Patriots-Bills Week 17 Predictions
BOSTON (CBS) - The WBZ-TV and 98.5 The Sports Hub Sports teams make their predictions for the Patriots regular season finale against the Buffalo Bills.
Andy Gresh, 98.5 The Sports Hub
It's the Bills. The only thing they can do is get after the quarterback, and they won't with Tom Brady.
The Patriots won't lose with an opportunity to get the first-round bye.
Patriots 31, Bills 17
Rob "Hardy" Poole, 98.5 The Sports Hub
(channeling his inner-Scott Zolak)
So, Tom Brady is the man! There is going to be unicorns! Show ponies! Where's the beef?!?!
Tale of the Tape: Patriots vs. Bills
It's at Gillette, the division is wrapped up! Home Field! The Bills got nothing!
Patriots 34, Bills 2
Dan Roche, WBZ-TV Sports
After a bounce back win over the Ravens last Sunday in Baltimore, you have to wonder if the Patriots can carry that momentum into Sunday's battle with the Bills. Buffalo is coming off arguably its best game of the season, a 19-0 blanking of the Dolphins at home. Question is can the Bills carry their momentum into New England?
If I'm the Pats, I run the ball. Ridley and Blount did a nice job against the Ravens, especially late in the 4th quarter. I go into this one with the same attitude. Run first and that will set up the pass.
Read: Patriots Set To Face QB Thad Lewis
On defense, the Pats must continue to fight through injuries. I would think the Bills will look to continue what they did against Miami with Thad Lewis again at QB and lots of Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller running and catching the ball out of the backfield.
The Bill have never beaten the Pats at Gillette Stadium. New England has a lot to play for with a bye (and possibly the top seed in the AFC) on the line.
Patriots 28, Bills 24
Levan Reid, WBZ-TV Sports
Here we are at the last game of the season and the Pats are pretty much right where they need to be. They have the second seed and a chance at the top spot. After last weekend's game against the Ravens the Pats have a little bit of a swagger to them that they haven't had all year long.
I'm not sure we need to have a huge prediction here. I think the Patriots are going to hold their own and win this game against the Bills. Buffalo is better than they were last year but they are not good enough to beat the Pats right now. New England has started playing their playoff football and all of these games count.
Read: McCourty Doubtful, 11 Other Patriots Listed As Questionable
Look for Julian Edelman to have a big day, and look for the Pats to try to establish the running game. This will be a very good test for the New England offensive line as the Buffalo defense is stout. This will be a good final exam for the Patriots leading up to the playoffs.
Pats beat the Bills 127 to 15 and Tom Brady breaks Peyton Manning's touchdown record. But seriously, I'll take the Patriots winning this one 27-10.
Tune in to Patriots-Bills on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV — the flagship stations of the New England Patriots. Pregame coverage begins on WBZ-TV at 11:30 a.m. with Patriots GameDay, and at 1:30 p.m. on The Sports Hub. Full postgame shows will follow the game, with Patriots 5th Quarter airing on myTV38.
