Buffalo (8-3) at New England (6-5)
When: Thursday, December 1st 2022
Where: Gillette Stadium,
Foxborough, MA
Time: 8:15 ET | TV: Prime
Opening Odds: Buffalo -5.5/45.5
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We will learn a lot about the AFC East playoff picture over the next several weeks beginning Thursday night when the New England Patriots host the Buffalo Bills in prime time. Oddly enough, this is the first meeting between these teams this year after battling three times in the 2021 season. The Patriots dominate the Bills for years behind Tom Brady, but Buffalo has had the upper-hand of late with Josh Allen at quarterback and Mac Jones under center for New England. They split the regular season matchups last year, but Buffalo rolled to a 47-17 win in the wild card round, scoring seven touchdowns on all seven possessions until a kneel down to run out the clock. The Bills are tied with the Miami Dolphins in the division with the New York Jets one game back and New England two back.
Buffalo is coming off a thrilling 28-25 win at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. The game appeared to be headed to overtime after the Lions tied it on a 51-yard field goal with 23 seconds left, but Josh Allen got the Bills in position for a Tyler Bass 45-yarder to win it. Allen threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 78 and a score. The Bills played the game without center Mitch Morse and then lost left tackle Dion Dawkins to an ankle injury. Pass rusher Von Miller injured his knee and is out indefinitely. Both Greg Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa, the team’s other pass rushers, were inactive for Thursday’s game with ankle injuries. Tight end Quintin Morris (illness) was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice and is listed as questionable. Buffalo is 7-3-1 ATS in its past 11 vs. the AFC East.
New England saw their three-game winning streak come to an end in the Thanksgiving night loss at Minnesota. The Patriots had allowed only 23 points combined during the streak, but the Vikings’ Kirk Cousins threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns and laid 33 on New England. Jones passed for a career-high 382 yards and two scores for New England, but the fourth quarter was a disaster. The offense had two three-and-outs, a turnover on downs at the Minnesota 39 and a desperation last drive that ended the contest. DeVante Parker had four catches for 80 yards, while tight end Hunter Hendry had 64 receiving yards and a score. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson led the team with just 36 rushing yards but had 76 receiving yards. Fellow running back Damien Harris was on crutches in the locker room after leaving with a thigh injury and is out this week. Pro Bowl center David Andrews missed the game and was limited in practice.
If Minnesota’s offense can scorch the Patriots’ defense, then Allen and the Bills certainly can. Buffalo’s offense is cooking with 28 points or more in three straight games, while the defense should have no problem slowing down New England in this one.
Pick: Bills -3.5
