Patriots out to prove Super Bowl win was no fluke

THE New England Patriots, eager to prove their unlikely Super Bowl triumph was no fluke, are among a host of teams seeking to nail down a playoff berth in the final week of the National Football League regular season.

After a magical ride last season, the Patriots have lost their shine, losing their last six games against teams with winning records. Even a victory over AFC East leaders Miami today will not be enough for the Pats to repeat as division champions.

They also need the Jets to lose to Green Bay on Sunday. If the Jets win, the Pats would need losses by Cleveland and Denver and either a win by Kansas City or a loss by San Diego to claim a wild card berth.