Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills took down quarterback Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14, and now turn their attention to perhaps the most important regular-season game of their season in Week 15. Up next is an AFC East rematch with the now-mighty New England Patriots. It’s a game that carries a lot of playoff implications, even if New England still holds a two-game lead over Buffalo.
The Patriots already have a win over Buffalo, whom they defeated 23-20 at Highmark Stadium back in Week 5. With a win, New England will re-claim the AFC East crown, stealing it back from its resting place in Orchard Park, NY the last five seasons. After starting the season 1-2, New England hasn’t lost in months (10 straight games), yet right now the odds find favor with quarterback Josh Allen and the 9-4 Bills more than the 11-2 Patriots.
Entering Week 15, FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Bills as 1.5-point (-1.5) road favorites over the Patriots, with an over/under set at O/U 49.5.
The moneyline continues to change since opening at -116 for the Bills and -102 for the Patriots. As of publishing, the current moneyline was at Bills -122 | Patriots +104.
There’s a lot of swagger in New England these days, as head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels have returned to the Patriot fold and have fans believing in a renewed dynasty behind the arm and legs of second-year quarterback Drake Maye. But there’s more to New England’s success than those three, where a stout defense and overall improved roster have allowed the Patriots to feast on a last-place schedule based on the team’s AFC East finish in 2024.
Despite that, a team going 11-2 after two seasons of 4-12 is nothing short of impressive, and they’ve already shown capable of defeating Josh Allen and the Bills. Yet the one thing that they don’t have is a roster loaded with playoff experience — which often serves as a benefit at this point in the regular season. Will that prove true in Week 15?
It certainly didn’t matter in Week 5, when New England handed Buffalo its first loss of the season — and in a game where the Bills debuted their NFL|Nike Rivals uniforms, too. In that game, Josh Allen finished 22-of-31 for 253 yards and two touchdowns, while adding nine rushes for 53 yards. Drake Maye went 22-of-30 for 273 yards, with three carries for 12 yards. Buffalo was unable to corral former Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who finished with 10 receptions on 12 targets for 146 yards. Running back James Cook III was also held in check by New England’s stingy run defense, finishing with just 49 yards on 15 carries. Ultimately, a pair of costly fumbles by wide receiver Keon Coleman and Josh Allen proved too much to overcome as Buffalo lost by a field goal.
The Bills and Patriots face off at Gillette Stadium...
