This Week
The New England Patriots visit their AFC East rival Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park NY on Sunday at 1 p.m.
| The Patriots |
|
The Bills |
| Overall Record |
3-2 |
|
Overall Record |
3-2 |
| Road Record |
1-2 |
|
Home Record |
1-1 |
| AFC East |
0-1 |
|
AFC East |
1-0 |
| AFC Conf |
2-2 |
|
AFC Conf |
1-2 |
Walt Coleman will be the referee for the game.
The Line/Prediction
As of Thursday the line on the game from sportsbetting.ag via Yahoo Sports has the Patriots at MINUS 3. The over under is 45.
My Prediction is Patriots 31, Bills, 24.
Give the points (Patriots) and take the over. I am 2-3 against the spread and 2 of 5 on calling the over/under in 2014.
Tickets
The Bills are reporting the game as a sell out.
Tickets to the game, if available, can be purchased through Ticketmaster. You can check the availability here.
Getting to the Game
If you’re lucky enough to be shuffling off to Buffalo for the game make sure you check out the links.
Here is the up to date weather forecast from the Weather Channel for Orchard Park NY.
Click for all the game day information including stadium directions, parking and stadium information, parking map and a Ralph Wilson Stadium seating chart.
Tailgating
Here’s a bunch of different tailgating recipes from Tailgating.com. There’s something there for everyone and every type of meal or snack. I’ve tried some of the recipes and they’re very good.
And with tailgating many people enjoy some adult beverages. With that in mind check out DrinkNation for how to make all sorts of great drinks. You can look things up by name, ingredient(s) or theme.
Whether it’s at the game, a bar or a friend’s house moderation is always the key to a great time. Please don’t drink and drive and designate a sober driver. Remember You Drink, You Drive, You Lose.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television
FOX in televising the game regionally and Kenny Albert will do play by play while former Cowboy Darryl Johnston will provide the game analysis and former Raven Tony Siragusa works the sidelines. You can look here for your local affiliate.
Note: This weeks game is carried by FOX as part of the new NFL TV contract that allows the league to balance out the weekly games between the networks.
See if you’re getting the game courtesy of J.P. Kirby at the506.com.
The DirecTV designation is Channel 705.
Here are all the rules on NFL TV broadcasts including explaining the blackout rules; flex scheduling and commercial breaks.
Radio
The Patriots Radio Network broadcasts the game from flagship station WBZ-FM, 98.5 the Sports Hub in Boston. Bob Socci handles the play-by-play and former Patriots QB Scott Zolak will do game analysis. It all starts with Gary Tanguay and Andy Gresh with the pregame show at 10 a.m. on the network. The post game starts after the final gun and continues for three hours along the network.
The Patriots radio network call is available on Sirius Channel 85, XM Channel 85 and SiriusXM Internet Channel 818.
The Bills Radio Network has John Murphy calling the game while former Bills DB Mark Kelso provide the game analysis and Sal Capaccio works the sidelines via their flagship station, WGR-AM.
Their call is available on Sirius Channel 135, XM Channel 225 and SiriusXM Internet Channel 803.
Patriots All Access
Patriots All-Access features behind the scenes looks, interviews and breakdowns with head coach Bill Belichick and in depth features on the team. It’s hosted by Steve Burton of WBZ-TV (Boston) and airs weekly in most New England television markets.
- Boston MA on TV 38 Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
- Providence RI on WNAC Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.
- Manchester NH on WMUR Saturday at midnight
- Portland ME on WMTW Sunday at 5 a.m.
- Hartford CT on WCTX Saturday at 5 p.m.
- Springfield MA on WFXQ Saturday at 7 p.m.
- Bangor ME on WVII Sunday at 11 a.m.
You can also watch it anytime on the teams website in the media section.
Last Week
The Patriots crushed the previously undefeated Bengals 43-17 at Gillette Stadium.
The Bills won on the road in Detroit beating the Lions, 17-14.
History
- This is the 109th meeting between the Patriots and the Bills since they started to face each other as AFL foes in 1960.
- The Patriots lead the series 66-41-1
- The 66 wins are the most the Patriots have over any opponent.
- Patriots have won 20 of the last 21 meetings with Buffalo’s only win coming in Week 3 of the 2011 season.
- The Patriots swept the Bills in 2013 winning in Buffalo 23-21 and at Gillette 34-20.
Patriots Team Notes
Here is the Patriots roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.
2014 Patriots Schedule/Results
The Patriots overall franchise record is 441-375-9. They have won three Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX) in seven appearances. Overall they are 25-18 in the post season.
They last appeared in the playoffs in 2013 when they beat Indianapolis in the AFC Divisional Round 43-22 and lost at Denver 26-16 in the AFC Championship Game.
It was the 3rd consecutive AFC Championship game appearance for the franchise and 10th overall. They are 7-3 in those AFC title games.
The Patriots were 12-4 (1-1 in playoffs) in 2013 and are the defending five-time AFC East Champions. They have won the division 11 times and the conference 5 times since 2000.
New England is the only NFL team to finish .500 or better in each of the last 13 seasons (2001-2013).
They have 11 consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins.
They are the first team in the free agency era (1993) to win more than half their games in a 13-season span.
Since 2001 the Patriots are 63-18 vs. the AFC East.
Since 2003 the Patriots have the NFL’s best record at 141-40.
Since October 2003 the Patriots are a NFL best 38-9 in October games including a road record of 15-8.
They have won 29 of their last 33 October games.
The Patriots are 30-22-1 all time in Buffalo, 23-16 at Ralph Wilson/Rich Stadium. The other games were played at old War Memorial Stadium.
New England’s largest margin of victory in the series is 46 points set in 2007.
The Patriots have scored 30 or more points against the Bills in 7 of the last 8 games.
An AFC East rival has not swept the Patriots in a season series since 2000 when Miami and New York swept them.
Last Week New England recovered 3 fumbles against Cincinnati. The last time they had three or more fumble recoveries in a game was at New York Jets on Thanksgiving night 2012, aka Butt Fumble Day.
The Patriots had first downs on the first drive of either half for the first time in 2014.
New England is 39-1 with a 100-yard rusher under Bill Belichick.
New England has 45 penalties this season in five weeks and has been penalized 466 yards.
Patriots have had multiple turnovers on both losses this season while having no turnovers in their 3 wins.
New England is PLUS 6 in turnover differential. They have 6 INT and have recovered 5 fumbles while they have thrown 2 INT’s and lost 3 fumbles.
The Patriots are 12th in points scored averaging 24.6 points per game and are 11th in points allowed with 21.4 points per game.
This is the 21st season of Patriots ownership by the Kraft family. Since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994 they:
- Have the most Super Bowl wins, 3.
- Have the most regular season wins, 220.
- Have the most wins including playoffs, 241.
- Have the most conference titles, 6.
- Have the most division titles, 13.
- Have the most playoff wins, 21
- Have played the most playoff games, 33.
- Are tied for the most playoff seasons, 15.
- The fewest head coaches within the division, 3.
- Have drafted the most Pro Bowl players, 20.
From 1960 to 1993 the New England/Boston Patriots won a total of 225 games.
Patriots Staff Notes
This is the link to head coach Bill Belichick’s Wednesday press conference on the Bills.
Bill Belichick coached teams are 25-4 vs. Buffalo. Belichick was 0-1 against the Bills as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
Overall in his NFL career Belichick is 202-106 in his 20th NFL season as a head coach. He is 166-62 with New England and 36-44 with Cleveland. He is 19-9 in the playoffs, 18-8 as head coach of the Patriots in the post season. When you combine his regular season and post season records he is 221-115.
Belichick’s 221 wins are good for 5th all-time. Hall of Fame member Curly Lambeau is 4th with 229 wins.
He has won 5 conference titles; he needs one more to tied Don Shula’s record of 6.
He is the first head coach to have had 4 teams that scored at least 500 points in a season.
Belichick is one of five head coaches in NFL history whose father (Steve Belichick) played in the league. The others are former Kansas City head coach Todd Haley (Dick Haley), former San Francisco head coach Mike Nolan (Dick Nolan), former Cincinnati head coach David Shula (Don Shula) and former NY Jets head coach Joe Walton (Frank Walton).
Belichick is one of just four coaches to win three Super Bowls, joining Chuck Noll (4), Joe Gibbs (3) and Bill Walsh (3). Those men are all in the Hall of Fame.
He is the only coach in NFL history to win three championship titles in four seasons.
No coach either as the head coach or an assistant has appeared in more Super Bowls than Belichick who has been to 8 (five as a head coach).
He is the only coach in NFL history to have led his team to 10+ wins in 11 consecutive seasons.
He has been NFL Coach of the Year three times he and Chuck Knox are the only three time winners, while Don Shula won four times.
Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia attended Vernon-Verona-
Sherrill HS in Sherrill, N.Y., before going on to serve as a graduate assistant at Syracuse from 2001-03.
Tight ends coach Brian Daboll is a Buffalo native and attended St. Francis (Buffalo) High School before graduating from the University of Rochester in 1997.
Running backs coach Ivan Fears coached the wide receivers at Syracuse from 1980-90.
Patriots Possible Starters
Offense:
- LT: Solder
- LG: Connolly
- C: Stork
- RG: Wendell
- RT: Vollmer
- TE: Gronkowski
- WR: Amendola
- WR: Edelman
- QB: Brady
- RB: Vereen
- RB: Develin
Defense:
- DE: Ninkovich
- DT: Wilfork
- DT: Cha. Jones
- DE: Easley
- LB: Collins
- LB: Mayo
- LB: Skinner
- LCB: Revis
- RCB: Dennard
- S: Chung
- S: McCourty
Patriots Players Notes
Tom Brady Notes:
- This is his 15th NFL season he is 22-2 vs. the Bills in his career. He is 66-32 on the road in the regular season.
- Overall he is 151-45 as a starting QB and is 18-8 in the playoffs for an overall record of 169-53. He is a 9 time Pro Bowl QB; 3 time All-Pro selection; two time NFL MVP and has won 3 Super Bowls while twice being named the games MVP. He is also listed as the 21st Greatest Player in the History of the NFL according to the NFL Network.
- Had first multiple TD pass (2) game of season Week 5 vs. Cincinnati.
- 365 TD passes in his career makes him 5th in NFL history.
- 151 career wins are 3rd all-time behind only Brett Favre and Peyton Manning.
- He has thrown for 2 or more TD’s in 116 games; the team’s record is 99-17.
- With 292 passing yards Week 5 vs. Cincinnati he surpassed 50,000 in his career. He is 6th all-time in passing yards.
- In 5 games he has fumbled 5 times losing 3 of them to the opponent.
Rob Gronkowski notes:
- Has caught a pass in 55 consecutive games it’s the 4th longest streak all-time for a tight end. Heath Miller is 3rd with a catch in 86 consecutive games.
- Leads team in TD’s with 4.
- Had 6 catches for 100-yards and 1 TD vs. Cincinnati Week 5.
- It was his 13th 100+ receiving yard games in his career.
- Is 7th in team history with 46 touchdowns.
- He is 4th in team history with 45 TD catches.
Julian Edelman notes:
- Has 4 career games with 10 or more catches after a 10-catch game Week 3 vs. Oakland.
- Leads team in receiving with 31 catches for 318 yards.
- Had a 34-yard punt return at Minnesota Week 2 it was the 11th punt return of 30 yards or more in his career. That ranks third in team history.
- Opened the season with a 95 receiving yards at Miami and added 81 yards receiving at Minnesota Week 2.
- Had 156 total yards Week 2 at Minnesota (81 receiving, 9 rushing and 66 on punt returns).
Tim Wright notes:
- Had his first significant game as a Patriot Week 5 vs. Cincinnati.
- Had 5 catches for 85 yards and a TD vs. Cincinnati Week 5.
- TD catch vs. Bengals was for 17-yards. It was his first as a Patriot.
Stevan Ridley notes:
- Had his 2nd 100- yard rushing game of the season Week 5 vs. Cincinnati when he ran for 113 yards on 27 carries and had 1 TD. Also had a 100-yard game Week 2 at Minnesota when he ran for 101 yards on 25 carries and had 1 TD.
- Leads team in rushing with 317 yards on 84 carries.
- Has 7 career 100+ rushing yard games in his career.
Shane Vereen notes:
- Had 90 rushing yards on 9 carries and 3 catches for 18 receiving yards for 108 all-purpose yards Week 5 vs. Cincinnati.
Stephen Gostkowski notes:
- Had a 19-point game vs. Cincinnati Week 5 with 5 field goals and 4 XPT’s. The five field goals were a new career high.
- Has converted 30 consecutive 4th quarter field goals.
- Has not missed an extra point since Week 17 2006 at Tennessee in his rookie season. He has made 369 consecutive extra points. He is 411 for 412 in his career.
- The 373 XPA converted in a row is fourth longest streak in NFL history.
- Lead NFL in scoring in both 2012 and 2013.
- Has scored at least 1 point in 112 consecutive games a franchise record.
- He is 3rd in team history in points with 1,074 trailing only Gino Cappelletti (1,130) and Adam Vinatieri (1,158).
- Has team record of 12 career field goals of 50+ yards.
Vince Wilfork notes:
- Played only 4 games in 2013 after suffering a torn Achilles.
- Prior to 2013 had played in all 16 games in 5 of the previous 6 seasons.
- Had his 3rd career INT vs. Oakland Week 3. He is the first Patriots lineman to have 3 career INT’s.
- Has an INT against the Raiders in each of the last two games against them.
- Has 7 fumbles recoveries since 2010 the second most in the NFL in that span behind teammate Rob Ninkovich.
Darrelle Revis notes:
- Has 22 career INT’s and is one of the top shutdown corners in the NFL.
- Since 2007 has the most passes defensed in the NFL with 110 including a record 31 in 2009.
- Had his first forced fumble of the year Week 5 vs. Cincinnati.
- In Patriots debut Week 1 at Miami had 1 tackles, 2 passes defensed and recovered a fumble.
- Had his first Patriots INT Week 2 at Minnesota against Matt Cassel. Also had 3 tackles and 1 pass defensed.
Jerod Mayo notes:
- Leads team with 47 tackles (35 solo).
- Had streak of five consecutive 100+ tackle seasons snapped last year due to injury. He has led the team in tackles in those five seasons (2008-2012).
- Shares franchise record for leading team in tackles for 5 seasons with Steve Nelson and Vincent Brown.
- Week 1 at Miami he had 12 tackles and the teams only sack.
Rob Ninkovich notes:
- In 6 seasons with New England has only missed one game.
- Week 2 at Minnesota had 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss and 2 QB hits.
Dont’a Hightower notes:
- Didn’t play Week 5 vs. Cincinnati due to a knee injury.
- Tied for second on team in tackles with 22 (19 solo).
- Second on team with 2 sacks.
- Along with Chandler Jones he led team with 8 tackles and 2 sacks Week 2 at Minnesota. He also had 2 tackles for loss, 2 QB hits and 1 pass defensed.
- Had his first career 2-sack game Week 2 at Minnesota.
Chandler Jones notes:
- Was limited Week 5 vs. Cincinnati due to shoulder injury but did have 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 QB hit and 1 tackle for loss.
- First on team with 2.5 sacks.
- Scored his 2nd NFL TD Week 2 at Minnesota when he blocked a field goal attempt and returned it 58-yards. His first NFL TD was Week 16, 2013 at Baltimore on a fumble recovery. It was his second blocked field goal attempt (2013 Week 8 vs. Miami).
- Had the 5th blocked field goal returned for a TD in Patriots history Week 2 at Minnesota, first since 2010 when Patrick Chung returned one at Miami.
- Now has 5 career 2-sack games with a pair at Minnesota in Week 2.
- Along with Dont’a Hightower he led team with 8 tackles and 2 sacks Week 2 at Minnesota. He also had 3 tackles for loss, 3 QB hits, the blocked field goal attempt and return for TD.
Jamie Collins notes:
- Tied for second on team with 22 tackles (18 solo).
- Has also forced and recovered a fumble in 2014.
There are only two players on the team who played on at least one of the Super Bowl championship teams, Brady (3) and Wilfork (1).
Roster moves this week:
Patriots team captains for 2014:
Former Bills on the Patriots:
Players with New England roots:
Players with New York roots:
- TE Rob Gronkowski – Williamsville NY
- DE Chandler Jones – Rochester NY
Players from New England based colleges and universities:
Players from New York based colleges and universities:
- DE Chandler Jones – Syracuse
The Patriots have 6 retired numbers:
- 20 – Gino Cappelletti
- 40 – Mike Haynes
- 73 – John Hannah
- 78 – Bruce Armstrong
- 79 – Jim Lee Hunt
- 89 – Bob Dee
Bills Team Notes
Here is the Bills roster, depth chart and injury report for the game.
2014 Bills Schedule/Results
Buffalo’s all-time record is 379-438-8 they are 14-15 in the post season with their last post season appearance coming in 1999 when they lost to Tennessee in the AFC Wild Card game, best known as the “Music City Miracle”.
They last played for a conference championship in 1993 when they beat Kansas City in the AFC Title game, 30-13. They then went on to lose to Dallas in Super Bowl XXVIII. They have never won a Super Bowl title in four appearances.
The Bills franchise started in 1960 in the AFL and they won two AFL Championships in 1964 and 1965.
This is the first game in Buffalo franchise history in which the Wilson Family does not own the team. The NFL approved the sale of the Bills to Terry Pagula, who also owns the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, this week.
Since 2001 the Bills are 27-54 vs. the AFC East. They are the only team who hasn’t won the division in that time span.
The Bills have lost the season series to the Patriots 11 times in the last 14 seasons.
The Bills are 22-31-1 as the home team in the series.
The largest margin of victory for the Bills in the series is 35 points set in 1970.
A win on Sunday will give Buffalo sole possession of first place in the AFC East for the first time since Week 7 of the 2008 season.
A Bills win on Sunday will make them 2-0 vs. the AFC East for the first time since 2005.
Buffalo has 11 pass plays this season for 25 yards or more that is 4th in the NFL.
Bills have the second best rush defense (71 ypg) in the NFL behind Seattle.
Buffalo is first in the NFL in sacks with 17 after setting a franchise record with 57 in 2013.
They have their last 7 first round draft picks still on the roster.
Buffalo has 6 players with the surname of Williams, 2 with the surname of Brown as well as a Wood and a Woods.
Buffalo has 45 penalties this season in five weeks and has been penalized 372 yards.
Bills are tied for first in turnover differential (PLUS 6) with the Patriots, Packers and Chargers.
Buffalo is PLUS 6 in turnover differential. They have 6 INT and have recovered 4 fumbles while they have thrown 4 INT’s and lost 0 fumbles.
The Bills are 28th in points scored averaging 19.2 points per game and are 5th in points allowed with 17.8 points per game.
Bills Staff Notes
Read what Buffalo Bills head coach Doug Marrone had to say to the New England media about the match up.
Buffalo head coach Doug Marrone is his 2nd season as a NFL head coach he is 9-12.
He is 0-2 vs. New England.
He is the 16th head coach in Buffalo Bills history.
Was head coach for Syracuse University for four seasons (2009-12) and compiled a 25-25 record for the Orange. He was also previously the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints (2006-08) and offensive line coach for the New York Jets (2002-05) and was the offensive line coach at Coast Guard in 1993 and at Northeastern in 1994.
Jim Schwartz is the defensive coordinator after serving the last five seasons as the head coach of the Detroit Lions (2009-13). He was also defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans from 2001-08.
Nathaniel Hackett returns for his second season as the Bills offensive coordinator. He was Marrone’s offensive coordinator for two seasons at Syracuse and 1 year he was the quarterbacks coach for the Orange.
Linebackers coach Pepper Johnson served in several defensive coaching roles for the Patriots from 2000-13. Notably, he was the defensive line coach from 2004-11 and the linebackers coach from 2012-13.
Bills Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Eric Ciano and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Hal Luther both played football at Springfield College.
Strength and Conditioning Assistant Dan Liburd also spent time at Springfield as a graduate associate and graduated from Boston University in 2006.
Bills Possible Starters
Offense:
- LT: Glenn
- LG: Urbik
- C: Wood
- RG: Pears
- RT: Henderson
- TE: Chandler
- WR: Watkins
- WR: Woods
- QB: Orton
- RB: Spiller
- RB: Summers
Defense:
- DE: M. Williams
- DT: Charles
- DT: Dareus
- DE: Hughes
- LB: Rivers
- LB: Spikes
- LB: P. Brown
- LCB: McKelvin
- RCB: Gilmore
- S: Searcy
- S: A. Williams
Bills Players Notes
Kyle Orton notes:
- Drafted in the 4th round of the 2005 NFL Draft by Chicago out Purdue.
- He is in his 10th NFL season and has a 36-35 career record with Chicago (21-12), Denver (12-21), Kansas City (2-1), Dallas (0-1) and Buffalo (1-0). He has never appeared in the playoffs.
- He is 1-0 vs. New England in his career. In 2009 he beat the Patriots in Denver 20-17.
- Made first start of 2014 last week at Detroit in a 17-14 win. He was 30 of 43 for 308 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT.
- Has passed for 300 yards in his last two starts.
- He is the 5th quarterback since 1960 to have passed for 300+ yards in a game for five different teams.
E.J. Manuel notes:
- He was the Bills first round choice out of Florida State in the 2013 NFL Draft.
- He is in his second season in the NFL and has a record of 6-8 and was replaced by Kyle Orton as the starting QB last week at Detroit.
Fred Jackson notes:
- Second on team in rushing with 201 yards on 42 carries.
- Has 26 catches for 228 yards and 1 TD.
- His 26 catches are tops on the team.
- Needs 2 rushing TD’s for 30 in his career.
- Third in Bills history in 100-yard rushing games (15) and rushing yards (5,323) behind O.J. Simpson (41/10,183) and Thurman Thomas (46/11,938).
C.J. Spiller notes:
- Leads team in rushing with 215 yards on 61 carries.
- Has 13 catches for 106 yards and 1 TD
- Also has a 102-yard KOR for a TD. It was the 3rd longest in Bills history.
- Has highest yards per carry in Bills history (4.97).
Sammy Watkins notes:
- Bills first round pick in 2014 NFL Draft out of Georgia.
- Has 24 catches for team leading 284 yards and 2 TD’s.
- Leads team in receiving yards and TD’s.
Brandon Spikes notes:
- First season as a Bill after 4 seasons as a Patriot.
- Drafted by New England out of Florida in 2nd Round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
- Has started 2 of 5 games.
- Has 19 tackles (10 solo), 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 pass defensed.
Mario Williams notes:
- Has 3.5 sacks in 5 games.
- Has 13 tackles (11 solo).
- 3rd in tackles in the NFL since 2006 (425).
- 4th most sacks in NFL (80) since 2006.
Kyle Williams notes:
- Has registered 1 sack and 1 INT this year
- The defensive end also has 2 passes defensed.
Marcell Dareus notes:
- Has 5 sacks to lead the team, 3rd most in NFL.
- Has 1 forced fumble and 20 tackles (16 solo).
Buffalo’s team captains for 2014 are:
Former Patriots on the Bills:
Players with New England roots:
Players from New England based colleges and universities:
- WR Marcus Easley (Out/knee) – UConn
- CB Corey Graham – New Hampshire
- LB Ikponmwosa Igbinosun (practice squad) – Southern Connecticut State
The Bills have one retired number:
12 – Jim Kelley
Next Week
Up next: New York Jets – AFC East
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro MA
Date/Time: Thursday October 16 at 8:25 p.m.
TV Network: CBS
