The New England Patriots (5-2) hit the road this week to play the Buffalo Bills (2-5) at New Era Stadium as they look to end the first half of the season with a two-game lead atop the AFC East.
With Tom Brady leading the way there’s little reason to doubt the Patriots can accomplish that as they have won 28 of 31 games against the Bills when he’s under center. Brady’s 28 career wins against Buffalo are the most of any quarterback against any opponent in the history of the NFL.
Those numbers don’t lie as this has been a one-sided affair since 2001 when Brady took the reins of the Patriots. In fact, nobody in Las Vegas seems to believe in the Bills as they are a 14 points underdog at home and haven’t won a Monday Night Football contest since 1994 when Jim Kelly was still the quarterback.
The last time the Patriots lost against the Bills was back in Week 17 of 2014 when the Patriots had nothing to play for as they had already clinched home field advantage through the playoffs.
This week the Pats will be down to two active running backs (James White and the recently signed Kenjon Barner) after rookie Sony Michel was ruled out earlier today with a knee injury.
Even though the Patriots will be without two other starters in right tackle Marcus Cannon and defensive end Geneo Grissom, don’t expect the Patriots to struggle against a Bills team that is 2-14 against Brady at New Era Field.
Fortunately for Brady Rob Gronkowski will be on the field even though he was questionable earlier in the week as he was dealing with ankle and back injuries.
Gronkowski, who grew about 15 miles away from Buffalo, usually loves to play against the Bills as they passed on him twice in the 2010 draft. Since then, the tight end has proven to thrive against the Orchard Park franchise as he’s scored 12 touchdowns in 13 games against them.
Even though the Patriots pass defense is far from elite (ranked 25th in the league) don’t expect them to struggle against a Bills pass offense that is ranked dead last in the league and has already used three different starting quarterbacks this season.
Derek Anderson, who prior to this season had started four NFL games in the last seven years, is starting for the Bills for the second straight game. In his last start against the Indianapolis Colts, he threw three interceptions and lost a fumble on the way to a 37-5 road loss.
Prediction: Patriots 31- 14 Bills
The Patriots will win this one easily and will most likely cover as the Bills defense will eventually get tired from spending so much time on the field due to the ineptitude of the Bills offense. Expect the game total to go over.
