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Game 16: Bills vs. Patriots
When the Bills blew out the Patriots on opening day people thought the Bills would be riding into the playoffs and the Patriots were a team on the decline. The opposite has come true. The Bills are playing out the string and the Pats have two huge reasons to knock off the Bills. They will look for revenge for the 31-0 loss in September and they will look to lock up home field throughout the playoffs.
FACTS AND FIGURES
| Matchup: |
Buffalo (6-9) vs. New England (13-2) |
| Place: |
Gillette Stadium |
| Television: |
CBS |
| Announcers: |
Dick Enberg, Dan Diedorf, Bonnnie Bernstein |
| Spread: |
Patriots by 8 1/2 |
| Series: |
Patriots leads 45-40-1 |
| Last Meeting: |
Bills 31-0 in Buffalo (Sept.) |
| Pats Offense: |
Rush (27th); Pass (9th); overall (18th) |
| Pats Defense: |
Rush (4th); Pass (17th); overall (7th) |
| Bills Offense: |
Rush (19th); Pass (28th); overall (30th) |
| Bills Defense: |
Rush (7th); Pass (3rd); overall (2nd) |
INJURY UPDATE
The Bills are as healthy as they can be this late in the season. OT Mike Williams will most likely miss the game with a knee injury but everyone else should be available. Willis McGahee likely will not play since he hasn't played to this point.
The Patriots are very healthy. The only injury of note is to WR Deion Branch who has a finger injury. He is expected to play though.
 Bills Daily Injury Page
KEY MATCHUPS
S Lawyer Milloy vs. QB Tom Brady:
Milloy will be fired up for this game as he was the opener. He has played very well as of late and will know the tendencies of his friend Brady. If Milloy can get inside his head and make him make mistakes the Bills have a chance, albeit a slight one.
LT Marques Sullivan vs. DE Richard Seymour:
Sullivan was taken to school last week by Jason Taylor and now another solid pass rusher in Seymour is on deck. Sullivan must give Bledsoe some time to throw by protecting his blind side or else we can see another fumble in the beleagured QBs future.
QB Drew Bledsoe vs. HC Bill Belichik:
Belichik owns Bledsoe, with the exception of the opener. He will have some tricks planned for his former QB. The way Bledsoe has played since that opener Belichik should be able to shut down anything Bledsoe tries to do in the air.
DTs Sam Adams and Pat Williams vs. RB Antowain Smith:
Smith has had an up and down season in New England but is coming off his best day of the year against the Jets. If the Bills can shut him down early then they can try and tee off and get pressure on Brady.
WR Eric Moulds vs. CB Ty Law:
Although they don't line up on the same side all the time, Law vs. Moulds has been a classic battle in the past. Law may be playing his last regular season game in New England and Moulds will try to salvage something from a very lost season.
GAME PLAN
When The Bills Have The Ball: The Patriots have a solid run defense and with Kevin Gilbride on the way out why would he change is philosophy now. Look for the Bills to try to be the Pats through the air where they have some weaknesses. Hopefully that will open up the running game.
When The Patriots Have The Ball: The Pats offense is one dimensional despite a 100 yard game last week by ex-Bill Antowain Smith. They are a passing team, and the Bills will need to try and stop the short passing offense so they can tee off and get pressure on Brady.
BILLS DAILY PREDICTION
The Patriots want revenge for opening day and they know if the road to the Super Bowl goes through Boston, they have an excellent shot at going back to the big show. The Bills gave up last week against their toughest rival at home. Why would they show up in Gregg Williams last game? They won't:
Patriots 34, Bills 3
Season Prediction Record: (8-7)
Season Record Against The Spread: (8-6-1)
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