The New England Patriots have dominated the NFL since 2001 and their playoff statistics prove it.
Bill Belichick's team, obviously, has been unmatched when they earn a first-round playoff bye the past two decades. However, they don't necessarily have to worry if they happen to drop to a wild-card spot come Sunday.
Since 2001, the Patriots are 12-1 when securing a first-round bye. That one loss came to the New York Jets in the 2010 playoffs after Mark Sanchez threw for 194 yards and three touchdowns at Gillette Stadium while Tom Brady was sacked five times.
When New England has had to play in the wild-card game since 2001, they are 2-1 with wins over the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005 and the Jets in 2006. That one wild-card loss came in the 2009 season to the Baltimore Ravens. Ray Rice had a monster game for the Ravens, rushing for 159 yards and two touchdowns while Brady threw more interceptions (three) than touchdowns (two).
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The Patriots are projected to secure the No. 2 seed Sunday provided they beat the Miami Dolphins in Foxboro OR the Kansas City Chiefs lose if New England loses. The AFC wild-card round is projected to be the Chiefs vs. the Tennessee Titans and the Buffalo Bills against the Houston Texans. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders have an outside shot at the final AFC playoff berth should the Titans lose. If the Chiefs manage to take over the No. 2 seed, New England will likely face the 8-7 Titans, who they lost to 34-10 last season in Nashville.
New England Patriots
If the Patriots hosted the Titans in a wild-card game, they'd be facing a quarterback with an awful history in Foxboro. Ryan Tannehill is 0-6 in New England in his career, all with the Dolphins.
If the Patriots avoid the upset against Miami, they'll take their usual playoff route by starting with a first-round bye.