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NFL·November 7, 2026 05:01 AM ET

Patriots at 5-3 look like a legitimate AFC playoff team

New England holds the 7 seed after a 24-19 win at Miami on Nov. 1, and it is shuffling its roster before Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 7h1 min read
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What happened: The Patriots hold a Saturday walkthrough before Sunday's game, then face a 4 p.m. deadline for roster moves and practice-squad elevations. Wide receiver Mack Hollins is the top option to fill an open spot, per Mike Reiss. Running back Corey Kiner is rallying behind TreVeyon Henderson, who is out with an illness. The day also includes Rob Gronkowski's Hall of Fame induction at 1 p.m.

Why it matters: New England is 5-3 through eight games with a one-game winning streak, and the last result was a road win over a division rival. Hollins caught 46 passes for 550 yards and 2 touchdowns in 15 games last season (2025) with the Patriots. Kiner ran 12 times for 58 yards in 4 games last season (2025) with the Cardinals, so the backfield depth behind Henderson is thin on NFL experience.

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