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The Bills opened as 4.5-point favorites at DraftKings and BetMGM,
where the line has moved to 4.0 points with the action split and
Buffalo backed by a slight margin at 52 percent of the
spread-line money. Meanwhile, Buffalo has been backed by 60
percent of the bets and 65 percent of the money at DraftKings.
After splitting their two regular season meetings, the Bills and
Patriots are set to meet in the playoffs for the first time
since Dec. 28, 1963. Back then, a Boston Patriots team overcame
the Bills 26-8 at War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo in a
divisional round matchup.
"Playing at home in the divisional round against our division
rival -- a team that's been the standard for long-term success
in the NFL for the last 25, 30 years -- it's going to be a great
challenge," Bills quarterback Josh Allen said. "It's going to be
another dogfight."
New England has dominated the all-times series with Buffalo,
posting a 77-46-1 record. In Buffalo, the Patriots are 38-23-1
and have gone 31-17 at the Bills' current venue of Highmark
Stadium.
However, the departure of Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady
has opened a window for the Bills. Buffalo ended New England's
11-year reign as AFC East champions one year ago as the Patriots
finished 7-9 in their first season without Brady.
This year, a revamped New England team bounced back to make the
playoffs for the 12th time in 13 seasons after finishing 10-7.
Yet even finding Brady's successor in former Alabama champion
quarterback Mac Jones and a nearly $200 million free agent
spending spree wasn't enough to keep the Bills from a second
straight division crown after an 11-6 season.
Buffalo ended the regular season with four consecutive victories
while New England limped to the finish line with three losses in
its final four contests.
"Regardless of what level you're playing on, you understand
what's at stake (in the playoffs)," Jones said. "We know the
Bills are a really good team, they have a great defense -- top
in the league -- and we understand that they have great
players."
On the heels of its first AFC East title since 1995 last season,
Buffalo forged a deep playoff run with a narrow win over
Indianapolis in the wild-card round and a statement victory
against Baltimore in the divisional round before ultimately
falling short at Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game.
This season, the Patriots and Bills each took different routes
to winning on the others' home field.
On Dec. 6, New England used an unorthodox and weather-altered
game plan to win at Buffalo 14-10 in snowy and windy conditions.
Jones attempted a franchise-record-low three passes and totaled
19 yards as Damien Harris' 111 rushing yards paced the Patriots'
powerful run game to a victory.
In the rematch on Dec. 26 in Foxborough, Mass., Allen got his
revenge after completing 30 of 47 passes for 314 yards and three
touchdowns in Buffalo's 33-21 triumph. With their receiving
corps depleted, lesser known wideout Isaiah McKenzie had a
breakout performance for the Bills with 11 catches for 125 yards
and a touchdown.
Conditions for the completion of this season's trilogy between
the teams appear more likely to be similar to those of the first
meeting in Buffalo. Forecasts are calling for bitter cold
temperatures in the single digits at the time of kickoff.
New England starting left tackle Isaiah Wynn (hip/ankle) was
ruled out on Friday. He could be replaced by Yodny Cajuste, who
has two starts among seven career appearances. But their options
to replace Wynn also include veteran Trent Brown, who's been
starting at right tackle, and second-year lineman Michael Onwenu,
who has played both guard and tackle.
Several other key New England players remain questionable for
the game, including center David Andrews (shoulder), defensive
lineman Christian Barmore (knee), linebacker Jamie Collins
(ankle), kicker Nick Folk (knee in non-kicking leg), running
back Damien Harris (hamstring) and linebacker Dont'a Hightower
(knee).
The Bills are largely healthy, with wide receiver Emmanuel
Sanders (knee) able to practice fully all week.
--Field Level Media
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