The Patriots controlled their own destiny.
If they won out, they'd at least have the No. 2 seed. But a loss to the 49ers dropped them to No. 3.
Not only does that mean they have to play Wild Card weekend, but if they win they're scheduled to play the Denver Broncos in Denver.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Boston sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
That won't be easy.
Gary Tanguay, Mike Felger, and Patriots Football Weekly's Paul Perillo discuss the bumpy road ahead.
"I think Denver is a pretty good football team, and I think the Patriots are a pretty good football team, so having to play them at Denver is not as good as playing them in New England," Perillo said.
Felger agrees, but still likes Pats in that matchupassuming they get there.
Who knows how New England will fair the week before, against, say, Pittsburgh.
Check out the video for more.