Sports With Littlefield: Top Seed And Weather Give Patriots The Advantage

After beating the New York Jets last weekend, the New England Patriots have earned a home field advantage as they head into the AFC half of the playoffs. That means the Pats could potentially play four straight games at Gillette stadium over five weeks and, as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, they have this week off from any NFL games.

This is the sixth time in the last 11 years that the Patriots have been the No. 1 seed in the AFC. In five of those six years, the Patriots went to the Superbowl.

Another advantage for the Patriots could be the freezing New England weather.

Bill Littlefield, host of NPR's Only A Game, which tweets @onlyagamenpr.