NEW ENGLAND Patriots can clinch AFC East title in 13th game

Despite injuries and other problems, the team is very much in the playoff picture.
FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) -- For the third straight year, the New England Patriots can clinch the AFC East title in their 13th game. This season's road to the playoffs has been the rockiest.
Despite injuries and inconsistency, the Patriots can lock up the division on Sunday with an 8-5 record if they beat Buffalo and Miami loses at San Diego.
In 2003, they were 11-2 after 13 games, and last season, they had a 12-1 record. They ended both seasons at 14-2. They've been battered this season, but still can claim the division title with three games left.
"That's a great thing, despite all the things that we've been through," fullback Patrick Pass said Wednesday.
Injuries
In the third game they lost star safety Rodney Harrison for the season, and tackle Matt Light, who may not return from a broken leg. Six defensive backs are on injured reserve and so is center Dan Koppen. At running back, Kevin Faulk missed eight games and Corey Dillon sat out two before returning last Sunday.
And the Patriots have lost four games by 10 points or more.
Indianapolis (12-0) has clinched the AFC South and Cincinnati (9-3) can secure the AFC North if it beats Cleveland and Pittsburgh loses to Chicago. Denver (9-3) leads the AFC West by one game over San Diego and Kansas City.
The Patriots are in the AFC's worst division, with Miami in second place at 5-7.
"We've got good teams and good players on these teams," kicker Adam Vinatieri said. "It's just (that) there's a lot of good teams elsewhere, too.
"In the past, we've had statistically one of the strongest divisions, so everything's different every year. It's just a situation where the (New York) Jets, Miami, Buffalo, whenever we play any of these teams it seems like it's always a tough game, especially this week. Going up to Buffalo, it's going to be real tough."
The Bills are 4-8, but 4-2 at home. They nearly beat the Patriots in Foxborough on Oct. 30 when they led 16-7, but allowed two touchdowns in the last 71/2 minutes and lost 21-16. The winning touchdown followed Rosevelt's Colvin's sack and fumble recovery against Kelly Holcomb.