Right now the Patriots do not have a locked‑in playoff opponent yet; the matchup depends on how Week 18 results shake out in the AFC.

Where things stand

  • The Patriots have already clinched a playoff berth and are battling near the top of the AFC, with seeding still in flux heading into the final week of the regular season.
  • They can still land anywhere from the No. 1 seed (with a first‑round bye) down to a lower seeded spot that would force them to play on wild‑card weekend.

Most likely opponents right now

Several outlets lay out the main possibilities rather than a single confirmed matchup:

  • If they earn a bye (No. 1 seed), they would skip wild‑card weekend and not “play anyone” until the divisional round.
  • Scenario breakdowns commonly highlight:
    • Los Angeles Chargers as a potential wild‑card opponent if New England stays as a high seed without a bye.
* **Buffalo Bills** as another realistic wild‑card opponent in some seeding combinations.
  • The exact team will hinge on the outcomes of games involving the Broncos, Chargers, Bills, Texans, Jaguars and, of course, the Patriots’ own Week 18 result.

Current projected matchup snapshot

Some playoff‑picture pieces provide an “if the season ended today” view:

  • One recent projection had the Patriots as the No. 2 seed hosting the Chargers in the wild‑card round.
  • Another current AFC snapshot showed No. 2 Patriots vs. No. 7 Bills among the tentative matchups, again underscoring that it is still fluid.

What to watch for in Week 18

  • A Patriots win plus a Broncos loss would likely push New England to the top seed and give them a bye instead of a wild‑card opponent.
  • A Patriots loss combined with wins by other contenders (for example, Jacksonville) could push them down a seed line and change the opponent pool entirely (Bills, Chargers, Texans all in play).

TL;DR: There is no single guaranteed answer yet to “who will the Patriots play in the playoffs”; the leading wild‑card possibilities are the Chargers or Bills , but a first‑round bye is still on the table depending on the final week’s results.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.