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The Patriots are banged up heading into their penultimate regular-season game, but their final two games remain must-wins.
To win the AFC East and remain in contention for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, the Patriots will likely need to win out against the Jets and Dolphins.
The Patriots can win the division by winning their final two games. If they were to lose to the Jets or Dolphins, then the Bills would also need to lose against the Eagles or Jets.
To achieve the No. 1 seed in the AFC, the Patriots would likely need to win out plus hope for a loss from the Broncos, who already beat the Chiefs in Week 17 and face the Chargers in Week 18.
The No. 1 seed, and the first-round bye that comes with it, would be valuable for the Patriots, who saw nine players suffer injuries in Week 16 on top of existing ailments to players like linebacker Robert Spillane, outside linebacker Harold Landry and defensive tackle Milton Williams, who’s eligible to return off injured reserve this week.
Here’s what we’re watching for in Week 17 when the Patriots travel to New York to take on the Jets:
• This game opened, back when the schedule came out, as the Patriots being favored by 1.5 points. Sixteen weeks into the season, the Patriots are now favored by 13.5 points. After close games against the Bills and Ravens, a blowout win over the Jets would be a confidence boost for the Patriots. We think they can do it. This feels like a 38-14 win.
• Quarterback Drake Maye can boost his MVP campaign with some impressive statlines against the Jets and Dolphins. Are they as impactful as impressive performances against the NFL’s best teams? No, but Maye is five away from 30 touchdown passes, and two 275-yard passing days can still get him to 4,500 passing yards.
• Patriots defenders stated last week that forcing turnovers was emphasized throughout the week. They proved they could do it with two fumble recoveries. They need to keep that energy going against the Jets and hope that rookie quarterback Brady Cook can loft some passes towards the Patriots’ defensive backs for more interceptions.
• The Patriots have faced some very bad Jets quarterbacks over the years, but Cook, a 2025 undrafted free agent, ranks up there with Bryce Petty, Luke Falk and Zach Wilson. Cook is 0-2 as a starter with a 59.2% completion percentage, 527 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions. There’s no excuse to struggle in pass defense.
• The defense has to get right against the run even though they’ll remain without Williams and Spillane. After ranking among the top run defenses in the league through 10 weeks, things went haywire from Week 11 and beyond after Williams suffered an ankle injury against this Jets team at home. The run defense won’t be at full strength again until Spillane, Williams and defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga return, but the current unit needs to prove they can load up the box and actually halt the opposing team.
• Is this the week that Patriots undrafted rookie Efton Chism finally makes his first NFL catch? It might be. Chism should be involved in the offense with Kayshon Boutte (concussion) and wide receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen) both out. We’ll see if Chism can steal some slot snaps from DeMario Douglas, who’s dealing with a hamstring injury.
• Fellow rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams started the season slow, but he now has five catches for 169 yards with three touchdowns in the Patriots’ last six games. No, those aren’t exactly otherworldly numbers, but he’s shown the ability to stretch the defense and make some highlight grabs deep down the field. Is this Williams’ true breakout week? The depth chart indicates it could be.
• Left guard Ben Brown has a chance to reward the Patriots immediately for giving him a two-year contract extension. Brown has provided valuable depth over the last two seasons, and now he’ll be back starting at left guard in place of Jared Wilson (concussion). Wilson provides more upside to the offense, but Brown has actually earned a higher PFF grade (68.5) than Wilson (49.9) this season.
• Let’s see if Vederian Lowe can continue to hold up at left tackle in place of Will Campbell, who’s eligible to return next week from a knee injury. In three starts this season, Lowe has a 66.4 PFF grade and has let up one sack, two QB hits and five hurries.
• Head coach Mike Vrabel praised the Jets’ offensive line this week. They have two young starting offensive tackles in Ola Fashanu and Armand Membou who could continue to halt the Patriots’ pass rush. It would be nice to see rookies Elijah Ponder and Bradyn Swinson get some opportunities against them, and they should get the chance with veteran Harold Landry out.
Local News
While Logan Airport has so far avoided the delays plaguing other major hubs, Boston’s airport may see federal immigration agents step into a security role at the order of President Donald Trump.
As the partial government shutdown continues into its second month, more than 400 Transportation Security Administration workers have quit after working without pay since mid-February, the Department of Homeland Security said. Funding for DHS, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is at the center of the shutdown.
Starting Monday, Trump said he’s planning to order ICE agents to airports, where they would arrest “all Illegal Immigrants,” unless Democrats fund DHS.
Mike Gayzagian, the president of AFGE Local 2617, the New England branch of the TSA officers’ union, said it’s currently unclear if ICE will be headed to Logan or any other airport in New England.
“We have not heard anything official from TSA leadership that ICE would be coming to any airport in New England. However, we are making inquiries,” Gayzagian said in a statement. “The New England region has not experienced the same problems as other parts of the country and so we do not see such a move as something that’s necessary at this time. However, if the staffing situation deteriorates, the need for such a move may have to be reevaluated.”
At Logan Airport, the majority of TSA agents have stayed at work, Boston.com previously reported, and the airport has overall avoided long security lines.
Massport confirmed Sunday that Logan has “not seen any impacts to the checkpoints due to the ongoing shutdown” and said it had no information on ICE agents going to Logan.
When asked if ICE agents will be at Logan Airport, a spokesperson for DHS did not address Boston or New England directly, instead blaming the “Democrat shutdown” and addressing the long lines at airports nationwide.
Trump will “deploy hundreds of ICE officers, that are currently funded by Congress, to airports being adversely impacted,” according to Lauren Bis, DHS’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Department of Homeland.
“Because of the Democrat shutdown, President Trump is using every tool available to help American travelers who are facing hourslong lines at airports across the country — especially during this spring break and holiday season that is very important for many American families,” Bis said. “This will help bolster TSA efforts to keep our skies safe and minimize air travel disruptions.”
AFGE National President Everett Kelley slammed the move in a statement, saying the agents “deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents who have shown how dangerous they can be.”
In New England, Gayzagian said as the union makes inquiries into the move to deploy ICE agents, public safety is important if staffing levels suffer.
“It’s important to keep the public safety situation under control,” Gayzagian said. “Any police presence at the airport acts as a deterrent to those who have bad intentions.”
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It was the second time in six months that Reichel had to pack his bags and join a new team. Was it a surprise?
“A little bit, I would say, because it was kind of like last-minute,” Reichel said. “But I knew Boston was always – even when I was in Chicago – always in the mix. It was good when I heard it.”
He tried to take it in stride. Providence runs a fairly parallel system to that of its NHL affiliate; Mougenel’s goal is for the transition to be as easy as possible, he said, when his guys get called upon. While it was a short stint with the P-Bruins, it seemed to be just what Reichel needed to get his bearings.
“I think Providence helped me a lot,” Reichel said. “It was just three games, but it was fun to play with them down there. They’re really good at helping me out, and I felt comfortable right away. They are a really good team.”
Reichel made his Boston debut in Thursday’s 6-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets at TD Garden, and had two points (one goal, one assist) while skating on the third line with Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie. He also slotted onto the second power-play unit.
Reichel displayed the speed head coach Marco Sturm has been so fond of during Saturday’s 4-2 victory in Detroit. He bolted past a group of Red Wings and charged the net, drawing a penalty shot in the latter minutes of the third period. While he did not convert, it was a prime example of the motor Reichel brings.
“I think as a player, I happened to be here, too, as soon as you go into a new team – I think it just helps overall your confidence when you score and have success on the first night. It helps you tomorrow, helps you the next day, helps you the next game,” Sturm said.
Lindholm and Geekie have a combined 21 years of NHL experience, and they’re offering it up as a resource for Reichel, who has injected his youthful energy onto the line.
“Just having fun,” Reichel said of his linemates’ advice. “And they try to talk to me a lot between periods or on the bench. Just play my game and have fun with it.”
Sturm had familiarity with Reichel – the Nuremberg, Germany, native – before he joined the Black & Gold. Reichel’s father, Martin, and Sturm were teammates on the German national team.
“I asked him about his dad today. He said he stepped away from youth hockey, and it’s a good thing. He’s focused on drinking wine, I guess. So good for him,” Sturm said with a smile. “He’s a good man, it’s a good family.”
Boston Legacy FC lost their first away game 0-3 to the Houston Dash on Saturday.
The game began with some action: a penalty in the 13th minute for the Houston Dash after a tackle by Jorelyn Carabali in the box. The Dash was unable to secure a goal after a diving block from Casey Murphy.
However, 30 minutes later, the Dash managed to get one through, resulting in a 0-1 score at the half.
In the second half, the Legacy was unable to stop the Dash, with a goal at the 60′ and 65 minute mark. The game ended 3-0. Boston Legacy secured 2 shots on goal, compared to 7 for Houston Dash. The first away game for the Legacy also marked several player debuts, including Amanda Gutierres, Laurel Ansbrow, and Massachusetts own Sammy Smith.
Boston Legacy head coach Filipa Patão said it wasn’t the result they were expecting.
“A lot of bad executions and decisions in the game,” Patão said. “We need to grow a little bit more.”
Midfielder Josefine Hasbo said that the players needed to take responsibility for their performance out on the pitch.
“These are the moments that you learn from even more,” said Hasbo.
Forward Nichelle Prince, who was drafted by the Dash in 2018, told reporters that the Legacy needed to work on keeping the ball on the other side of the pitch, especially on hot days, which may be more transitional for them.
“Pick our moments where we need to beat the press a little bit better and overall just the mentality to win the ball back quicker,” Prince said at a press conference.
Patão said that the team will focus on “getting better” and “improving our process” moving forward.
This loss comes a week after the Legacy’s 0-1 finish against the New York Sirens in their inaugural home game at Gillette Stadium. Boston Legacy will play the Utah Royals on March 28 at 12 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.
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