The Patriots can pretty much determine the first-round agenda for the AFC playoffs. Here's how the scenario goes: If the Patriots play their starters on Sunday and beat Houston, they knock the Texans out of the playoff race and clinch the No. 3 seed. The Bengals would know going into the Sunday night game against the Jets that they are the No. 4 seed and can rest their starters. If the Jets win, they would face the Patriots in the wild-card round and Cincinnati would host Baltimore if the Ravens beat the Raiders in Oakland. My guess is that New England coach Bill Belichick will play his starters and try to clinch the No. 3 seed.Edelman emerging: The Patriots' offense clearly looks better with Julian Edelman as its No. 3 wide receiver. No knock on Sam Aiken, but Aiken is a special-teamer who has helped out at wide receiver. Edelman shows good promise as a third receiver, but he's been held back by injuries this season. Fox update: It's pretty clear that the Panthers' late-season surge has prevented coach John Fox from being fired. The Panthers are now 7-8 and are winning with a backup quarterback, Matt Moore. What has to be determined, though, is whether Fox is willing to stay on with only a one-year contract worth around $6 million. Good coaches don't like going into a one-year situations, and there doesn't appear to be a plan to give him a contract extension. Stay tuned.Saints' issues: Probably the biggest concern for the Saints is that injuries are starting to wear down the defense. Plus, tight end Jeremy Shockey's toe injury has affected the efficiency of the offense. Shockey should be back by the playoffs, so the Saints' offensive problems shouldn't be worrisome. The Saints' defense had trouble stopping the Buccaneers' running attack in Week 16. Injuries along the defensive line and in the secondary are starting to catch up to them.