I think this one will be a tough win for the Patriots, but getting healthier on the offensive line will certainly help.
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In other words, the Patriots will have seven chances to lock down the division and the Bills and Jets can’t slip up at any point in time.
Now this isn’t probable, but there’s a chance that the Bengals could drop one or two of these games, sending them to three or four losses on the season, before Cincinnati has to face the Broncos in prime time. But he has shown the ability to have big plays and win big games. Although it was both offense and special teams that did the scoring, it was Bicarri Rambo that sealed the game with his last-minute interception. There are not a ton of weapons on the offensive side of the ball, sans wide receiver Sammy Watkins and running back LeSean McCoy.
A conference call with the Boston media ahead of Monday night’s matchup was going smoothly until someone mentioned that the Bills coach has lost “eight of (last) nine to the Patriots”. He’s 4-11 against the Patriots and has been embarrassed a couple of times playing against them. In all likelihood, this will be one of the primary matchups worth watching on Monday. A few of that is due to opponents throwing frequently while playing from behind, but New England allows a modest 4.0 yards per carry. McKelvin is also disappointed he didn’t have an opportunity to make up for the fumble when Buffalo next played the Patriots three months later; he was sidelined with a broken leg. Williams has been a steal with Buffalo taking him in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. But when a 54-yard field goal is required, Gostkowski is straight and true.
The Patriots offense is decimated with injuries, something that would be expected of the Bills after a first half of the season that transformed Buffalo into a helpless unit praying for a break. Brady averaged 2.40 in the previous four seasons. We’re a better group. He only caught three passes for a measly 14 yards in the game.
Offensively, the Bills must take a page or two out of the Giants’ playbook.
If the Bills lose, they would fall to the eighth seed, and Kansas City would vault into the playoff picture. Going into the weekend, the Bills are tied for eighth in the league with 16 takeaways (10 interceptions, 6 fumbles). Of course. They combined for 11 touchdowns this season.
This becomes an even greater problem due to the fact that Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins, who is a great tackler and run-stopper, will be sitting out. Second, it’s Rob Gronkowski.
They know what it takes: Having a dominant regular season is nothing new for the Patriots.
Ryan wasn’t a fan of the question, but the phrase “he doth protest too much” comes to mind here. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore was vague this week when he said the Bills “have got a game plan” to shut down Gronk, the Amherst native who has terrorized his hometown team since joining the Patriots. And so I know you guys always say that I’m obsessed with them and all that. No. They’re gonna win the division. “So it’s really going to come down to ourselves and try not to let them disrespect us”. New England has dominated Buffalo for the better part of 15 years the way no National Football League team has ever dominated another, the beat downs more commonplace than right wing cracks about Obamacare. Yeah, because they’ve won.
Those two are risky enough at running the football, something the Patriots have really tightened up on in the past five or six games but the big test will be on how well New England can defend them out of the backfield. But do I obsess over them and all that? That’s what you said, we’ve lost seven of eight, I’ve lost seven of eight against them.
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