Patriots Defense Takes A Step Back
The Patriots entered Week 16 allowing the third-fewest yards and fewest points per game this season. They gave up 429 yards and 33 points to the Bills on Sunday.
The Bills scored on five of their first six possessions, and the lone possession over that span that didn’t result in points ended at New England’s 1-yard line. They didn’t even punt once and went 6-of-12 on third down and 3-of-4 on fourth down.
Buffalo dominated the Patriots through the air with 314 passing yards, a 63.8 completion percentage and three touchdowns, as well as on the ground with 115 yards and another touchdown. Slot receiver Isaiah McKenzie torched the Patriots secondary with a career-high 11 receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown, as well as a couple clutch catches on third down. Patriots cornerback Myles Bryant struggled mightily covering McKenzie.
Forcing turnovers has been a key part of the Patriots’ success on defense this season, and they entered Sunday with 27 takeaways . They forced zero turnovers Sunday, while Buffalo forced two interceptions of Patriots quarterback Mac Jones.
Defense has been a major strength of the Patriots throughout the season, but this unit just didn’t make enough plays in key spots to win this game.
Josh Allen Vs Patriots Defense
Allen was understandably affected by the elements when these teams met in Orchard Park, completing half of his 30 attempts for an average of 4.8 yards per attempt. In his two games since, hes been better 55-of-88 passing, 518 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions but not great.
Playing through a sprained foot certainly didnt help. But all year has been a step back for Allen, who has already thrown as many interceptions as he did his entire rookie year. But even his B game is still pretty good. Allen is still 12th in EPA per play in his last three games.
The Patriots, meanwhile, have been absolutely fantastic all year against the pass. In the last five weeks, theyve held Allen, Baker Mayfield, Matt Ryan, Ryan Tannehill, and Carson Wentz five pretty solid quarterbacks to a combined 54.5% completion percentage, 4.7 yards per attempt, and a passer rating of 60.2.
Advantage: Patriots
Two Decades Of Defeat
Prior to the 2001 NFL season, the Patriots narrowly lead the all-time series 42-39-1. Despite having a whole lot of talented players on the roster over the next 20 seasons, things got bad. Really bad. From 2001-2019, the Patriots sealed up 36 of the next 40 matchups against us, as one of the most dominant dynasties in professional sports history took the NFL over. It all started with a trade.
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College Football News: Patriots 19 Bills 17
Pete Fiutak writes: “It stinks that these two are playing in the Wild Card round. Either one could go on a run and either one would do some damage if they didnt have to play each other. Can New England get everything back up to speed? Theyve now lost three of their last four game after the problems against Miami, and before that was the crazy weather game against Buffalo. You never want to go against Bill Belichick especially since this is the third time theyve played in seven weeks but at home, in front of that crowd, the Buffalo team thats past the midseason doldrums will rise up against the run. The Patriot defense, placekicking, and coaching will be better.”
How To Watch Buffalo Bills Vs New England Patriots Wild Card Game: Tv Channel Time Streaming Info
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen runs for a gain during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. AP
The New England Patriots travel to Orchard Park to take on the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs this weekend.
The game starts at 8:15 p.m. Saturday and will be aired on CBS.
Its the third meeting of the two AFC East teams, which split victories during the season. The Patriots beat the Bills during a windstorm at Orchard Park in their first meeting on Dec. 6. The Bills then handily defeated the Patriots in Foxborough three weeks later.
The winner advances to the divisional semifinals.
Heres how to tune in:
What: NFL Wild Card Game, Patriots at Bills
When: Saturday, Jan. 15
Live stream: fuboTV , DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV if you are in market. Also available on Paramount Plus.
If youre out of market, you can use a VPN, such as NordVPN or ExpressVPN to avoid location restrictions and enjoy the game wherever you are.
NFL Game Pass subscribers wont be able to watch the game live, but the full game will become available to replay as soon as the live broadcast is over.
It also has its own fubo Sports Network, featuring original programming and select exclusive live sports events.
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South Carolina Cheer Coach Who Died By Suicide Accused Of Sexually Abusing Underage Student
A prominent South Carolina cheer coach who took his own life last week has been accused of sending a minor cheerleader nude photos of himself, supplying her with alcohol and coercing her to perform sexual acts, according to a new lawsuit. Scott Foster the 49-year-old owner and co-founder of Rockstar Cheer was found dead in his vehicle Aug. 22 at Paris Mountain State Park. The Greenville County Coroner later concluded that Foster died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, shortly a
Buffalo Bills Vs New England Patriots: Rivalry History
Now, this has been an article Ive dreaded writing. The massive history between the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots, two all-time division rivals, is encyclopedic. It only got as one-sided as it seems to be at the turn of the millennium. Before those Brady days, these teams were heated enemies. Not because of impotent rage and jealous fever, but because of pure, constant competition. Its a long story, but one that starts at the very beginning.
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Key Defensive Players Return For The Patriots
The Patriots will be without starting cornerback Jalen Mills on Saturday night, but they are getting a handful of reinforcements back in the lineup.
Defensive tackle Christian Barmore , safety Kyle Dugger , linebacker Donta Hightower and linebacker Jamie Collins are all active for the Pats wild card matchup. Dugger, who is donning a wrap on his right hand, and Hightower return after missing the teams regular-season finale. Barmore and Collins suffered injuries in that game and were limited last week.
Barmores game status is the most surprising. The standout rookie was carted off the field in Miami. The MRI results, however, came back clean. Thats a very good thing for the Patriots as the rookie has been one of their best defensive linemen this season.
The Patriots have one surprise inactive player: receiver Kristian Wilkerson.
The Pats elevated Wilkerson from the practice squad on Saturday. He looked outstanding in his first start against Jacksonville, finishing with four receptions, 42 yards and two touchdowns. Wilkerson was active over NKeal Harry on that day. Tonight, Harry gets the nod along with receivers Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne.
Also inactive for the Patriots: Isaiah Wynn , Devin Asiasi, J.J. Taylor, Jarrett Stidham, Carl Davis and Chase Winovich.
– By Mark Daniels, Providence Journal
Why The Bills And Patriots Ended The Season Going In Opposite Directions
The Bills and the Patriots finished the 2021 regular season in very different ways. The Bills head into the playoffs riding a four-game win streak and the Patriots end the regular season winning just one of the last four games. Both teams faced two divisional opponents in the last four weeks, including each other, and the AFC East champs went 2-0, while the Patriots went 0-2.
Over the last four weeks, when you look at the two teams, it’s easy to see the Patriots defense wasn’t as strong as the Bills. Both offenses averaged around the same number of points per game, but the Patriots gave up a lot more points. Over that span, Buffalo’s point differential was 60 and New England’s was only nine.
In the last four contests, Buffalo’s defense allowed 15 points per game and 220.3 yards per game . New England’s defense allowed 25.75 points per game and 313.5 yards per game . The Patriots also haven’t been getting to the quarterback like the Bills defense. Buffalo had 19 sacks and 27 quarterback hits and New England had just four sacks and nine quarterback hits over the last four weeks.
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Live Coverage: Buffalo Bills Vs New England Patriots
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Follow our team’s live coverage as the Buffalo Bills face the New England Patriots for Monday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. at Highmark Stadium.
Get caught up for the game with our extensive coverage, including Scouting Report, predictions, a Q& A with Ed Oliver and more.
PlayAction is new to The Buffalo News’ extensive NFL coverage. Each week, Mark Gaughan, who has covered the league throughout his 38 years at The News, distills X’s and O’s and strategy relating to how the Bills match up with their next opponent. All in about two minutes.
Follow our team’s live coverage below:
Ho Hum Another Bills Touchdown
Make that four possessions, four touchdowns for the Bills in what is rapidly becoming one of the most stunning postseason games – for either team – recent memory. The Bills now lead 27-0.
This time, after the defense forced yet another New England punt, Josh Allen trotted out to his own 11-yard-line and promptly threw a 19-yard pass to Isaiah McKenzie and a 45-yard deep shot to Stefon Diggs moving the ball to the Patriots 30 in the blink of an eye.
And then there was a nine-yard Allen run, followed by Devin Singletarys 16-yard scamper to the end zone. So, 89 yards, four plays, and it took all of 1:31.
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Patriots Betting Stats And Trends
- New England has 10 wins against the spread in 17 games this year.
- This year, the Patriots won ATS in their only game as an underdog of 4 points or more.
- The Patriots have been underdogs in five games this season and won two of those contests.
- New England has played as an underdog of +169 or more once this season and lost that game.
- New Englands games this year have eclipsed the over/under in 52.9% of its opportunities .
- The Patriots offense has averaged 353.4 yards per game this season, 80.6 more yards than the 272.8 the Bills defense has allowed. The Patriots earn 5.9 yards per play, while the Bills give up 4.8.
- New Englands record this year when it racks up more than Buffalos average yards allowed : 8-7 overall, 8-7 ATS.
- This season the Bills have forced 30 turnovers, compared to the 23 times the Patriots have turned the ball over.
Buffalo Bills Vs New England Patriots: Here’s What Mcdermott Players Are Saying
ORCHARD PARK – The NFL announced the initial rosters for the 2022 Pro Bowl Wednesday night and for the Buffalo Bills, wide receiver Stefon Diggs and offensive tackle Dion Dawkins were voted onto the AFC team.
For Diggs it is his second straight berth while Dawkins was selected for the first time. Neither was chosen as a starter.
The Bills also had nine players on the various levels of alternate lists which are compiled in case selected players cant play because of injury, unavailability or they dont wish to participate. Quarterback Josh Allen and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds are first alternates and will most likely end up on the team, if they choose to accept.
Second alternates are tight end Dawson Knox and special teamer Tyler Matakevich who also have a good chance of getting into the game. Safety Jordan Poyer and long snapper Reid Ferguson are third alternates, safety Micah Hyde is a fourth alternate, and center Mitch Morse and kicker Tyler Bass are fifth alternates.
My thoughts: Dawkins made the team? All I can say is it must have been a really bad year for offensive tackles. Pro Football Focus certainly isnt the be all, end all when it comes to evaluating players, but their grading system provides nuance and context and Dawkins, by their measure, has no business being in the Pro Bowl.
I dont need PFF to know that Dawkins has not had a good season, but according to PFFs grades, they agree this has been his worst season since he joined the Bills in 2017.
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Patriots Weapons Vs Bills Defensive Backs
For an excellent Bills secondary, life after TreDavious White has looked like life with TreDavious White. In the three games since he went on injured reserve on Nov. 26, the Bills have allowed 521 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. Thats a testament to Dane Jackson, a seventh-round pick who has flourished in his second NFL season.
The Bills havent had a big defensive dropoff the Buccaneers game notwithstanding because Jackson has played really well in 2021. Opposing quarterbacks have completed just 48.1% of their passes against Jackson and the next touchdown he surrenders will be the first of the season.
He and Buffalos talented secondary will face off against a Patriots receiver group in crisis. Kendrick Bourne landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, and Nelson Agholor and NKeal Harry both got hurt against the Colts in Week 15. Agholor is out, and Harry is questionable to play.
Advantage: Bills
Bills Dealing With A Mini
Like just about every team in the NFL, the Bills are dealing with a coronavirus disruption as five players on their 53-man roster have tested positive and are currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list through Wednesdays testing.
Of course, the most notable player is wide receiver Cole Beasley, the Bills second-leading pass catcher who continues to refuse to get vaccinated and now will have to sit out a minimum 10 days.
Also on the list are defensive end A.J. Epenesa, linebacker Tyrell Dodson, and offensive linemen Dion Dawkins and Jon Feliciano, plus three practice squad players, defensive end Mike Love, tight end Quintin Morris, and offensive lineman Bobby Hart.
Not going to get into that, coach Sean McDermott said Wednesday morning before the Bills took the field inside Highmark Stadium for a walk-through practice.
Obviously, weve talked before about mutual respect and peoples opinions and peoples choices. So thats what Im going to leave that at, and other than that, I really cant get into the COVID situation and protocols. Im focused on the Patriots and the guys in the building, and certainly with all the guys we have out with COVID, I think seven, Cole being one of those, we want them back as healthy as possible, and as quickly as possible. You know, thats where were at.
Tuesday night, Beasley used his Instagram account to post the following message:
When he was asked about the Beasley situation Wednesday, quarterback Josh Allen predictably steered clear.
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Bills Vs Patriots: Nfl Betting Preview January 15 2022
Jeff Gordon. The Patriots led the league in total defense yardsscoring defense 16 points and pass defense yards on the road during the regular season. Patriots odds from Caesars Sportsbook while the over-under for total points scored is Before making any Patriots vs. Buffalo is on the money line in the game, which will be played at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo.
Speak for Yourself. Philadelphia Eagles. Heather O’Reilly. Bill Raftery. Charissa Thompson. Buffalo faces a New England quarterback, Mac Joneswho will be unfamiliar with the weather conditions. However, just 19 of them came against the Bills the first time around, a run-centric Bill Belichick game plan the Patriots played out to perfection. Brady Quinn. On Sunday, he faces a Buffalo defense that allowed 19 rushing touchdowns this season, tied for the fifth-most in the league and most among playoff teams.
Rob Rang. Vince Welch. Watch Now:. New England Patriots vs. And what critical factor makes one side of the spread a must-back?
NFL odds: How to bet Patriots vs. Bills, point spread, more
Fansided: Bills 27 Patriots 20
Gil Alcaraz IV writes: “Josh Allen must avoid giving the ball away, and the Bills need to get the ground game going. As long as they can do that while putting pressure on Jones, theres no reason to believe Buffalo cant come away with a decisive victory. You can never count out Bill Belichick, but the Patriots dont have the edge in this one.”
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Bills Are Remarkably Healthy For Wild
Im not sure how often this has happened before in the NFL playoffs, but the Bills had an injury report that was completely clean. No players carried a game night designation, meaning everyone the Bills deem inactive will be healthy scratches.
This is not the case for the Patriots. Left tackle Isaiah Wynn, though listed as questionable on New Englands lengthy injury report, has already been ruled out. In his place the Patriots might start Justin Herron, the player who took over when Wynn got hurt last week in Miami.
Or, they could switch Trent Brown from right to left and start Michael Onwenu at right tackle. Brown, who has played left tackle in the past, hasnt been there this year.
Also already ruled out for New England is cornerback Jalen Mills because of COVID-19. Like Wynn, that costs the Patriots are good player, and the Patriots enter the game a little thin at corner which could be problematic against the Bills passing game.
Mills has been outstanding this year. Per Pro Football Focus, Mills has allowed just 35 receptions on 60 targets this season . In the two games against Buffalo, Josh Allen targeted him seven times and completed only three for 34 yards.
In all, the Patriots had 13 players as questionable, though it seems likely that everyone else besides Wynn and Mills will play. The Patriots, after all, typically overload their injury report.
