Patriots (8-8) at Bills (12-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y. TV: CBS
Tipico Sportsbook line: None at press time. (Bills had yet to finished postponed Week 17 game with Bengals at press time.)
Patriots’ keys to victory:
New England needs the opposite of the first matchup between these teams. In a 24-10 win for Buffalo on Dec. 1, the Bills controlled everything, especially the pace of the game. The Bills had the ball for 38:08. The Patriots offense needs to eat the clock and keep QB Josh Allen off the field. A good mix of RBs Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson should be the plan of attack. The ground is where Buffalo’s defense has been exposed at times.
Bills’ keys to victory: It’s hard to lose when you score on your first three drives. That’s exactly what the Bills did when defeating the Patriots earlier this season. But the Bills have had their run defense beaten up by opponents as recently as last year by these Patriots. If a quick start doesn’t happen for the Bills, that will put LBs Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano in the spotlight. Buffalo’s defense is at its best when that duo flies around the field, shutting down opposing rushers.
Matchup to watch: Bills WR Stefon Diggs vs. Patriots CB Jonathan Jones. Diggs is the chainmover and the top threat on the Buffalo offense. Historically, Patriots coach Bill Belichick aims to take away an opponent’s best player.
Who wins? Both sides here have plenty to play for this week, which is bad news for the Patriots. The Bills likely will want to lock up the No. 1 seed and should do so at home to get that all-important week off.
Bills, 27-17