CBS Sports

‘But notice how much more efficiently this season’s Bills moved the chains. Also, how about the current-day Bills out-of-seemingly-nowhere run prowess? Buffalo finished this regular season with nearly 13% more rushing yards than the NFL average despite entering the season dubbed as a team that would have problems running if it even attempted to run at all. And, of course, Allen’s scrambling and designed-run capabilities are a big part of Buffalo’s ground game.’

‘With that in mind, weather becoming a factor in this could be more beneficial to the Patriots, who are 4.5-point underdogs heading into this playoff matchup. If wind, precipitation, or merely the cold weather can limit Josh Allen’s ability to throw the football, that should keep New England within striking distance, while playing into their preference of running the football.’

‘Allen is the only player in NFL history with 4,000 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns and eight rushing touchdowns in a season, accomplishing the feat last season. He only had six rushing touchdowns in 2021, ending his three-year streak of rushing for seven-plus touchdowns in a year. Allen still finished with 36 passing touchdowns and six rushing touchdowns, finishing with 42 total for the year.’

‘That change has a direct impact on players like Beasley and Davis, who were initially expected to miss the full 10 days due to their unvaccinated status and positive tests that forced them to miss last week’s win in New England.’

‘In what was arguably their most impressive offensive performance of the season, the Bills piled up 33 points and most importantly, they didn’t punt a single time. That’s notable because it made the Bills the first team ever to make it through a game without punting against a team coached by Belichick, according to ESPN.’

‘Haack said this is the first game in his NFL career in which he did not have to come in and punt. Some other history was made during the game as well, and not the good kind. This marked the first time in Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s career that an opposing team did not punt for an entire game.’

‘”What we ruled was, we had contact on the sideline,” referee Shawn Smith told pool reporter Mike Reiss of ESPN. “And after discussion, we determined that it was incidental contact that didn’t rise to a level of a personal foul. There was no second act by the defender in that situation, so we determined there was no foul, based on that action.”‘

‘Buffalo had control of this game for basically all four quarters. They came out of the gate with a touchdown drive and were largely able to move the ball up and down the field with ease, averaging 5.7 yards per play. They didn’t punt once and entered the red zone on seven of their nine offensive possessions on the afternoon. The only other two in which they didn’t get into the red area came at the end of the first half and regular when they were killing clock.’

‘Pick: Patriots 27, Bills 23.’

‘The NFL recently updated its COVID-19 protocols so that vaccinated individuals can “test out” of protocol, but as we have seen over the past week, it does not guarantee anything. It also makes it seem less likely for a player like Ford to return, since he was placed on the list two days before the game. Beasley, who is the Bills’ second leading receiver with 640 yards and one touchdown, will certainly be missed in the slot, but Davis will be as well, as he has been coming on as of late. He has caught four touchdowns over the last three games, and caught five passes for 85 yards and two scores last week against the Carolina Panthers.’

‘”Just to be clear Covid is not keeping me out of this game,” Beasley wrote on Instagram. “The rules are. Vaxxed players are playing with Covid every week now because they don’t test. One of my vaxxed teammates is in the hospital missing games. I’m sure he didn’t get this same energy. Thank you for those who support. Everyone else, if you don’t get what’s happening then there is nothing anybody can do for you.”‘

‘The Bills didn’t get off to the best start, but found a way to take care of business in the second half. Gabe Davis had two big touchdown catches that paced Buffalo’s passing game in the second half, including the 20-yard score that put Buffalo up 24-8 — a lead that was too much for Carolina to overcome. Davis had both his touchdown catches on third and fourth down, which gave Buffalo 14 points when it needed it most. The fourth down touchdown catch was the dagger for Carolina, putting the Bills up 31-14 with 2:12 remaining.’

‘The Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills didn’t have a first half that football fans will discuss for generations, yet the two teams were able to make some history in the first 30 minutes. The Bills led the Panthers 17-8 at halftime — the first game in NFL history that had a 17-8 halftime score, according to Fox.’

‘The losses put Buffalo at 7-6 and Carolina at 5-8. A pair of defensive numbers to keep in mind before kickoff: The Bills rank first in the league when it comes to passing touchdowns allowed, with only ten on the season. As for the Panthers, they enter the matchup with only 293 yards allowed per game on average, good for second best in the NFL.’

‘”People in Buffalo, when they are aware of an opportunity to help, they just rise to the occasion,” Tammy Owen, president and CEO of VIA, told News 4 Buffalo. “It makes you feel great, not only about the clients that we serve but the wonderful nature of the people who live in this community.”‘