Week 8: Bills vs. Patriots
at
Sunday, Oct. 30th
1:00pm ET
The Bills look to get back on track and to sweep the Patriots for the first time since the last year the Bills were in the playoffs. It will be much tougher this time with Tom Brady at the helm for New England. The Patriots have a history of blowing out their division rivals the 2nd time they play them in a season after losing to them in the first matchup. A win by the Patriots will give them a whopping three game division lead at the halfway point of the season.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Matchup: Buffalo (4-3) vs. New England (6-1)
Place: New Era Field
TV/Radio: Network: CBS; DirecTV: 705; Sirius: 82
Announcers: Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts
Spread: Patriots by 6½
Series: Patriots lead 68-43-1 (Bills 0-1 in Playoffs)
Streak: Bills Won 1
Last Meeting: Bills 16-0 in New England (2016)
Patriots Offense: Rush (6th); Pass (10th); overall (7th)
Patriots Defense: Rush (11th); Pass (20th); overall (14th)
Bills Offense: Rush (2nd); Pass (31st); overall (25th)
Bills Defense: Rush (27th); Pass (11th); overall (18th)


INJURY UPDATE

The Bills injury list is rather lengthy but it looks like four players have a good chance at missing this game led by their biggest offensive weapon LeSean McCoy. He is still battling a hamstring injury and will likely be a gametime decision at best. Aaron Williams appears almost certain to miss the game after suffering another terrifying neck injury. Marquise Goodwin is sidelined with a concussion suffered in the final minutes of last week's loss. Robert Woods returned to practice this week but may still be a week away from returning from a foot injury. They are expected to get Marcell Dareus in the lineup for the first time this season. He has missed the three games he has been eligible for with a hamstring injury.

The Patriots may get Dion James back as he has been cleared to begin practicing with the team. Other than that they are fairly healthy just having several players limited in practice this week but nobody missing the early week practices. The big names that were limited are WR Julian Edelman and TE Marcellus Bennett

Check out our Bills Daily Injury Page throughout the week for the latest updates on the injured players.

KEY MATCHUPS

LB Lorenzo Alexander vs. LT Nate Solder:
Alexander looks to keep his sack streak going against the six year veteran.

DT Marcell Dareus vs. RB LeGarrette Blount:
The run defense has a lot of bruised egos on it after last week's debacle. Now with Dareus back they should be able to keep Blount from gouging them.

QB Tyrod Taylor vs. HC Bill Belichick:
Taylor did a masterful job in the first matchup with the slant patterns. He needs to control this game offensively especially if McCoy is sidelined. He needs to lead the team to victory and Belichick will have a gameplan to stop him.

LT Cordy Glenn vs. DE Jabaal Sheard:
Glenn is healthier than he was in the last meeting four weeks ago. Sheard continues to lead the Patriots in sacks with 3½.

KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Shutdown Running Game: Bill Belichick may try to take a page out of the Dolphins gameplan and run the ball down the Bills throats. The Bills need to take that dimension away or they have no chance at pulling off the upset.

2. Keep Heads In The Game: Emotions will run high for this rivalry game as the Bills want a chance to beat Tom Brady but they need to keep their heads in the game and not let their emotions get the better of them.

3. Need New Offensive Stars: With all the injuries on offense, the Bills need others to step up and make big plays. They should use Reggie Bush as a wide receiver because of the injuries at the position. Other fringe players who can step up and make plays include Nick O'Leary, Walter Powell, Justin Hunter, and Mike Gillislee.

BILLS DAILY PREDICTION

In October games with Tom Brady at Quarterback the Patriots have won 11 in a row. They will be fired up to avenge their only loss of the year and have a history of blowing teams out in these games. The Bills are severely banged up and I don't think they have a prayer in this game. If they can keep it close it will be a moral victory but I don't even think they can do that:
Patriots 38, Bills 10

Season Prediction Record: (6-1)
Season Record Against The Spread: (5-2)

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