New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo is heading into Sunday’s season finale against the Buffalo Bills with the intent to win and finish strong. That means anyone healthy enough to play is expected to be on the field.
Fans might have mixed opinions on that strategy with the team currently owning the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft. The Bills are expected to rest their starters for the playoffs. A win for the Patriots could knock them out of position as the first team to pick on the draft board.
The team will be looking to pick up its fourth win of the season and bring an end to a six-game losing streak. Mayo made it clear that New England is not going to treat this like a throwaway game, as noted by ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Jerod Mayo: My message to players is to finish the season strong. If players are healthy, they will play and should expect to play. pic.twitter.com/hH05qcHOHX
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 1, 2025
What happens in Sunday’s game could have a major impact on the future of the Patriots. Owning the top pick would put them in a position to trade for more assets to continue rebuilding the team.
However, there’s also the option to finish strong by winning and heading into the offseason on a more positive note.
