New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 22nd 2024
Preview and Prediction
The Buffalo Bills have already secured the AFC East division championship, but they are determined to maintain their level of intensity in the final three weeks of the regular season.
On Sunday afternoon, Buffalo (11-3) will welcome the New England Patriots (3-11) to Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills are coming off a 48-42 victory over the Detroit Lions, their eighth win in the last nine games.
According to Bills coach Sean McDermott, his players should have no trouble focusing on the Patriots.
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"A champion's mindset requires a certain level of discipline," McDermott stated. "They know what they want and they are determined to achieve it. That is the kind of discipline we need to maintain every week.
"Each week presents a new challenge. We have a lot of respect for this team, especially since their quarterback took over."
The Patriots' rookie quarterback Drake Maye completed 19 of 23 passes for 202 yards, with one touchdown and one interception in their 30-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday.
While Maye has shown potential, the Patriots as a whole have been struggling. They have lost four consecutive games and 11 of their last 13.
The team's slump has raised questions about the job security of Patriots coach Jerod Mayo.
"We, as players, support and stand behind our coach," Maye said. "We trust his plan for us and believe in what he says in team meetings and his motivational sayings. We are fully committed to it.
"I believe that the results will come. Everyone wants them to come now, and we are striving for that. ... We will start winning in the near future."
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Meanwhile, the Bills have their sights set on a potential Super Bowl run. They are led by quarterback Josh Allen, who is having an MVP-worthy season with 3,395 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. He also has 11 rushing touchdowns.
James Cook is the Bills' top running back with 828 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Khalil Shakir leads the receiving unit with 71 catches for 774 yards and four touchdowns.
The weather may play a role in both teams' offenses this weekend, with forecasts predicting a high temperature in the teens and a chance of snow.
McDermott acknowledged that the weather could be a factor, especially after the Bills scored a combined 90 points in their last two games, both played in domes on the road against the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions.
"It's a valid question," McDermott said. "We play here and we live here. We embrace playing in Buffalo and performing well at home.
"It's something that you have to accept and figure out early on in your journey."
The weather conditions may lead both teams to rely more on their running game.
Rhamondre Stevenson leads the Patriots with 740 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Antonio Gibson is not far behind with 406 yards and one touchdown.
Aside from Cook, the Bills have two other running backs in rookie Ray Davis (357 rushing yards, three touchdowns) and Ty Johnson (154 yards, one touchdown) who can make an impact.
"It all starts with the offensive line," McDermott said. "Our running backs have been fantastic this season. All three of them have done an incredible job. It all begins at the line of scrimmage, and that's where the game is won every week."
Buffalo has a perfect 6-0 record at home this season, while New England is 2-6 on the road.
The Bills have six players who were limited in practice on Wednesday, including safeties Damar Hamlin (rib) and Taylor Rapp (neck), cornerback Rasul Douglas (knee), linebackers Matt Milano (biceps, groin) and Dorian Williams (elbow), and wide receiver Curtis Samuel (rib).
For the Patriots, safety Kyle Dugger (ankle, illness), running back JaMycal Hasty (ankle), cornerback Marcus Jones (hip) and wide receiver Javon Baker (concussion) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.
New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills Recap JAN 8TH 2023
Nyheim Hines returned two kickoffs for touchdowns as the Buffalo Bills closed the regular season with a 35-23 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Hines scored from 96 and 101 yards out to become the 11th player in NFL history with two kickoff return touchdowns in the same game.
With the victory, Buffalo (13-3) clinched the No. 2 seed in the AFC. The Patriots (8-9) were eliminated from postseason contention with their loss and Miami's 11-6 win against the New York Jets.
The game was the first for the Bills since safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during Monday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Mac Jones connected with DeVante Parker for a 26-yard score with 11:37 left to play to pull New England within 28-23. But Josh Allen found Stefon Diggs for a 49-yard touchdown just under three minutes later for Buffalo.
Allen completed 19 of 31 passes for 254 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, while Diggs hauled in seven receptions for 104 yards and a score.
Jones finished with 243 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions on 26-for-40 passing. Parker had six catches for 79 yards and a pair of scores, and Rhamondre Stevenson had 54 yards on six carries to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
Each team had a turnover to open the second half before Nick Folk made good on a 24-yard field goal to give New England a 17-14 edge.
Hines then recorded his second touchdown return and Allen hit John Brown for a 42-yard score and a 28-17 advantage.
After Jones made it 14-14 with a 2-yard scoring strike to Parker, the Bills drove to the New England 15 but couldn't put up points before the break. Allen was hit as he threw, lofting a ball over the middle that was picked off by Devin McCourty with 16 seconds left in the first half.
Hines returned the opening kickoff to put Buffalo on the board, but the Patriots responded on their second drive of the game. Jakobi Meyers capped the nine-play, 74-yard march with a stunning 2-yard TD reception, tapping his toes just inside the end line for his third score in as many games.