Surging Bills can’t ease up with Belichick’s Patriots up next
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Forget the myriad scenarios — 14 in total — that would give the Buffalo Bills their fifth consecutive playoff berth if they beat or tie New England on Sunday. And don’t expect the Bills to do much scoreboard watching during the game, either, to find out whether the AFC East title will be on the line during their season finale at Miami.
None of that matters to Bills center Mitch Morse when facing a Bill Belichick-coached team. Nor does the Patriots’ 4-11 record, or the speculation of major offseason changes looming in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
“The one thing I’ve learned in this league is to expect the unexpected,” Morse said, dismissing speculation about Belichick’s tenure ending in New England after 24 seasons.
“Until I see that, he’s been one of the most frustrating guys to play against because he’s such a masterful mind on the defensive front,” Morse added. “I have the utmost respect for what he’s done, and what he’s continued to do.”
And if the Bills (9-6) need additional reasons to not take the Patriots for
Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS) granted, they need only think back to their 29-25 loss at New England on Oct. 22. Buffalo was limited to 10 points through three quarters and then — after scoring twice to take the lead with 1:58 remaining — allowed Mac Jones to cap an eight-play, 75yard drive with a 1-yard pass to Mike Gesicki with 12 seconds left.
“The fact that we lost Game 1 tells you we’ve got to put our best stuff out on the field or we’re not going to win this game,” quarterback Josh Allen said. “They know that. We know that.”
The Bills appear to have put their midseason inconsistencies aside. After dropping four of six, Buffalo has rallied by winning four of five to sit sixth in the AFC. The Bills control their path to the playoffs and even have an outside shot of claiming a fourth straight division title. They would need to beat the Patriots, have the division-leading Dolphins lose at Baltimore, and then beat Miami in the finale.
“They’re playing well, and doing it at the right time for them. Three weeks ago, everybody was talking about how much trouble they were in,” Belichick said. “Then they rip off three straight wins, and here we are.”
The Patriots are closing out what could be their worst season under Belichick. While New England’s defense is playing at a high level, the offense continues to struggle. That’s been a persistent issue since Tom Brady’s departure in 2020.
While the tandem of Belichick and Brady owned Buffalo, going 34-9 from 2001-19, the Bills have turned the tables by going 6-2 since, including a playoff win.
Jones has beaten the Bills twice, including a 1410 win in terrible weather in 2021 in which the quarterback completed 2 of 3 attempts for 19 yards. But he’s currently backing up Bailey Zappe, who is 2-2 as a starter this season. This will be the seventh start of his career.
“Yeah, of course you would love to ride that momentum,” said Zappe, who completed all three passes for 36 yards on the final drive to set up Chad Ryland’s 56-yard field goal with 2 seconds left in a 2623 win at Denver last week. “We’re playing a great Bills team and they’ve been rolling the last three weeks.”