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Week 3: Bills vs. Patriots
There hasn't been a Bills game in a long time that everyone seems to know that the Bills have absolutely no chance to even keep the game close. The Patriots are by far the best team in the league cheating or not. The Bills continue their early season swoon as they face their third tough matchup in a row to start the season. Along the way, they have had four serious injuries, a last second loss, and a total humiliation in Pittsburgh. They have been thoroughly dominated statistically in both games and what makes anyone think it is going to get better this week.
FACTS AND FIGURES
| Matchup: |
Buffalo (0-2) vs. New England (2-0) |
| Place: |
Gillette Stadium |
| Television: |
CBS |
| Announcers: |
Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon |
| Spread: |
Patriots by 16½ |
| Series: |
Patriots lead 53-40-1 |
| Streak: |
Patriots Won 7 |
| Last Meeting: |
Patriots 28-6 in Buffalo (2006) |
| Patriots Offense: |
Rush (8th); Pass (4th); overall (2nd) |
| Patriots Defense: |
Rush (1st); Pass (5th); overall (1st) |
| Bills Offense: |
Rush (18th); Pass (32nd); overall (31st) |
| Bills Defense: |
Rush (30th); Pass (t-27th); overall (31st) |
INJURY UPDATE
The Bills remain one of the most banged up team's in the league. The two latest injuries belong to Ashton Youboty and Terrence McGee. Youboty had a lower leg injury against Pittsburgh but returned. McGee injured his ribs late in the game and did not return. He didn't practice on Wednesday but they hope he will be able to play this week. Coy Wire remains out indefinitely with a sprained MCL. The team started the season without Ryan Denney and Keith Ellison, they both remain out about another month with a broken foot and high ankle sprain respectively. Ko Simpson, Kevin Everett and Jason Webster are on injured reserve.
For the Patriots, DL Mike Wright missed last week's game against San Diego with a knee injury. G Stephen Neal missed the same game with a shoulder injury. WR Kelly Washington missed a portion of Wednesday's practice with a hamstring injury. S Eugene Wilson was held out with an ankle injury. G Billy Yates missed practice on Wednesday with a shoulder injury.
 Bills Daily Injury Page
KEY MATCHUPS
RT Langston Walker vs. OLB Mike Vrabel:
Walker can't just worry about DE Ty Warren because Vrabel will be coming hard from the outside. He has four sacks on the season to lead the NFL.
DE Aaron Schobel vs. LT Matt Light:
Schobel faces a veteran in Light which he has faced many times before with a lot of success. He has more sacks against Tom Brady than any other player in the league. This would be a good week for Schobel to start earning that huge contract extension.
CB Terrence McGee vs. WR Randy Moss:
McGee will face the veteran Moss who is having a resurgence in New England. He is tied for the league lead in receptions with 17 and second in yards with 288. McGee is giving up a huge height advantage to the 6'4" Moss.
WR Lee Evans vs. CB Asante Samuel:
Look for Bill Bellichick to put his all-pro corner up against Evans to try to frustrate the struggling receiver. Evans needs a break out game for the Bills to have any success offensively.
FS Jim Leonhard vs. QB Tom Brady:
Leonhard may be the best student of the game on the Bills roster. He needs to use all his football smarts to try to keep up with the future hall of famer Brady. If he gets fooled, it will be a long day of big plays for the Patriots offense.
QB J.P. Losman vs. FS Eugene Wilson:
Losman is under heavy fire in Buffalo for the way he has started the season. Wilson is the veteran "quarterback" of the defense who will be watching every offensive call the Bills make if he is healthy enough to play. They won't win but Losman needs to play decent to get some pressure off his back.
GAME PLAN
When The Bills Have The Ball: Losman has been critical of the conservative play calling with an emphasis on the running game. He wants them to open it up. He may get his wish, the Bills receivers could have a matchup edge against the Patriots secondary look for the Bills to spread the field and use some no huddle this week to try to get some quick points.
When The Patriots Have The Ball: They should be able to do what they need to against the Bills defense. Look for a heavy early emphasis on the passing game and then pounding the ball on the ground in the 2nd half to put the game away.
BILLS DAILY PREDICTION
Ugh! This one appears to be a real ugly affair. The only hope the Bills have is that the Patriots letdown after two blowout wins against opponents that are better than the Bills. It could be a trap game for New England who has a matchup with the Bengals next week. The Bills are desperate to play well but will have a tough time this week. Even if the Pats start slowly they will dominate the game and it will look like last week's loss to Pittsburgh:
Patriots 37, Bills 13
Season Prediction Record: (1-1)
Season Record Against The Spread: (2-0)
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