Patriots v.s. Bills Preview
The Patriots and Bills meet up in week 16 for probably their most meaningful matchup in years. The Bills have been subjected to mediocrity for so long, paired with the Patriots long success, that they have been at opposite ends of the totem pole for a long time. This year is different. The Bills are one game out of first place in the AFC East, and the Patriots have been the center of controversy all season. But the Bills coming into Foxboro should go how it always does, right?
The last time these teams played in Orchard Park, the Bills defense stifled the Patriots offense better than anyone had in a long time. Now we realize that not only do the Bills have a very talented defense, but the Patriots are having some offensive struggles. Brady looks to be playing hurt, and Edelman is definitely playing hurt. Somebody is going to need to step up in the receiving corp this week and get open. The Bills have what might be the most talented safety duo in the league in Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, so it will be key to dominate in the underneath routes. This should mean a heavy dose of James White this week. He looks like the most dominant player on the field when he is out there, and they are going to need him to keep that up to win this game. This could also mean a reawakening of Phillip Dorsett. If Edelman plays, he is going to have a hard time with Pro Bowl CB Tre’Davious White, especially playing injured like he is. Dorsett is going to need to find a way to create separation against their other defensive backs and be the X-Factor. If they pair that with a half decent running game, and some N’Keal Harry red zone success should equal at least 30 points against this Bills team.
The defense needs to do exactly what they did last time these two teams played. Holding this team to 10 points again should do the trick. The wild card they have to watch out for is Devin Singletary. He hadn’t really hit his stride early on, and he has been a huge part of the Bills offense ever since. Other than that, they shouldn’t really have to do too much. Josh Allen absolutely stinks. He is not a good QB and makes errand throws that this defense will prey on. John Brown has had a great season, but none of these receivers are really talented enough to beat the skilled defensive backs on the Patriots. If they can stop the run, and make this team one dimensional, they should win handily.
The Bills are still the Bills deep down. Kudos to them on a good season, but Pats are about to turn on the heat going into the playoffs. 31-16 Pats.
-Jake Kobierski (TheRealKobe83)