Sports Magic Numbers @SportsMagicNum
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New England Patriots (NE)

AFC East • Record: 2-2 (.500) •No. 7 seed
Race:

Seed Holding the No. 7 seed (wild card) — Broncos is the first team out, 0 games back
Numbers Magic path: chasing a wild card — 11 rivals contending for 3 spots
Magic # 14
Tragic # 14
Division titleMagic 14 · Tragic 13
No. 1 seed (bye)Magic 14 · Tragic 12
Playoff odds 48.7%
Division 30.4% • Wild card 18.3% • Bye 1.4%
Full league odds →
Magic counts down to clinching — drops as you win or bubble teams lose. A tie is half a game.
Tragic counts down to elimination — drops as you lose or the chaser wins.

This week's rooting guide — Week 5


Live rooting guide — it updates as games go final, so items may disappear.
Showing this week's remaining games that can still affect your numbers.
Your game
  • If Patriots beat Raiders this week, your Magic number -1.
    Magic -1
  • If Patriots lose to Raiders this week, your Magic number -1 and your Tragic number -1.
    Magic -1Tragic -1

What-if explorer

Drag the sliders — the numbers recalculate instantly using the site's real playoff math.
If Patriots go 2-3 while Broncos go 2-3:
Magic # 14 → 9Magic -5 Tragic # 14 → 10Tragic -4
Assumes these games come against teams outside your race; every other rival's record stays as-is.

Frequently asked questions

What is the New England Patriots magic number right now?

The New England Patriots magic number is currently 14. Any combination of New England Patriots wins (a tie counts as half) and losses by the team chasing them that adds up to 14 clinches a playoff spot.

What is the New England Patriots elimination number?

The New England Patriots elimination number is 14. When it hits 0 the team is mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. It shrinks when the New England Patriots lose or when the team chasing them gains ground.

What are the New England Patriots playoff odds?

Based on 10,000 simulations of the remaining schedule, the New England Patriots make the playoffs in about 48.7% of outcomes.

What is a magic number in football?

A magic number is the combined total of team wins and chasing-team losses that guarantees a playoff spot — a division title or one of the three wild cards in the conference. A tie counts as half a game. When it reaches 0, the spot is clinched no matter what happens in the remaining games.

When did the New England Patriots last make the playoffs?

The New England Patriots last made the NFL playoffs in 2025 — the most recently completed season.

When did the New England Patriots last win the Super Bowl?

The New England Patriots have won 6 Super Bowls, most recently in 2018.

How often are these numbers updated?

Standings and magic numbers on Sports Magic Numbers refresh throughout the day and after every NFL game, so the numbers here reflect the live playoff race.

Full guide: how magic numbers work →