New England Patriots

History says Pats are Super Bowl bound if they clinch division Sunday

Published Nov. 25, 2015 2:44 p.m. ET

foxsports

The New England Patriots have a five-game cushion in the AFC East and are almost a sure bet to win the division in 2015. Incredibly, they can lock it up on Sunday with a win over the Denver Broncos and a loss by the New York Jets.

If they do indeed clinch the division this week, they'll be just the fifth team do so in 11 games since 1978, according to Rand Getlin of NFL Network. The previous four teams all have one very important thing in common: They all reached the Super Bowl.

It's not a certainty, but if the Patriots do lock up the AFC East on Sunday, history dictates that they'll be playing for another Super Bowl in Santa Clara on Feb. 7.