Two Bills Drive

‘The Patriots were able to do the same thing in 2001 when they were just trying to survive each week. They kept their heads down and worked every week until they looked up to find themselves the last ones standing.’

‘Remember the 2002 season when they used their “Dollar” package successfully against the Bills? That was when New England had its defensive front seven standing upright near the offensive line, forcing Bills blockers to identify who was rushing and who was dropping back. It made for a long day for Bledsoe and that page in the playbook might be dusted off and put into action today.’

‘New England has nine interceptions in the last three games, and 27 overall. Bledsoe has 11 INTs, and the Bills as a whole have turned the ball over 30 times this season. Opportunities should present themselves today.’

‘Belichick is making it sound as if his team’s first goal today is to avoid another humiliation.’

‘Led by LB Takeo Spikes, DE Aaron Schobel (11.5 sacks) and an excellent pair of CBs in Nate Clements and Antoine Winfield, the Bills rank second in the NFL in total defense, seventh against the run and third against the pass. But they haven’t forced many turnovers (they have only 10 interceptions, the Patriots 27), and because of their turnover-prone offense, are tied with the Giants for the next-to-worst takeaway/giveaway ratio (minus 13).’

‘”Every year you start out the year wanting to make the playoffs,” Williams said. “That was our focus this year, too, but we weren’t that good to get there. We are what we are right now. Record-wise, we earned (6-9).”‘

‘It’s unlikely the Bills will repeat their performance from the first game.’

‘Motivation won’t be a problem for Bill Belichick’s Patriots. They’ve openly denied it, but getting home-field advantage would be the perfect Christmas gift. They’ve won all seven of their games at The Blade entering this weekend and have been dominant in the process. During a five-game stretch at home, they did not allow a touchdown in 19 consecutive quarters. Other teams have been tough to beat at home, but none of them have been as impenetrable as the Patriots.’

‘Chew on these numbers: The Patriots are tied for second in the league with 37.0 sacks. Bledsoe has been sacked 46 times — the most by any quarterback in the NFL. This could get ugly.’

‘“We thought they were a very good football team when we played them and even after we played them,” Bills’ coach Gregg Williams said last week. “I watched them grow throughout the course of the year. Those guys have played well, they are playing very confidently. They do a very good job defensively on taking the ball away and setting their offense up. Their offense protects the ball. They do a good job of protecting the football and taking the high-percentage play.”’

‘The Patriots have been low-key this week regarding the first game against Buffalo. The players won’t say it publicly, but they can’t wait for an opportunity to pay back those Bills. Mostly, it’s because head coach Bill Belichick has been using that loss all season long as an example of the Patriots’ supposed vulnerability.’

‘Brown has three years left on a seven-year, $32 million contract, and is due to count $4 million against the salary cap next season whether or not he’s on the roster.’

‘Brown did not practice with the team all week and did not make the trip with the team to Boston on Friday. Bills Head Coach Gregg Williams is quoted as saying that Brown is, “not playing for personal reasons.” Williams was quick to point out that Brown was not suspended.’

‘New England’s defense, in addition to racking up a whopping 37 takeaways, is holding opponents to just 90.1 yards rushing and just 15.9 points a game. The number that leaps off the page is 37 — as in 37 sacks.’

‘The Bills’ bookend visit to Foxboro for the season finale will be the sad final chapter in a season that began on center stage, but is ending in irrelevancy.’