Game week thread - Pats at Bills SNF

[Kirby Jackson]

31 minutes ago, Boo Radley Boston said:

Hilarious

 

Vegas is in to make money. Also, they are not always correct and screw up all the time. How much money did you place on the Bills? Miami played the Bills a lot closer than anyone thought.

 

You still do not grasp why 2025 statistics are germane to this discussion.

Again, I’m just stating facts. Those are literally the odds right now. 🤣🤣 Vegas didn’t build those big buildings losing money. Y’all are riding high after beating a couple of horrible teams but it remains FACT that you have to bet $1800 to win $100 on the Bills to win the division. It is, BY FAR, the biggest gap from the best team in a division to the 2nd best team in a division. Know your role and stay in your lane…

[DrDawkinstein]

This is going to be a closer game than a lot of fans in this thread and the Predict the Score thread think.

 

With a Vrabel team, I expect them to come out fired up and ready to play. We'll see if the Bills can match their energy and physicality.

 

I expect the Pats to establish the run immediately and successfully. Will look very much like the wind game. And then start hitting play action passes.

 

They'll play ball control and clock control and work to not give Josh much Time of Possession or chances.

 

While I predicted 27-24, it very well may end up more like 20-17.

 

And Vrabel will dip into his bag of tricks to out-maneuver McDermott and sneak out an extra possession. And in a one-score game that may be trouble.

[QCity]

35 minutes ago, Boo Radley Boston said:

Hilarious

 

Vegas is in to make money.

 

Yeah they are. And if you've even been there, it's pretty obvious they make just a little bit of money.

[DrDawkinstein]

13 hours ago, Simon said:

 

Yeah, they are a good team and I think they're going to keep getting better under Vrabel.

But I also think the Bills have been laying in the weeds for three weeks eyeballing this matchup.

I expect to see our A game Sunday night and if we do, they are not ready for that.

 

My biggest concern is we've said this so many times over the last 5 years, and then the next game happens and it turns out "oh, they're still laying in the weeds"

[Beck Water]

1 hour ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

 

I'm a bit concerned if Dorian Williams misses the game from a special teams standpoint.

 

 

I disagree with the bolded... agree with the second sentence.

 

 

Agree.

 

My gut feeling is that Oliver, Brown, and Milano are all close decisions for this week.

 

 

I don't think Big Ed goes.  I thought he still looked gimpy in the film clip that's circulating.  I think Milano is more likely especially if Williams is injured.  Milano looked as though he were moving and raising both arms easily.  Not wearing a LB brace that was visible, just some kind of band on his arm.

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

The patriots are going to be willing to do all the things we struggle with. We are going to be severely out coached. There needs to be a permanent move away from this extreme nickel. What we do does not work. There is no logical reason to continue it. It’s been time to put a 3rd LB on the field for years. This will be a game where we pay for it. It’s time for someone to get control of the defensive side of the ball. Wholesale changes to the philosophy are needed. The love affair with Tarron Johnson is killing us. I don’t care if he stays on the field but it’s got to be in another form. Put 3 LBs on the field or this team is going to beat us. The league has changed a lot. It’s time to get back to more base defense.

[Buffalo4Life01]

I really hope news of this thread makes it to the Bills lockerroom!  The players and coaches need to know how dangerous the Patriots are and that we will be lucky to win this one at home.  Does anyone know McDermott's email address?

[50yrpatsfan]

Nobody really knows how good or bad the Patriots are at this point. They're a lot better/more competent than the past couple of years, which isn't saying much, and they should be 3-1.

 

Maye is good, the OL is almost all new and significantly better, the DL can rush, ST's are doing their job. Josh McDaniels is a top OC and has the offense looking like a pro operation despite no explosive weapons. I think NE will possess the ball and score on the Bills, and Diggs & Hollins will be factors. How well NE can defend Allen is unknown. If the Pats don't turn it over and can keep the Bills in the high 20's, then an upset is within the realm.  

[Gregg]

Just now, Buffalo4Life01 said:

I really hope news of this thread makes it to the Bills lockerroom!  The players and coaches need to know how dangerous the Patriots are and that we will be lucky to win this one at home.  Does anyone know McDermott's email address?

 

Mydefensesucksintheplayoffs.com

[PoundingDog]

The Bills are a more talented team than the Pats. To have an upset, you typically need mistakes from the Bills, specifically turnovers. I also look into matchups to see if it aligns for an upset.

 

Allen and the Bills are fairly steady with limiting turnovers since the beginning of 2024 season; in my mind, it is the biggest cause for the Bills not having an upset in that span. If we win the turnover battle Sunday night, I think the win percentage will be in the high 90s. Off the topic, I think the Eagles recent success is due to 1) they have might be the most talented team in NFL, and 2) they avoid turnovers, especially Hurts who looks to avoid any risky throws (60-40 is risky in his mind), even to the point of upsetting teammates like AJ Brown.

 

On the matchup front, the Bill biggest weakness is run defense whereas the Pats rushing offense is ranked near the bottom this year SO FAR. So I don't see anything there. Now Maye may present a challenge in that he has top tier mobility but also accurate throws on the run ability. The Bills faced better running QBs in Lamar and Fields, but I will say Maye may be better in throwing on the run. So I hope when Maye scrambles, our DBs stay with Pats receivers instead of converging to Maye. I do expect Pats biggest play comes from Maye's legs -- that is a matchup favors the Pats.

Edited Thursday at 01:51 PM by PoundingDog

[Mat68]

3 minutes ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

The patriots are going to be willing to do all the things we struggle with. We are going to be severely out coached. There needs to be a permanent move away from this extreme nickel. What we do does not work. There is no logical reason to continue it. It’s been time to put a 3rd LB on the field for years. This will be a game where we pay for it. It’s time for someone to get control of the defensive side of the ball. Wholesale changes to the philosophy are needed. The love affair with Tarron Johnson is killing us. I don’t care if he stays on the field but it’s got to be in another form. Put 3 LBs on the field or this team is going to beat us. The league has changed a lot. It’s time to get back to more base defense.

Buffalo has played more 4-3 than in any previous year.  Ne is not a good offense or good defense.  They hold no advantages in the match up.  Only way they keep it close is by having a punt or kick return Td.  Those were required in their only wins.

[H2o]

2 hours ago, Boo Radley Boston said:

Buffalo has won 13 straight.

 

Its probably Mayes toughest game yet. 

You forget the game last year that propelled Joe Milton into superstardom. 

[JerseyBills]

👀

 

[Mat68]

Right now NE is prime draught Bills and they don't realize it.  Out of 22 starters NE might have 2 guys who could start on the Bills.  Buffalo would have to play the worst they have played since maybe Houston last season and even then I think Allen still pulls it out late.  All the weird things are needed here.  Special teams touchdowns, multiple turnovers paired with a clean game from NE.  Who themselves are turnover and penalty prone. 

[BearNorth]

1 minute ago, Mat68 said:

Buffalo has played more 4-3 than in any previous year.  Ne is not a good offense or good defense.  They hold no advantages in the match up.  Only way they keep it close is by having a punt or kick return Td.  Those were required in their only wins.

Our offense has yet to score under 30. Allen, Cook and our O-line should be a real headache for the Pats.

 

Our D is suspect, but they have had issues with Stevenson fumbling.  I would like to see more Walker and less Sanders in Ed's absence, and our D should have the book on Mack and Diggs.  A little pressure from our D-line and some inspired linebacker and safety play would be nice.

[billieve420]

This defense lives and dies on turnovers. If they are not forcing turnovers it could be a closer game than expected. I just hope to see better effort than what they showed against the Saints. Really no excuses not to be undefeated going into that KC game in a few weeks.

[Mat68]

1 minute ago, BearNorth said:

Our offense has yet to score under 30. Allen, Cook and our O-line should be a real headache for the Pats.

 

Our D is suspect, but they have had issues with Stevenson fumbling.  I would like to see more Walker and less Sanders in Ed's absence, and our D should have the book on Mack and Diggs.  A little pressure from our D-line and some inspired linebacker and safety play would be nice.

Buffalo is better in every category of defense besides rushing defense. Ne doesnt have a good run game though.  Ne has been out gained in all but 1 game.  Buffalo hasnt given up more than 300 yards of offense since Baltimore and holding teams under 150 yards passing.  Without things getting weird Buffalo blows em out.  Ne game plan is bascilly NO and Miami.  How do we not get blown out?  Play ball control, bleed the clock hope for special teams points and turnovers to have a shot.  

[Beck Water]

For Toast Sake, you guys.  Is this a Bills fan board, or a Pats fan board?

 

And I'm not talking about the visiting Pats fans.

 

The BBFS is strong here.  
 

 

 

 

[Buffalo4Life01]

It sounds like we're supposed to get blown out on Sunday.  I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for what is to come.  Does anyone actually think we have even a 5 to 10% chance of pulling off later home upsets vs the Chiefs, Bucs, and Eagles?  We still have a decent chance to sneak into the playoffs as a wild card team after the Patriots win the division, right??  

[Pokebball]

4 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

For Toast Sake, you guys.  Is this a Bills fan board, or a Pats fan board?

 

And I'm not talking about the visiting Pats fans.

 

The BBFS is strong here.  
 

 

 

 

I'm an under promise and over deliver guy. I get it