With the victory, the Patriots lost the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft. They currently own the No. 4 overall pick after finishing the season with a 4-13 record. Mayo was asked to give a response to Patriots fans who might have been upset by the team winning a game they would have greatly benefitted from losing.

Brian Callahan and the Tennessee Titans secured the top pick with a 3-14 record. The New England Patriots held that spot prior to their regular-season finale, but a win over the Buffalo Bills dropped them to No. 4 at 4-13. The Cleveland Browns (3-14) finished with the No. 2 pick and the New York Giants (3-14) were slotted No. 3.

Cook still had something to play for one touchdown shy of tying Simpson's record. He was given four carries inside the Patriots' 15-yard line on Buffalo's second possession, including one from the 1-yard line, but was unable to get into the end zone.

As a result, it is officially the offseason in Cincinnati and a second straight season without a postseason appearance. The silver lining is the Bengals will pick near the middle of the draft as a result. The Bengals will pick one spot higher than they did in the last draft.

For the Bengals to get into the playoffs, they need the Denver Broncos to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets to beat the Miami Dolphins. Both of the games will be played during the early afternoon 4:25 p.m. time slot. Cincinnati will know if their season will continue by 8 p.m. or so on Sunday night.

There are three teams that the Buffalo Bills could play in the playoffs. Two games will decide which one travels to Highmark Stadium.

The Bengals took care of their own business, winning five in a row to close out the season, but they were officially eliminated from playoff contention when the Broncos crushed the Chiefs.

QB Nix started 18 of 18 before throwing incompletion on final pass of first half. Sutton reached final $500,000 incentive by surpassing 1,065 receiving yards.

The Buffalo Bills are headed back to the playoffs. Once again, the Bills will do so as the champion of the AFC East division. It's the fifth-straight year Buffalo has taken that crown, and in doing so in 2024,

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) is chased out of bounds by Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai (58) during the first half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) AP

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills would await the Bengals in the wild-card round if Cincinnati gets help Sunday from the Chiefs and Jets.