Image courtesy of ESPN
Kickoff: The Patriots host the Buffalo Bills today in a critical AFC match up. The Patriots won the first match up of course earlier this season, 23-20 on Sunday Night Football.
With a win, the Patriots would win their first AFC East division since 2019 and they get one step closer to securing a top two seed in the AFC.
Here are four keys to today’s game.
1st Down: Contain Allen: Easier said than done but the Patriots did it for the most part in the first match up. Keeping him in the pocket and not allowing to break contain and extend plays will be a major key today. Allen is at his best in unscripted situations.
2nd Down: Win the line of scrimmage defensively: The Patriots have to win the line of scrimmage defensively. They have to keep James Cook in check, sugar rush Allen and keep him in the pocket but also generate an effective pass rush. All much easier said than done.
3rd Down: Shake off the rust offensively: Patriots haven’t played in two weeks so I expect some rust early on offensively. They need to work out the kinks early and get into a rhythm. It is going to be a big key in this game. They need to score early because falling behind against this Bills team is a recipe for disaster. They are good at playing with and protecting a lead.
4th Down: Play like a championship team: Championship caliber teams know how to win big games. The Patriots have to play like a championship caliber team today. Take care of the football, avoid penalties and execute in all three phases. We will learn a lot about this team today and if they really have what it takes to be a title contender.
Extra Points: The New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills will meet for the second time in 2025. The Patriots beat Buffalo, 23-20, in the first meeting on Oct. 5 in a Sunday Night Football game at Highmark Stadium. This week, the Patriots will look for their third straight win over Buffalo and look to complete their 28th series sweep and first since the 2019 season.
The teams have split the annual series in each of the last two years. Last season, the Patriots lost at Buffalo, 24-21, on Dec. 22 and then two weeks later beat Buffalo in the season-finale, 23-16, on Jan. 5, 2025.
This week’s game will be the 133rd meeting between the two teams. New England holds a 80-51-1 edge in the series and has won 39 of the last 50 regular season games between the clubs, dating back to 2000.
The Patriots are 41-24 all-time at home against Buffalo, including 18-5 at Gillette Stadium. (courtesy of patriots.com, Patriots Communications)
Final Drive: This is a big game for both teams. Some might say the Bills need this game more, but I disagree. Today’s game is just as big for the Patriots. Not only can they wrap up the AFC East, they can also solidify themselves as a legitimate contender in the AFC. Yes, there are still people questioning whether or not they are.