Bills usually a get-well card for Patriots
The Bills playing the New England Patriots nine days before Christmas is perfect timing. Every year the Bills bring Patriots fan happiness because of their ineptitude. Patriots fans complaining about their team’s 9-5 record should remember the Bills have not been 9-5 since 1999.
Tom Brady is 29-3 against the Bills and one of the losses occurred at the end of the 2014 season when the Patriots were resting most of the starters and the game was meaningless. The Bills are a different team than the Patriots faced Monday Night in Buffalo at the end of October. Derek Anderson played quarterback that night and that Bills offense was anemic scoring only six points. Since rookie quarterback Josh Allen has returned, the Bills offense has been respectable not great. Before Allen returned, it was historically bad.
The Bills have also released receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Andre Holmes. Their best receiver is likely Zay Jones and they are still challenged offensively. Robert Foster has emerged with 19 catches in the last five games including 11 catches for more than 200 yards in the last two games. The Bills defense held the Patriots offense to 19 points in the Patriots Monday Night Victory in October.
The Bills defense was particularly impressive in the red zone when they held the Patriots to four field goals. Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde are a strong safety combination. Jerry Hughes can rush the passer and Kyle Williams has had an excellent career at nose tackle and belongs in the Hall of Very Good. Belichick has been impressed with Williams throughout his entire career.
SERIES HISTORY: 117th regular-season meeting, Patriots lead series, 72-43-1. Belichick has dominated the Bills since arriving in New England with a 33-4 record. Brady has only lost twice in Buffalo since he became the Patriots starting quarterback. The first loss came five days after the Patriots cut captain Lawyer Milloy in 2003 and the Bills blew out the Patriots 31-0. The Patriots returned the favor in the last game of the season by blowing out the Bills 31-0. Brady also lost to the Bills in Buffalo in early 2011. The only time Brady lost in Foxborough was at the end of the 2014 season when the Patriots rested their starters in the last game before they won three straight games to capture their fourth Super Bowl title.