Giuseppe Tognarelli Posted December 22, 2021 Posted December 22, 2021 BUF 13 NE 24 I think there's a lot running against the Bills in this game, and unless there is any significant change on the Covid front, I would consider a win to be one of the very most impressive of the McDermott regime. I hope to death I'm wrong about this, but I envision: The NE defensive scheme wreaking havoc on the Bills' offensive line, with the rookie Brown at left tackle and several other positions shifted like last week Allen committing a couple of turnovers due to the necessitation of hero mode, which will lead to NE points despite a lackluster NE offensive effort To beat NE, you have to play almost perfectly, and I have a hard time envisioning the Bills doing that with the OL situation being what it is. Of course, the Beasley absence/Covid distraction that we all thought would come at some point is here at the worst of times, and I think this is also at least a mild factor to consider. Other things potentially going against the Bills: Patriots/Belichick coming off of a loss Belichick mad about McDermott not crediting him after MNF game I can't remember the last time the Bills won a big swing game like this, when a win vs. a loss makes such a massive difference to the team's prospects The Bills have struggled mightily in Sunday afternoon games broadcasted to a large, non-regional audience, going 1-6 since 2019 (see below)* Blue pants are still a possibility as of this writing, although they did wear them last year in the big win at NE *Here is how the Bills have fared since 2019 in Sunday afternoon games broadcasted to large, non-regional audiences: 2021, Week 14: @ TB, L 2021, Week 1: PIT, L 2020, Week 10: @ ARI, L 2020, Week 4: @ LV, W 2019, Week 14: BAL, L 2019, Week 8: PHI, L 2019, Week 4: NE, L 1 1 1 Quote
Success Posted December 22, 2021 Posted December 22, 2021 Thoughtful analysis, OP. I don't think the Bills have to play close to perfectly, though. For either team, an early lead is key to try to make the game favorable for their style of play. If the Pats get an early lead, they can do what they did last time - pound the ball, try to keep the Bills O off the field, and play sound D. If the Bills get an early lead, it forces the Pats to rely more on the overrated rookie game manager with the weak arm. Bills 34 Patriots 15 1 Quote
teef Posted December 22, 2021 Posted December 22, 2021 (edited) the list of things potentially going against the bills my be the dumbest piece of ***** i've seen around here. cakewalk you weak minded *****! Edited December 22, 2021 by teef 4 2 4 1 Quote
Blainorama5 Posted December 22, 2021 Posted December 22, 2021 For the 2nd straight week, I'm not going to participate in this reindeer game.... Last week, the Bills won! Your welcome. 😉 2 1 1 Quote
Greg S Posted December 22, 2021 Posted December 22, 2021 Assuming Covid doesn't do any more damage to the roster minus Beasley. I think the Bills win a close one 27-24. Quote
RiotAct Posted December 22, 2021 Posted December 22, 2021 I’m staying far away from this one. 1 1 Quote
Westside Madness Posted December 22, 2021 Posted December 22, 2021 24-17. I just don't know which score to assign to each team... Quote
DeltaDigital Posted December 22, 2021 Posted December 22, 2021 this isnt the tom brady patriots. they don't have to play perfect. quite the contrary, NE has to play perfect. not sure what a TV broadcast has to do with anything. blue pants there might be something to that.... our O line is going to get abused by matt judon and barmore... if only there were plays that would beat the blitz and discourage it... there arent any in dabolls bag of tricks, so.. you're probably right about taking an L... If mcdermott walks the talk... they should win. if not, well.... 10-7 will get it done most likely.. but we'd be playing them a third time. Quote
Haslett_Stomp Posted December 22, 2021 Posted December 22, 2021 14 minutes ago, Beast said: Bills 30 Patriots 17 Beat me to it, though not an exact match: Bills win 31-17 Quote
Giuseppe Tognarelli Posted December 22, 2021 Author Posted December 22, 2021 13 minutes ago, teef said: the list of things potentially going against the bills my be the dumbest piece of ***** i've seen around here. cakewalk you weak minded *****! Belichick's record off of losses has been widely discussed, he's known to use bulletin board material, it's true that the Bills have sucked in swing games, the record in national windows has been abysmal, and our record in blue pants is abysmal... all legitimate stuff, as dumb as it may seem. Quote
TheWei44 Posted December 22, 2021 Posted December 22, 2021 (edited) Assuming no major COVID news/swings and decent weather, I like the Bills in this contest. The second half of the Tampa game, and most of the Carolina game, showed that our offense can get rolling against a top-tier defense. Why do we think the Pats are any different? So a key to my thinking is that the Bills at some point will start rolling and scoring TDs. And we have the sort of defense to hold them in check. They don't have the sort of offense to score a lot of points quickly. Given the above, I'm thinking something like 30-17 or 30-21 Bills. Edited December 22, 2021 by TheWei44 1 1 Quote
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