EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The 11-3 Patriots fully expected to beat the 3-11 Jets Sunday. I don’t want to say there was any lack of urgency, but Bob Kraft didn’t even bother bringing his lifeguard chair for this one.
With Kraft and Jon Bon Jovi watching from standard elevation in a luxury box, the Patriots made the necessary plays in a 17-16 victory that guarantees they don’t have to play a game during the first weekend of the playoffs.
If the Bengals can beat the Broncos in Cincinnati Monday night, the Patriots would clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Let me state categorically that the 2014-15 NFC champion should give Rex Ryan a two-week contract the day after the NFC Championship game. Ryan is almost certain to be fired when the regular season ends, and Sunday in the Meadowlands he again demonstrated that he knows how to attack Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
Unlike most NFL coaches, Ryan is not afraid of New England’s blue meanies and he completely pushed the Patriots out of rhythm for most of the 60 minutes.
That said, here’s what I’m wondering: In the wake of a narrow road victory against a bad team, do you feel better or worse about the Patriots’ chances to break their decade-long Super Bowl drought? Let’s examine the cases for better and/or worse:
■ Better. AFC Tomato Cans continue to fall down in front of New England. There is little resistance for the Patriots on their path to the Super Bowl. They own Indy and Cincinnati. Denver cannot win in New England. The Ravens were beginning to look like a threat, but they were humbled by horrible Houston Sunday. Pittsburgh doesn’t have the defense. Name the team capable of coming to Gillette and winning in January.
■ Worse. The Patriots are headed for a fall. The offense has been leaving too many points on the field, and “bend-but-don’t break” doesn’t cut it in the Roman Numeral Game. If you can’t bury the moribund Jets in December, you are not a Super Bowl-winning team.
So what do you say, Patriots fans? Your team is 12-3, almost certainly home until the Super Bowl. You just beat the Jets, 17-16. Are you feeling better or worse about this team’s ability to break the longest championship drought among all four Boston sports teams?
More coverage:
■ Patriots 17, Jets 16: Patriots clinch playoff bye
■ Shaughnessy: How do you like Patriots’ chances?
■ On football: Offensive line obviously a problem area for Patriots
■ This week, Vince Wilfork rises to occasion, blocks a kick
■ Filip Bondy | Opposing view: Blame Rex Ryan for this defeat, not his players
■ Jets coach Rex Ryan says loss was the same old story
■ Brady says Patriots’ offense couldn’t find rhythm vs. Jets
■ Ben Volin| Instant analysis: It was ugly, but credit Patriots for escaping with a win
■ Patriots notebook: Danny Amendola comes up big
Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at dshaughnessy@globe.
com. Follow him on Twitter @dan_shaughnessy.