This is essentially for the division title. If the Bills win, they have two winnable games left. If the Patriots win, they pretty much lock up the division. So this will be fun. There won't be wind like the last meeting, but there could be snow. That favors the better passing team, which is the Bills. I think they get revenge from the wind game and take it behind a good day by Josh Allen.
Pick: Bills 28, Patriots 23
Bills (+2.5) at Patriots
MDS's take: The Patriots can lock up the AFC East with a win, and I think they're going to do it with a defense that clamps down on Josh Allen.
MDS's pick: Patriots 20, Bills 14.
Florio's take: The Patriots lacked energy against the Colts. They won't lack energy against the Bills.
Florio's pick: Patriots 24, Bills 17.
The New England Patriots have taken control of the AFC East, and they can clinch the division with a victory at home and on extra rest Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. But they're laying less than a field goal, and nearly the entire gang is still backing the desperate Buffalo Bills on the road Sunday.
"This is one of the more difficult calls of the week," Davenport said. "New England won the first meeting between these teams this season, and the Pats are always a tough out at Gillette Stadium. But last week's loss to the Colts exposed a weakness or two for the Patriots, and the Bills are the better offensive team of this pair. It's going to be a battle, but the Bills will exact some revenge and knock off the Patriots to really tighten up the AFC East."
Predictions
Davenport: Buffalo
Gagnon: Buffalo
Kenyon: New England
O'Donnell: Buffalo
Rogers: Buffalo
Sobleski: Buffalo
Score Prediction: Bills 24, Patriots 21
The Patriots are coming off a rough outing against Indianapolis, and the Bills are back on track. It's a game that likely decides who wins the AFC East given the Pats won the first one. Mac Jones has a 102.5 rating at home this season, and he avoids the big mistake against Buffalo.
Pick: Patriots 23, Bills 21
The weather forecast in Foxborough, Mass. calls for a similar game plan to the one the Patriots (9-5) used earlier this season against the Bills (8-6). The National Weather Service calls for it to be around 40 degrees and windy, with gusts as high as 22 miles per hour, with a 20 percent chance of snow. Mac Jones threw only three passes in Week 13 and the Patriots rushed for 222 yards, exploiting the Bills' weakness in run defense.
That unit is better suited against the pass, allowing a league-best mark of 175.6 yards per game. There's no reason for New England to deviate from the run, even with Damien Harris (hamstring) potentially unavailable.
Pick: Patriots -2.5
