Patriots-Bills Monday Night Football Predictions
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots and Bills will close out Week 11 of the NFL season, as New England looks to remain unbeaten and Buffalo looks to make a push for the playoffs on Monday Night Football.
The Patriots handed Rex Ryan and his Bills a 40-32 defeat back in Week 2 in Buffalo, but things are a little different this time around. The Bills are looking halfway decent and coming in with some confidence, winners of two straight against the Dolphins and Jets. The Patriots are a little banged up, having lost Julian Edelman to a foot injury last week, but remain the cream of the crop in the NFL.
READ: Week 11 Local Picks
Here are some Monday night predictions from the WBZ-TV, WBZ NewsRadio and 98.5 The Sports Hub sports teams:
Steve Burton, WBZ-TV Sports
The Patriots are battered and bruised, but they still have enough manpower to beat Buffalo on Monday night.
This game might be closer than you think, and we'll probably see a much lower score than the 40-32 Patriots win we saw back in Week 2.
Patriots 23, Bills 10
Dan Roche, WBZ-TV Sports
I think this one will be a tough win for the Patriots, but getting healthier on the offensive line will certainly help.
Patriots 31, Bills 17
Levan Reid, WBZ-TV Sports
I guess this game should worry any Patriots fan because of New England's injury situation. But the Pats will find a way to win and here's why:
This game is all on them. Buffalo will come in and try to run their two-headed monster in LeSean McCoy and Karlos Williams, and when that gets stymied they will try to get the ball to Robert Woods and Sammy Watkins. Honestly, no one cares about what the Bills are going to do.
The focus is on how the Pats are going to move forward without Julian Edelman. That first drive, and how they spread the ball, will be what everyone will pay attention to. Will Aaron Dobson be the guy, or will they bring Keshawn Martin off the bench and plug him back in? The Pats offense will set the tone on Monday night.
I feel the game will be tough but the offense will push through, and expect Dobson and Scott Chandler to have bigger games. The defense will settle in and force Tyrod Taylor into a couple of turnovers.
Patriots 28, Bills 20
Adam Kaufman, 98.5 The Sports Hub/WBZ NewsRadio 1030
Finally, we're only days away from Rex Ryan not having a reason to discuss the Patriots for the rest of the season... unless these teams somehow wind up meeting in the playoffs. But, we can all probably agree that's unlikely.
The Pats shouldn't have much trouble defeating the Bills for a second time this season, especially with the improved health to the offensive line just in time for a stout defensive front on the other side. What makes this game fascinating is it's another "work on things" week for Bill Belichick's group, even if the coach would never admit it. How will the O-line look with more options to deploy? How does the team attempt to account for the production lost in Julian Edelman and Dion Lewis? Provided Jamie Collins is missing again, how is the D growing in his absence? That's the short list.
New England's already prepping for Denver. As Rex would say, that's the game circled on the calendar. This next meeting just stands in between.
Patriots 31, Bills 21
Mike 'Sarge' Riley, 98.5 The Sports Hub/WBZ NewsRadio 1030
Rex Ryan has had this date circled on his calendar since the Pats won at Orchard Park in Week 2. The Bills are on a two game win streak and Ryan hasn't won three in a row since 2011. The Patriots have only two losses in their last 24 games, including the playoffs. After this week, make that two in their last 25.
Be careful what you wish for Rex.
Patriots 31, Bills 21
Tune in to Monday night's Patriots-Bills game on 98.5 The Sports Hub -- the flagship station of the New England Patriots. Pregame coverage begins at 5:30pm, with three hours of postgame reaction and analysis following the game. WBZ-TV gets you ready Sunday morning with Patriots GameDay at 11:30am, and after Monday night's game switch over to myTV38 for Patriots 5th Quarter!
