I think the Bills are going to win.
I think the Patriots can win. And given my prediction history, there’s a good chance my Bills pick will be wrong. But my gut says Buffalo. For anyone monitoring the No. 1 seed race, my gut also says the Broncos will lose to the Packers.
This Patriots team has never been in a game like this. They’re playing a good team with a lot on the line that is familiar with what has made New England successful.
Whether they win or lose, I think playing this game will be really valuable for the Patriots as a preparation point for the playoffs. The teams they’ll face in January are going to be a lot more like the Bills than most of the bowling pins they’ve faced up until now. It could be the second of three meetings between New England and Buffalo, which adds to the intrigue.
I want to see how the Patriots handle Josh Allen, especially on third down. I want to see what New England’s inconsistent rushing attack can get going against Buffalo’s mediocre run defense.
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And I want to see what happens if the game is close in the final five minutes. How do the Patriots manage the clock? How does Drake Maye rise to the moment? Can Andy Borregales make a big kick in a big spot on a cold night?
Mostly, I’m pretty excited to watch the biggest game the Patriots have played in a while.
Final score: Bills 31-28
