With the playoffs approaching and the AFC East race heating up with the Patriots’ loss to the Colts, this game will see if the Patriots can clinch the division or if Buffalo has a chance to win the AFC East title once again. The last meeting between the two in Buffalo ended with the Patriots holding on for a needed victory.
The Patriots are 2.5 point favorites at home, which is a turnaround from their last meeting against Buffalo when they were underdogs. But the Patriots are coming into this game following a crushing defeat. That loss stopped the Patriots’ seven-game tear and cost them some key players in the process.
A Rematch With Playoff Implications
The Patriots (9-5) are looking to distance themselves from the Buffalo Bills (8-6). The Patriots can clinch the AFC East with a win against the Bills plus a Dolphins loss or tie against the Saints. However, the Patriots are 3-4 this season at home, which might favor the Bills, who are 4-3 on the road.
The wild card race is in a dead heat, with the Bills holding onto the 7th seed for the time being. With the Ravens hot on the heels of the Bills, they will need a win to stay in the playoff race. The Bills are coming off a win against the Carolina Panthers, which they hope will give them the momentum they need to defeat the Patriots.
Keys To The Bills Winning The Game
The Bills are pretty healthy on both offense and defense. They are coming in with a much-needed victory against the Panthers. The Patriots are banged up, which the Bills will look to exploit. The last meeting was a low-scoring affair due to high winds. New England stuck with their ground game while the Bills tried to air it out.
The Bills were 15 for 30 through the air in that game, while the Patriots were 2 for 3 in the passing department. Josh Allen will need to get back on track in this rematch to have a chance to win the game.
Keys To The Patriots Winning The Game
The Patriots’ loss to the Colts wasn’t the only bad news to come out of Indy; they also had injuries to players on both sides of the ball. On top of that, Mac Jones had his worst performance of the season against the Colts last week. Jones was 26 for 45 with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The two interceptions were costly for New England.
New England will need to focus on the ground game while having Mac Jones protect the ball. The Patriots can’t afford game-killing turnovers as they had against the Colts.
Who’s Going To Win With Both Teams Fighting For A Playoff Spot
Belichick is the master of recovering after a loss when it’s a race to the playoffs. This season, the Bills have been inconsistent, losing games that they shouldn’t have ever lost. As a favorite, the Patriots are 6-3 ATS, whereas the Bills are 1-1 ATS as underdogs.
The Patriots’ hometown crowd will look to help New England pull this one-off, but it won’t be enough with a 2.5 point spread as the Patriots will most likely only win by one point.