The New England Patriots are AFC East champions with a game to go in the regular season.
What now?
The Pats still have a Week 18 matchup with the Miami Dolphins on the docket, although they know they're division champs thanks to the Buffalo Bills' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
New England is 13-3, with the Bills at 11-5.
The question becomes, do you sit guys? What else is there to play for?
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Will the Patriots sit Drake Maye and other starters?
No, the Patriots won't be sitting guys against the Dolphins.
Why?
The No. 1 seed in the AFC is in play.
The Denver Broncos will enter Week 18 at 13-3 also. And they play the talented Chargers.
If the Broncos lose and Patriots win, the Pats get the conference's top seed.
That 1-seed comes with the only first-round bye available in the conference, which could be quite valuable. It means one less win is required to get to the Super Bowl.
So the Patriots will play their studs at least as long as they have to in order to get the game well in hand and try to grab that No. 1 seed.
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