Bills (10-4) at Patriots (11-3)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
TV: NFL Network
Danny Sheridan’s line: Patriots by 6 1⁄2
Bills’ keys to victory: Buffalo has something special in RB Devin Singletary, who has the ability to keep the ball away from the Patriots’ offense. The Bills would be wise to maintain long and efficient possessions by featuring Singletary against New England’s run defense, which has struggled occasionally. The Bills’ defense, meanwhile, needs to play only slightly better than it did in these teams’ first matchup, which the Patriots won 16-10.
Patriots’ keys to victory: QB Tom Brady must avoid turnovers, even if it means New England plays an ugly and boring brand of football. The Patriots have been forced to go away from RB Sony Michel in recent weeks, but they wouldn’t mind featuring him for the entire game if they don’t fall into a hole, as they did in losses to the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs. Surely, they want to find a way to get someone other than WR Julian Edelman and RB James White involved.
Matchup to watch: Bills CB Tre’Davious White vs. Patriots WR Julian Edelman. The receiver is on pace for the best season of his career. White, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He can remind everyone of that fact with a strong performance against Edelman, who has been the Patriots’ top – and sometimes only – option in the passing game.
Who wins? If this game were in Buffalo, the Bills might win. But it’s in New England, and the homefield advantage is critical.
Patriots, 17-10