FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots, now 10-4, could have clinched a playoff spot Sunday — wrapped up the AFC East and set themselves up as the frontrunner for the No. 1 seed in the conference with a win on Sunday afternoon in Miami.
But New England’s latest last-second comeback attempt came up short in South Beach as quarterback Tom Brady’s fourth-and-goal throw was intercepted in the end zone and coach Bill Belichick’s team went home with the 24-20 loss and plenty left to battle for over the next two weeks.
And a Patriots team that’s dealing with life without Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski — the latest Pro Bowl name added to New England’s injured reserve list that already included defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and linebacker Jerod Mayo — heads toward Sunday afternoon’s game in Baltimore against the Ravens with far more quest