The New England Patriots were not able to clinch a playoff spot due to a backbreaking loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, but they can make up for it with a win against the Buffalo Bills, who will look to avenge an earlier loss to Tom Brady and company. The Patriots are +325 to win the AFC title.
Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen seems to be picking up his lessons in the NFL well. Although he rushed for only 16 yards in last Sunday’s 14-13 home win over the Detroit Lions after racking up 355 in the three games prior to Week 15, Allen was able to avoid committing any errors and getting sacked. For those keeping count, the Bills are now 3-o SU when Allen hasn’t been intercepted . He will have so sustain that level of play this coming weekend if Buffalo wants to keep in step with a rebound-seeking New England squad. On the season, Allen has 1,633 passing yards and six touchdowns against nine interceptions in 10 starts this season. He was not around due to an injury when the Bills lost at home to New England back in Week 8, so his presence this Sunday could give Buffalo some element of surprise. In that game, the Bills managed to hang with New England for the fist three quarters, thanks to their defense. If they learned their lesson, they know that they will have to keep the defensive pressure up for an entire game, as the Pats turned a three-point lead entering the fourth quarter into a 16-point cushion with a huge offensive outburst in the final period.
The Bills are 5-1 in their last six road games.
Betting on the New England Patriots (9-5)
Are the Patriots having some legitimate issues this late in the season. After taking an embarrassing 34-33 road loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 14, the defending AFC champions got beaten by the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, 17-10. Perhaps a game at their own backyard will be the cure to their swoon, as New England is 10-0 SU in its last 10 games a the home team. Moreover, maybe a game against a previous victim like Buffalo can straighten them up again. In the first date with Buffalo, the Patriots got 324 passing yards from Tom Brady, though, he only went 29-of-45 with zero touchdowns and no errors for a mediocre 85.8 passer rating. This time around, however, Brady will have extra help from the backfield with Rex Burkhead and Sony Michel, two running backs who weren’t in Buffalo in Week 8, now healthy and ready to go for the rematch. The Patriots are fifth in the league with 1.1 rushing touchdowns per contest.
The Patriots are 8-2 SU in their last 10 home games against Buffalo. They are also 2-2-1 ATS in their last five contests in Foxboro versus the Bills.
