Dan Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Week 17: Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots Sunday, December 28, 2014 at 1:00pm TV Network: CBS (TV Map) Announcers: Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots DirecTV: 713 Bills Radio: On the call: John Murphy (play by play), Mark Kelso (analyst), Sal Capaccio (sideline) Flagship: Buffalo – WGR550 (550AM); Toronto - 590 The Fan; Rochester - WCMF (96.5) and WROC (950AM); Syracuse - WKRL (100.9/WKLL 94.9) Sirius/XM: 108 (Internet 803) ================================================================= Game Preview: The New England Patriots have Super Bowl aspirations every season, and clinching the top seed in the AFC playoffs is simply an expectation fulfilled as they pursue their ultimate goal. New England (12-3) did its part by surviving with a 17-16 victory at the New York Jets last week, and it wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs when Cincinnati beat Denver on Monday night. Buffalo (8-7) was eliminated from playoff contention for the 15th straight season with last week's 26-24 loss at Oakland, extending the longest active playoff drought in the NFL. Read more at ESPN game preview... --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Harbaugh leads top 10 head-coaching candidates QB Index: Which QBs will be available in 2015? NFL.com Preview: Bills at Patriots NFL.com Game Center Team Stats: Bills Patriots Total Yds/Game.... 321.9 372.5 Total Rush............. 91.9 107.4 Total Pass............. 230.0 265.1 Points/Game.......... 21.7 30.6 Time of Poss.......... 29.8 29.5 ---------------------------------------------- Yds/Gm Allowed... 315.7 349.2 Rush Yards........... 105.8 104.3 Pass Yards........... 209.9 244.9 Points Allowed........ 18.7 19.7 Source: NFL.com Overall Offense: Bills - 24th; Patriots - 10th Overall Defense: Bills - 4th; Patriots - 13th MatchUp Comparison via SportingCharts.com Injury Report: Buffalo Bills NAME POSITION INJURY WED. THU. FRI. GAME STATUS Carpenter, Dan K Right Groin LP LP LP Probable Dareus, Marcell DT Knee DNP DNP DNP Doubtful Gilmore, Stephon CB Concussion DNP DNP DNP Doubtful Williams, Aaron S Hip LP LP LP Probable Source: BuffaloBills.com New England Patriots NAME POSITION INJURY WED. THU. FRI. GAME STATUS Sebastian Vollmer T Back Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Tom Brady QB Ankle Full Participation in Practice Probable Jonas Gray RB Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice Out Chandler Jones DE Hip Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Danny Aiken LS Finger Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Shane Vereen RB Ankle Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Brandon Browner CB Groin Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Dont'a Hightower LB Shoulder Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Rob Ninkovich DE Heel Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Alfonzo Dennard CB Hamstring Limited Participation in Practice Out Brandon LaFell WR Shoulder Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Kyle Arrington CB Hamstring Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Julian Edelman WR Thigh Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Jamie Collins LB Hip Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Dan Connolly G Knee Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Chris White LB Ankle Limited Participation in Practice Questionable LeGarrette Blount RB Shoulder Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Cameron Fleming T Ankle Limited Participation in Practice Questionable Source: NFL.com Practice Status Game Status DNP = Did Not Participate in Practice Out = Player will not play LP = Limited Participation - Less than 100% of normal reps Doubtful = 25% chance a player will play FP = Full Participation - 100% of a player's normal repetitions Questionable = 50% chance a player will play Out = Player will not play Probable = 75% chance a player will play (-) = Not Listed = No practice status available (-) = Not Listed - No game status available The Odds: Line: Patriots -3.5 Over/Under: 44 Source: The LineMakers Up to date lines... if you're in Vegas. My Thoughts on the Game: Well here we sit at the the precipice of another off season. Once again, we're not in the playoffs. Once again, we leave the season with nearly as many question marks as we had when we entered. Once again, we have a bitter taste in our mouth as the Patriots move on to be the darlings of the NFL. Once again, we hope... for next year. So, who really cares about this game? The Players say they do. The Coaches say they do. But, will any of them actually show up and play like they care? Will they play like they should have last week. Did the coaching staff put in overtime, sleeping in their offices figuring our how to beat the Patriots? Do they really care? I guess we'll see soon enough. I'll be watching because: 1. It's the last time I get to see the Bills play till next August. I hate this time of year for that. 2. Just to see if anyone on this team looks like they give two cents about their jobs. My guess is we'll see the same boring game plan and apathetic offensive effort we've seen all season. Then afterwards, we'll get boring coach speak about executing and watching some tape, just before they all go home and relax knowing they don't have to pretend to work anymore for a while. 3. I want to see if Hackett gets fired.. like right as the team is lining up to punt from the 40 in the 4th quarter as they're down by 3 scores ..fired. 4. It's what I do. I watch the Buffalo Bills. I love my team. I can't help it. Go Bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubba Gump Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Love my Bills, but with no Dareus and no Gilmore....it's gonna be ugly I think and all but over by halftime. Even if the Bills are down 35-3 going into the second half, I still don't see EJ playing. This game will tell me a lot about Marrone as an NFL head coach. He sinks or swims with his decisions in this game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Thanks for the thread! I can't believe it's the last game. The game is not meaningless to me. I want to beat them in NE, and break their 43 game reg season home winning steak vs AFC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 still pissed at them losing last week. one thing to disappoint me, but wife olanned this trip to Boston as XMAS gift for me and son after the. green bay game. Now i am really pissed cause they disappointed her. Anyway, we just getting moving and be on the train to Gillette in a few. Be nice to win , but we gunna have fun no matter what, even if it kills us. We be first row upper deck around the 40. Section 312...if anyone else going come buy and i buy ya a beer! Son will have Spiller jersey on, Zubas, Bills knit hat....hard to miss lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
entropyrules Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 I love the Patriots injury list - like almost everyone on the team..just incredible how they are able to win with all those wounded personnel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1billsfan Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Thanks for the thread! I can't believe it's the last game. The game is not meaningless to me. I want to beat them in NE, and break their 43 game reg season home winning steak vs AFC. I would imagine that the Orton led Bills starters getting beat by the Garapolo led Pats backups certainly would not be seen as meaningless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 I would imagine that the Orton led Bills starters getting beat by the Garapolo led Pats backups certainly would not be seen as meaningless. thats what i am imagining. i think Gronk goes less than a qtr, Brady maybe first half or up by 21...whichever comes first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jets Hater Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Thanks for the thread! I can't believe it's the last game. The game is not meaningless to me. I want to beat them in NE, and break their 43 game reg season home winning steak vs AFC. That stat is absolutely mind boggling..and makes me want to puke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAinLack. Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 anyone think EJ gets in at all today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 anyone think EJ gets in at all today? Nope. Certainly not Maronne. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 anyone think EJ gets in at all today? hard to say until we see how the game goes. I'd say no, but anything could happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Thanks for the thread! I can't believe it's the last game. The game is not meaningless to me. I want to beat them in NE, and break their 43 game reg season home winning steak vs AFC. It feels more like 430 straight games. Ugh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 It feels more like 430 straight games. Ugh... just read on ESPN it is 35 not 43. Heard 43 last week. 13 straight at home vs Bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Their injury report looks like their roster. Everyone has something this time of year so why not throw them all in! What's Brady's record vs the Bills? Something crazy like 23-2? That's about as depressing as it gets. (Oh for the 70's against the Dolphins is right up there - that's hard to "achieve".) The plight of a Bills fan... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Their injury report looks like their roster. Everyone has something this time of year so why not throw them all in! What's Brady's record vs the Bills? Something crazy like 23-2? That's about as depressing as it gets. (Oh for the 70's against the Dolphins is right up there - that's hard to "achieve".) The plight of a Bills fan... yeah I know it's only 2 losses. Lost track of the wins but that sounds right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 I was hoping Dareus could at least land on him a few times to give him somethiung to think about. Maybe someone else can get a few good shots in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 I was hoping Dareus could at least land on him a few times to give him somethiung to think about. Maybe someone else can get a few good shots in. iirc Dareus didn't play last year either because he was benched for being late. Run defense was bad, pass d was good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 INACTIVE: CB Gilmore, RB Brown, LB Johnson, OL Kouandjio, WR Goodwin, TE Gragg, DT Dareus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Interesting on Goodwin. Ugh. @mikerodak: Rob Gronkowski is inactive against the Bills today. No Edelman either Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Cubed Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Brandon Browner, Hightower also inactive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 (edited) So basically just Brady is active. Pats 55-Bills 0 amirite Edited December 28, 2014 by YoloinOhio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 So basically just Brady is active. Pats 55-Bills 0 amirite Sadly, Brady, the guy who drives the snow truck and a few helpers from the concession stand seems to be sufficient. He can't retire soon enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanCity Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 I'm keen on seeing what the Bills secondary looks like w/o Gilmore. Brady is a massive test and having Brooks, Graham and Cockrell covering the outside will be a big test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norton20 Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 All the pre game excitement of a pre season scrimmage. For once I wish the Bills season was more exciting than the anticipation of the off season changes and player movement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Fred gets a $150,000 bonus if he gets 3 recieving yards today. I assume he can catch the ball behind the line, since that's how all the other yards came to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Fred gets a $150,000 bonus if he gets 3 recieving yards today. I assume he can catch the ball behind the line, since that's how all the other yards came to be. good for Fred. Sammy needs 75 for 1000 but sounds like Revis is playing. Oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 And Brady is only going to play for a quarter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanCity Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 good for Fred. Sammy needs 75 for 1000 but sounds like Revis is playing. Oh well. Bellichick hates losing, but if he plays his starting corners for more than the first quarter I'll be amazed. Let's hope Revis gets torched for 175 if he plays more than that. Go Bills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted December 28, 2014 Share Posted December 28, 2014 Bills Inactives: Bryce Brown Marcell Dareus Stephon Gilmore Marquise Goodwin Chris Gragg Randell Johnson Cyrus Koudjou Pats* Brandon Browner Dan Connolly Julian Edelman Jonas Gray Rob Gronk Dont'a Hightower Oh, and Branch is nursing a grudge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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