by TYLER HATHAWAY
The Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots meet this Sunday in Foxborough for a game with major playoff implications. For Buffalo, it’s a chance to all but clinch a playoff spot and get on the fast-track to earn the number five seed in the AFC, while keeping their division hopes alive. For New England, a win will give it its first AFC East title since Tom Brady left the team after 2019. Here’s the breakdown:
BUFFALO BILLS (9-4/AFC East)
vs.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (11-2/AFC East)
Sunday, Gillette Stadium, 1:00 pm
Storyline #1: Bills looking to avenge ugly October loss
In addition to all of the stakes Sunday’s game holds relating to playoff position, there’s great chance that writing the wrong of the two squads’ previous matchup is on the Bills mind.
The Bills only scored three first-half points while turning the ball over three times in a three-point loss. New England kicker Andy Borregales drilled a 52-yarder with 15 seconds left to give the Patriots the win in Week 5.
“We just played sloppy, not going to win a football game turning the ball over three times,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said after the October loss. “In our redzone, we gave them one in their redzone. That’s just bad, bad football, we just did not play good.”
While the Bills shot at a division title is an uphill battle even with a win this weekend, the Patriots can clinch the AFC East with a win. If New England finishes first in the division, it will end the streak of five-straight AFC East crowns for Buffalo.
Storyline #2: Patriots on a roll
The Patriots have been on a complete opposite road as Buffalo since the two teams met in October. The Bills are 5-3 since their loss to New England. The Patriots on the other hand, are a perfect 8-0 since coming to Orchard Park.
New England enters this weekend currently on a 10-game winning streak, and second in the AFC currently behind the Denver Broncos due to tiebreakers. Just one year ago, the Patriots finished in the bottom five of the NFL and were one loss away from the number one pick in the draft.
Second-year quarterback Drake Maye has thrust himself into the NFL’s elite tier of quarterbacks, and is a real threat to win Most Valuable Player. Maye has completed 71.5% of his passes this season while throwing for 3,412 yards and 23 touchdowns to only six interceptions.
Storyline #3: Christian Benford playing his best football of the season
Bills cornerback Christian Benford has been a game-changer these past two weeks for Buffalo after having a quiet first half of the season.
The Villanova product had an interception and returned a fumble for a touchdown in the Bills’ Week 13 win against Pittsburgh. Against the Bengals this past week, Benford had a sack and a 67-yard interception return for a touchdown that gave the Bills a 32-28 lead with about five minutes left in the fourth quarter that swung the game in Buffalo’s favor.
“Just a big-time moment in the game,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said of the play. “That’s this time of year. You’re looking for moments, guys doing their job, and when you do your job, good things happen. That’s what we saw happen. It was just a phenomenal play, phenomenal call. Just great to see.”
In fact, he was likely going to win his second straight AFC defensive player of the week award after winning it after his performance against Pittsburgh. However, teammate Josh Allen won the offensive nod after his four-touchdown day, and two players from the same team can’t win in the same week.
However, there was some bad news announced for Benford and the Bills this week, as McDermott listed the former pro-bowler on the injury report Thursday. He is in a walking boot due to a toe injury, and his status for Sunday’s showdown in New England is unknown.
Key to the game #1: Keep the crowd out of the game
Given the fact that New England has a chance to clinch the division with a win, it could be rightfully assumed that the Bills are going to be walking into a more-than-usually hostile environment on Sunday.
Therefore, you need to do everything you can to keep the crowd as little of a factor as possible. Establish momentum early. Take the ball if you win the toss, and score. Try and force a few three-and-outs.
Buffalo cannot come out flat if they want to win this game. It’s been as rough past few years for Patriots fans, and a fast start for New England may generate enough momentum and energy in that stadium to wash the Bills back to Orchard Park disappointed.
Key to the game #2: Special teams play a clean game
Most people would probably assume that the offensive and defensive play for Buffalo this Sunday is infinitely more important than how the special teams units perform. While there is no argument that special teams will be more important than them against New England, it cannot be understated how important it is that the Bills avoid mistakes on special teams this week.
New England has historically speaking been great on special teams, and his year is no different. In terms of kicking, kicker Andy Borregales has only missed three field goals all season, and punt returner and former All-Pro Marcus Jones is second in the NFL in average punt return yards this season and has taken two punts back to the house, including a 94-yard return for a touchdown last week. Additionally, the Patriots have also had Antonio Gibson take a kick-return for a touchdown.
The Bills cannot afford to make mistakes in the special teams department Sunday, especially in a game that will likely be as tight as last time.
X-Factor: Bills running back James Cook
It’s been an odd few weeks for Bills tailback James Cook. He’s fumbled twice in each of the past two games (losing one in each), but despite that, the Bills won both games and Cook has still managed to accrue over 280 yards of total offense over the span.
But the turnovers have been costly. The fumble against the Steelers came in a first half in which the Bills only mustered up three points and set the Steelers up with a short field that saw Pittsburgh score a touchdown. Against the Bengals, Cook coughed it up right before the goalline, costing Buffalo seven points and a chance to take the lead right before the start of the fourth quarter.
Despite the career season the fourth-year back has been having, it’s important that Cook sheds this slump before the game against New England. The Patriots defense thankfully hasn’t ranked amongst the NFL’s best at generating turnovers this season, but it’s likely given Cook’s struggles at holding on to the football of late that they will be jumping at every chance they get to try and punch the ball out.
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