After a huge win on Thursday Night Football last week, the Buffalo Bills (5-4) now hold sole possession over second place in the AFC East, arguably the most competitive division in the NFL this year. The Patriots beat the Bills in Buffalo back in Week Two by a 40-32 score. This game projects to be a low scoring defensive affair, now that future-HOF QB Peyton Manning has shown he is indeed human.
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The phone interview between Rex Ryan and the Patriots media soured after just five minutes. The Patriots are 11-3 SU in their last 14 MNF games.
The lack of love and abundance of envy can be traced to the Patriots having what Ryan wants, that being sustained success. Especially against the Patriots on Monday night.
Their unbeaten start to the season was in serious jeopardy last week but a mighty 50-yard-plus field goal from Stephen Gostkowski as time expired got them across the line against the NY Giants so the Bills may feel that a few vulnerability exists as the stresses and strains of over half a season start to take a toll. Bills are 4-1 with McCoy, Karlos Williams and QB Tyrod Taylor all playing. Like when we played against [Doug] Flutie or somebody like that, I can remember putting whoever our quickest player was back there to run around to simulate the pass rush and how hard it was to contain him, but then you couldn’t throw the ball.
Ryan, in his first year with the Bills after six seasons with the Jets, has had difficulty against quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick and his frustration boiled over with reporters last week and continued on Sunday. “We’ll get a good shot”.
Receiver Julian Edelman was knocked out of last week’s game, and he’s expected to be out for at least the rest of the regular season. So to say do I think we have the talent to play better than that? “The only thing I’m focusing on is beating them right now, on Monday night – and we ain’t conceding that, I promise you”. “But if you give them a spot to run, unless they have a great passing opportunity, they’ll take advantage of it”.
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Belichick and his defense successfully closed down potential running lanes for Taylor in the first meeting. The only winning team, the Chiefs, will face Buffalo next week in a huge game as far as playoff implications go, but let’s save that for next week. He goes out there every practice, every game and plays 100 percent. They’ll be without their starting left tackle, running back, and wide receiver – all of whom played a huge role on offense earlier in the season. Tom Brady is performing at his typical MVP level, and the Patriots look like the most dominant team in the NFL. The Patriots are second in the league in rushing yards allowed (88.2) and third in sacks (30), led by Chandler Jones’ NFL-high 10.5. Yeah, they want to put us away, there’s no question.
