Patriots vs. Bills: New England’s Biggest Game Since Tom Brady’s Finale

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Rapid observations and remarks concerning the New England Patriots and the National Football League:

1. Significant Importance: The Patriots will secure the AFC East championship if they defeat the Buffalo Bills this Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), positioning this as the franchise’s most impactful game at Gillette Stadium since …

• January 1, 2023: a 23-21 triumph against the Miami Dolphins, which leveled their season record at 8-8 and sustained faint postseason aspirations (though they were eliminated after a subsequent away loss);

• January 2, 2022: a dominant 50-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, elevating their standing to 10-6 during quarterback Mac Jones’ inaugural year, securing a playoff spot (they were defeated in the wild-card round on the road);

• January 4, 2020: a 20-13 defeat to the Mike Vrabel-led Tennessee Titans in the playoff’s wild-card round, concluding their season at 12-5, and ultimately marking Tom Brady’s last appearance with the organization.

Opinions on the precise game may differ, yet for those who identify Brady’s concluding match, its status as the most impactful selection is undeniable. A protracted half-decade has passed for the Patriots subsequently, with their 2025 revival ignited by Vrabel, whose attendance on the home team’s sideline this Sunday brings the momentous sequence to full circle.

“This is a superb platform we’ve created for ourselves,” Vrabel stated.

During his inaugural press conference as the Patriots’ head coach on January 13, Vrabel designated winning the division as the team’s primary objective. He also communicated this aspiration to the roster.

“Coach articulated it at the season’s outset: ‘Secure the division.’ Everyone probably expresses that across the league in their initial team assembly,” quarterback Drake Maye noted. “It’s quite remarkable how that has manifested into reality, and we now possess the opportunity to achieve it this week.”

The fact that they could accomplish this against the current champions amplifies the atmosphere of the pivotal contest.

“They have claimed the division for five consecutive years, so we have a title we need to acquire,” Maye asserted. “We recognize it will be arduous. But we are prepared for the challenge.”

Veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs further commented: “This particular game carries a different weight because you are contending for something. There is much to vie for. Not every team in the league can make that claim this week.”

By the time players departed the locker room following their final practice of the week on Friday, there was a blend of exhilaration and an internal reminder to maintain consistency in their preparation and approach to the game, similar to previous weeks.

Outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings, who, alongside offensive lineman Mike Onwenu, is among the Patriots’ most tenured players at six seasons, addressed this equilibrium while savoring the prospect of participating in such a significant match.

“It feels positive. It holds immense importance to us because we established our objectives at the start of the season to win the division and host playoff contests. This would represent another advancement in that direction,” Jennings explained. “We endeavored to prepare throughout the offseason, but now it’s also about not elevating it into an overly grand moment and simply performing our duties and executing the game plan.”

2. Landry and Watt’s Interaction: Patriots outside linebacker Harold Landry III engaged in a video discussion with CBS football commentator J.J. Watt on Friday. Watt is slated to offer game analysis for the Patriots-Bills matchup, partnering with Ian Eagle for play-by-play and Evan Washburn on the sidelines, and Landry valued the exchange, which formed part of CBS’ customary pre-game production discussions.

“It’s somewhat surreal, because when I entered the league, he was still competing for Houston, and I distinctly recall us needing to ensure he didn’t dominate the game,” he stated. “You observe him from a distance, a future Hall of Famer, so conversing with him as equals was pleasant.”

Vrabel also mentioned his dialogue with Watt, whom he coached as an assistant with the Texans (2014-17), conveying his admiration: “Hearing from former athletes about our current endeavors and their observations, I believe that always provides a beneficial outlook. To consider that, ‘Indeed, we are progressing appropriately’ and they perceive our objectives.”

3. Developmental Perspective: Diggs, now in his eleventh NFL campaign, conceded that the Patriots (11-2) coalesced as a unit more rapidly than his anticipations.

“I’ve been on numerous teams. I would wholeheartedly affirm that,” he declared.

4. Diggs’ Limited Impact: Diggs has accumulated under 30 receiving yards in each of the past two contests, marking a tie for the most extended such sequence in his professional tenure. This occurred on five other occasions, most recently with the Bills in December 2023.

This might suggest he is poised for a significant performance against his previous squad, mirroring Week 5 when he registered a season-best 10 receptions for 146 yards. Irrespective, Diggs expressed his focus remains not on individual statistics, but rather on the selflessness characteristic of the team’s receiving corps.

“I would never sit here and behave like a machine, asserting I don’t desire the ball. Everyone wants possession and to perform at an elite standard, but it’s akin to seven canines vying for a single bone,” he articulated. “You witness players on the field operating at a high standard, treating each play as their final one; you simply don’t know when you’ll next receive it. There are many individuals capable of getting open. It’s an altruistic [group], and you are rooting for your companion.”

5. Elliss’ Rise: Linebacker Christian Elliss’ powerful tackle against Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart in Week 13 invigorated the Patriots, as Elliss dashed towards the boundary before executing the lawful contact. The first-quarter play underscored, in part, the advancement coaches have observed in the 26-year-old Elliss.

“I am pleased with his current progression,” stated linebackers coach/defensive playcaller Zak Kuhr.

Elliss ranks third on the team with 54 tackles and also leads the club with 14 special-teams tackles.

“He has genuinely improved consistently week after week,” Kuhr remarked. “The extent of his dedication can foster growth, but occasionally you must also be present with him and [advise], ‘Listen, it’s permissible to make an error.’ Earlier in the season, if he erred, he was exceptionally hard on himself. No one will achieve a flawless evaluation. He is playing with speed, freedom, aggression, and within the system.”

6. Rushing Defense Apprehension? During the initial nine weeks of the season, the Patriots conceded merely 3.6 yards per rushing attempt, securing them the third position in the NFL standings. However, since Week 10, they have permitted 4.9 yards per rush, ranking 29th over that period.

Therefore, does difficulty loom against quarterback Josh Allen, running back James Cook III, and the Bills, who lead the NFL by averaging 5.1 yards per rush?

The Patriots’ decline has partially coincided with top defensive tackle Milton Williams being placed on injured reserve (ankle). Prioritizing the establishment of a defensive barrier, setting external containment, and collective swarming has become a key focus.

Kuhr also acknowledged the Bills’ tactical approach, stating: “They diversify their plays effectively, and they also excel at what they do, often repeating it. They possess a unified offensive line, an exceptionally gifted running back, and a quarterback capable of scoring at any moment. They have committed to this strategy, making it a formidable challenge.”

7. McDaniels’ Brief Comments: Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels appeared as a guest on “The Schrager Hour” with ESPN’s Peter Schrager, where he was prompted for succinct opinions on various roster members. His responses regarding the two former Bills receivers now playing for New England:

• Diggs: “A tenacious competitor. A relentless worker. An intrinsic intensity that defies simple description.”

• WR Mack Hollins: “A versatile asset. As unselfish a teammate as I have ever encountered.”

8. Henderson and Dillon’s Mark: First-year running back TreVeyon Henderson, a second-round selection from Ohio State, has achieved a minimum of 50 rushing yards in each of his past six appearances. Should he reach this benchmark on Sunday against the Bills, he will be the first Patriots athlete since Corey Dillon (during the 2004-2005 seasons) to accumulate 50 or more rushing yards across seven consecutive contests, as per ESPN’s analytical findings.

McDaniels highlighted Henderson’s “extraordinary disposition,” noting that the player did not surpass 40 rushing yards in any of the first seven games of the season. “He is present every day, for every snap, executing with the utmost speed possible — which we recognize as explosive — and he returns prepared to repeat it. For a young player to possess such a mentality and approach, it is evident why improvement would occur,” McDaniels commented on Henderson during “The Schrager Hour.”

9. Patriots-Jets Broadcast Shift to Fox: What prompted the alteration of the Patriots’ away game versus the Jets on Sunday, December 28 (1 p.m. ET) from CBS to Fox? Below is a brief summary, based on discussions with individuals knowledgeable about the league’s rationale, illustrating the intricate nature of broadcast timetables:

• The NFL had five potential matchups that could have been scheduled for Saturday, December 27, ultimately selecting Texans-Chargers (NFL Network) and Ravens-Packers (Peacock). Consequently, Giants-Raiders, which was among the five possible choices, was shifted to Sunday.

• The Giants-Raiders game could have been aired on Fox at 4:05 p.m., but this would have necessitated moving an early-afternoon game, such as Cardinals-Bengals or Seahawks-Panthers, to 4:05 p.m. on CBS.

• Instead, the decision was made to broadcast Giants-Raiders on CBS at 4:05 p.m., which meant the Patriots-Jets game had to transition to Fox to allow both New York teams to be shown in the New York market.

• An additional benefit: It also permits viewers in New York and Las Vegas to watch the Eagles-Bills game on Fox at 4:25 p.m. on that day.

10. Interesting Fact: National Football League teams returning from a bye week — a situation the Patriots face this Sunday — have recorded an 87-68-1 record across the last five seasons (.561 winning percentage), and a 16-12 record this current year (.571 winning percentage).