the teams ahead of Game 3. “My focus is just what’s next and what’s in front of me, and Game 3 is front of us right now,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “I feel our group is that way, too.” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also attended Game 3. He told the media he purchased his own standing-room-only ticket, spending nearly $1,000. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #President #Trump #booed #attending #Game #NBA #Finals #York")
![Deadspin | President Trump booed while attending Game 3 of NBA Finals in New York [US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; U.S. President Donald Trump attends during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Howard-Reuters via Imagn Images President Donald Trump, the first sitting U.S. president to attend the NBA Finals, was booed by fellow New York Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden on Monday before Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs. Shown on the jumbotron saluting the American flag during the national anthem, Trump received a chorus of boos but downplayed the reception after the game — a 115-111 Spurs win that cut the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1. “It was certainly amazing. It was, I think, mostly cheers,” he told reporters ahead of boarding Air Force One bound for Washington after staying until the game ended. “It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.” The Athletic reported that Trump, 79, a native New Yorker, drew louder boos than the Spurs. Invited to attend Game 3 by Knicks owner James Dolan, Trump sat in a suite near midcourt, halfway up the seating area, in a box constructed for his visit with bulletproof glass. The glass was one of several security measures taken with Trump in attendance. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Trump was welcome to the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999, when the Knicks lost to the Spurs, adding that the President is a “genuine Knicks fan.” “What makes sports so special, especially when there’s so much that divides people, is that it’s something we have in common,” Silver told ESPN’s “Inside the NBA” before Game 3. “We should look for those things we have in common and build off that.” According to ESPN, fans made rude gestures toward Trump upon his motorcade’s arrival at MSG, along with others holding signs that read “Trump must go.” Multiple checkpoints were set up for fans, the media and stadium workers to show their ticket or pass to gain entry. Police and Secret Service personnel covered every corner outside the arena. “Yes, there’s some inconvenience to the fans, but looking around at the arena, it’s packed,” Silver said. “People listened, they came early, they got through the extra security, which is necessary.” Both coaches downplayed any talk that President Trump’s presence was a distraction to the teams ahead of Game 3. “My focus is just what’s next and what’s in front of me, and Game 3 is front of us right now,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “I feel our group is that way, too.” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also attended Game 3. He told the media he purchased his own standing-room-only ticket, spending nearly $1,000. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #President #Trump #booed #attending #Game #NBA #Finals #York](https://i0.wp.com/images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200,fo-auto/29154804.jpg?ssl=1 "Deadspin | President Trump booed while attending Game 3 of NBA Finals in New York [US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; U.S. President Donald Trump attends during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Howard-Reuters via Imagn Images President Donald Trump, the first sitting U.S. president to attend the NBA Finals, was booed by fellow New York Knicks fans at Madison Square Garden on Monday before Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs. Shown on the jumbotron saluting the American flag during the national anthem, Trump received a chorus of boos but downplayed the reception after the game — a 115-111 Spurs win that cut the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1. “It was certainly amazing. It was, I think, mostly cheers,” he told reporters ahead of boarding Air Force One bound for Washington after staying until the game ended. “It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.” The Athletic reported that Trump, 79, a native New Yorker, drew louder boos than the Spurs. Invited to attend Game 3 by Knicks owner James Dolan, Trump sat in a suite near midcourt, halfway up the seating area, in a box constructed for his visit with bulletproof glass. The glass was one of several security measures taken with Trump in attendance. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Trump was welcome to the first NBA Finals game in New York since 1999, when the Knicks lost to the Spurs, adding that the President is a “genuine Knicks fan.” “What makes sports so special, especially when there’s so much that divides people, is that it’s something we have in common,” Silver told ESPN’s “Inside the NBA” before Game 3. “We should look for those things we have in common and build off that.” According to ESPN, fans made rude gestures toward Trump upon his motorcade’s arrival at MSG, along with others holding signs that read “Trump must go.” Multiple checkpoints were set up for fans, the media and stadium workers to show their ticket or pass to gain entry. Police and Secret Service personnel covered every corner outside the arena. “Yes, there’s some inconvenience to the fans, but looking around at the arena, it’s packed,” Silver said. “People listened, they came early, they got through the extra security, which is necessary.” Both coaches downplayed any talk that President Trump’s presence was a distraction to the teams ahead of Game 3. “My focus is just what’s next and what’s in front of me, and Game 3 is front of us right now,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “I feel our group is that way, too.” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also attended Game 3. He told the media he purchased his own standing-room-only ticket, spending nearly $1,000. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #President #Trump #booed #attending #Game #NBA #Finals #York")
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