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LAS VEGAS — By slapping the hapless Jets around 42-10 on Sunday, the Patriots continued their tradition of punking both the Jets and the Dolphins.
It takes just two three-ring-circus franchises within a division to boost a third team’s season, providing a launching pad toward a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the playoffs.
During their 18-year dynastic run in which they went to nine Super Bowls, winning six, the Patriots went 30-6 against the Dolphins and Jets in the campaigns in which they advanced to the title game. Moreover, the Pats were 14-4 against the Bills those nine seasons, further greasing their postseason paths.