How did the Patriots’ loss to the Chiefs change their draft odds?

Patriots

A win for the Panthers on Sunday has New England nonetheless on the prowl for the No. 1 general decide in 2024.

After a shock win on the street in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 7, the 2023 Patriots got here crashing again all the way down to Earth on Sunday afternoon.

Regardless of one other trademark sturdy begin for Bailey Zappe and Co., New England ran out of steam because the minutes continued to tick off the clock in its matinee matchup in opposition to the Chiefs.

Together with taking a number of expensive penalties, the Patriots generated simply 57 whole yards of offense within the second half en path to a 27-17 loss in opposition to Kansas Metropolis.

It was one other sobering loss for a Patriots group nonetheless caught on the backside of the AFC standings at 3-11.

However with most Patriots followers fixated on the long run as of late, Sunday’s outcomes supplied up extra excellent news for a New England franchise in determined want of a blue-chip expertise.

Due to that defeat in opposition to Kansas Metropolis and the Arizona Cardinals’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, New England at present holds regular with the projected No. 2 general decide within the 2024 NFL Draft, per Tankathon.

Because of this, the Patriots stay in prime place to pick a prized QB prospect like USC’s Caleb Williams or UNC’s Drake Maye in April.

Regardless that New England and Arizona each maintain the identical report at 3-11, the Patriots technically maintain the slight edge over the Cardinals within the draft leaderboard, as a consequence of power of schedule (SOS). The SOS metric serves as a tiebreaker to find out the draft order for groups with similar data.

The group with the weaker power of schedule will maintain the upper decide, with New England (.523) holding the sting over the Cardinals (.556).

Nonetheless, power of schedule is dynamic and may change with every week, relying on the performances of every group confronted this yr over the ultimate month of the 2023 season.

Touchdown not less than one among Williams or Maye may doubtlessly web New England a foundational franchise QB able to reviving this stagnant offense. However there stands an opportunity that the Patriots can decide between the 2 signal-callers if it lands the No. 1 general decide on this yr’s draft.

Regardless that the Bears (who maintain the Carolina Panthers’ first-round decide) have held courtroom with the projected first-overall choice for a lot of the 2023 season, 2-12 Carolina reeled off an upset win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon.

Due to the Panthers’ win and New England’s loss to Kansas Metropolis, the Patriots simply sit one sport behind Carolina (Chicago) for that first-overall decide.

With New England already booted from playoff competition, there’s little left to play for over these ultimate three video games of the 2023 season for a weary Patriots locker room.

However for a downtrodden Patriots fanbase on the lookout for some silver linings amid a season of distress, three extra losses may put New England in place to sit down atop the draft leaderboard subsequent spring.