Bills Could Spring December Upset on Patriots

Patriots Quarterback Matt Cassel leads New England Patriots into Buffalo seeking AFC Playoff Berth NFL 2008 Week 17

The New England Patriots have defeated the Bills 10 times in a row.

However, they come into Buffalo somewhat wary, after seeing what the Bills accomplished last week in Denver. The Bills overcame an early 13-point deficit and scored on five consecutive possessions to defeat the Broncos in Denver, 30-23.

"We might not be a playoff team," said Buffalo wide receiver FRED JACKSON, "but we played like one."

And if it's snowing in Buffalo? No problem, apparently, for the Patriots.

The Patriots routed the Arizona Cardinals 47-7 at home last week in the middle of a snow storm while amassing 514 total yards on offense.

New England Patriots (10-5) at Buffalo Bills (7-8)

The New England Patriots enters this Sunday's game having won three straight as it closes out the NFL 2008 season with a playoff push. With a win over the Buffalo Bills, the Patriots would claim a playoff berth if either the Miami Dolphins or Baltimore Ravens lose.

The New England Patriots have to win plus rely on other scenarios to clinch the AFC East or an AFC playoff berth.

If the Patriots defeat Buffalo and the New York Jets defeat the Dolphins, , New England would win the AFC East championship for the sixth straight season and wind up the third seed in the AFC playoffs. If the Patriots don't win the AFC East title, they could still qualify for the playoffs as a wild card team if they beat Buffalo and the Jacksonville Jaguars defeat the Ravens.

Series: Patriots have won the last 10

This Sunday's game between the Bills and Patriots marks the 97th time the teams have met, dating back to September, 1960.

The Patriots lead the overall series against the Bills with 55-40-1 record. At home, the Bills are 21-23-1 against the Patriots. Last season in Buffalo, the Patriots won 56-10.

The Patriots have won the last 10 games in the series, including four in a row at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium. The last time the Bills defeated the Patriots at home was a 31-0 win to open the 2003 season.

Earlier this year (11/9/2008), the Patriots defeated the Bills 20-10 at Gillette Stadium, getting 105 rushing yards and a touchdown from rookie RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis and a solid performance from Matt Cassel en route to their eighth straight home victory over the Bills.

Matt Cassel completed 23-of-34 passes (67.6 percent) for 234 yards, with 10 receptions going to Wes Welker, who totaled a season-high 107 receiving yards.

The Patriots got out to a 10-0 lead thanks to a 13-yard touchdown run by QB Matt Cassel early in the first quarter and a 32-yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal early in the second.

The Bills were able to put together an 11-play, 56 yard drive in the middle of the second quarter, helped along by two third-down passes by QB Trent Edwards. The drive ended with a 25-yard Rian Lindell field goal. The Patriots led at halftime 10-3.

In the second half, Bills quarterback Trent Edwards threw his second interception late in the third quarter and the Bills offense struggled to string a drive together. In the 4th quarter Matt Cassel led the Patriots on a 19-play, 92-yard drive, eating up 9:08 of clock time. The drive ended in a 1-yard touchdown by BenJarvus Green-Ellis and made the score 20-3 in the Patriots favor.

A late spark was provided by rookie KR Leodis McKelvin, who broke an 85-yard return to set the Bills up on the Patriots 14-yard line. One play later, rookie WR James Hardy was in the end zone, the recipient of a 14-yard pass from Edwards. It was the second touchdown catch of Hardy's career, but it was too little, too late for the Bills.

After Buffalo could not recover the ensuing the onside kick, New England ran out the clock on their 20-10 victory.

The Patriots improved to 6-3 with a 20-10 victory over Buffalo. New England outgained Buffalo 370-168 and controlled the ball for 37:40.

On defense, Ellis Hobbs and Deltha O'Neal each had interceptions, while Richard Seymour and Ty Warren each had sacks as the Patriots allowed just 168 total net yards.

NFL 2008 Week 16: New England Patriots 47, Arizona Cardinals 7

The Patriots improved to 10-5 on the season with a 47-7 win over Arizona at home. The Patriots led the Cardinals 14-0 after one quarter, 31-0 at halftime and 44-0 heading to start the 4th quarter.

Matt Cassel completed 20-of-36 passes for 345 yards and three TD passes for a 116.1 passer rating, LaMont Jordan ran for two touchdowns, while Ellis Hobbs (interception) and Brandon Meriweather (strip-sack) each registered takeaways for the Patriots defense.

The game was played in snowy conditions and game-time temperature was 30 degrees.

The Patriots defense began the game with a three-and-out and Welker's 28-yard punt return set the New England Patriots offense up at the Arizona 33-yard line, where it quickly marched into the end zone on a 3-yard score by Jordan to take a 7-0 lead. Following that, the Patriots offense again marched down the field for a TD, driving 55 yards in seven plays to take a 14-0 lead on Jordan's second TD of the quarter.

The Patriots opened the second-quarter scoring with a 4-play, 50-yard drive that ended in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Cassel to Faulk that gave the Patriots a 21-0 lead. New England scored again on its next possession to take a 28-0 lead on an 11-yard strike from Cassel to Welker. The Patriots added a Stephen Gostkowski field goal for a 31-0 lead at halftime.

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, Matt Cassel connected with Randy Moss on a screen pass that Moss ran all the way to the end zone for a 76-yard score and a 38-0 New England lead.

Three more field goals extended the Patriots lead to 47-0 just seconds into the fourth quarter.

The Arizona Cardinals finallt scored on a 78-yard Larry Fitzgerald touchdown catch with 6:17 left in the game.

NFL 2008 Week 16: Buffalo Bills 30, Denver Broncos 23

Last week, Buffalo Bills rallied back after trailing 13-0 to score 16 unanswered points and defeat the Broncos in Denver, 30-23. QB Trent Edwards returned to action and completed 17-of-25 passes for 193 yards with one touchdown. WR Josh Reed had a career-high with nine catches for 79 yards.

Led by RB Fred Jackson, who scored the game-winning touchdown on an eight-yard run with two minutes remaining in the game, the Buffalo offense overcame a first quarter that saw them fall behind 13-0. In addition to his game-winning touchdown, Jackson set up Buffalo's second touchdown of the day with a 65-yard reception from QB Trent Edwards that put the Bills at the three-yard line. Three plays later, rookie WR Steve Johnson caught his second touchdown pass of the year from Edwards, which put the Bills ahead 23-20.

RB Marshawn Lynch, scored Buffalo's first touchdown just before halftime on a two-yard run. Lynch had 34 yards on 11 carries before leaving the game with a shoulder injury.

Despite giving up 532 yards to the Broncos potent offense, the Bills defense came up with big plays when it had to. S Donte Whitner forced a third-quarter fumble that was recovered by CB Reggie Corner. The turnover led to K Rian Lindell's third fi eld goal of the game and put the Bills up 16-13.

After Jackson's touchdown, with Denver driving deep in Buffalo territory, LB Kawika Mitchell stepped in front of a pass intended for Denver WR Brandon Marshall and came down with the ball at the Buffalo one-yard line. After the Bills went three-and-out, the Buffalo defense held again, with Corner breaking up Denver QB Jay Cutler's fourth-down pass in the end zone. Corner was credited with a career-high four pass break-ups on the day.

New England Patriots (10-5)

  • - The Patriots are looking for their 12th consecutive December victory. The Patriots are 23-and-2 in December games dating back to the 2003 season.
  • - Dating back to mid-December, 2006, the Patriots have won 5 consecutive games against AFC East oppinents on the road.
  • - The Patriots are looking for their 11th consecutive win against the Bills
  • - In past his 3 games, QB MATT CASSEL has completed 64 of 110 passes (58.2 pct.) for 831 yards with 8 touchdowns vs. 1 INT & 102.5 passer rating. Cassel has 105.6 passer rating vs. division rivals on the road
  • - RB SAMMY MORRIS is averaging 102.5 rush yards per game in past 2 (205 total). RB LA MONT JORDAN has 3 rush touchdowns in past 2 games
  • - In 6 career games vs. Bills, RANDY MOSS has averaged 93.3 receiving yards per game & has 4 games with 100 or more yards (110, 111, 115, 128) against the Buffalo Bills. Since 2007, Randy Moss leads the NFL with 34 TD receptions & has 3 touchdowns in past 2 games
  • - WR WES WELKER (1,139) needs 37 receiving yards to surpass career-high of 1,175 in 2007. Since 2007, Welker leads NFL with 221 receptions
  • - DE RICHARD SEYMOUR (7.5) needs 1 sack to surpass career-high (8 in 2003)
  • - Rookie LB JEROD MAYO leads the Patriots with 130 tackles this season.
  • - CB-KR ELLIS HOBBS ranks 3rd in NFL & 2nd in AFC with 28.5 kick return avg. Hobbs (3 kick return touchdowns) is tied with RAYMOND CLAYBORN for most kick return touchdowns in Pats history

Buffalo Bills (7-8)

  • - Bills' QB TRENT EDWARDS leads the AFC with 117.0 passer rating in 4th quarters & has Bills record 4 4th-quarter comebacks in 2008. Team is 10-1 (.909) when Edwards has 80+ passer rating
  • - RB MARSHAWN LYNCH is averaging 87.3 rush yards per game in past 6 (524 total). Lynch (1,036) needs 80 rush yards to surpass his previous career-high. RB FRED JACKSON totaled 113 yards last week (43 rush, 70 receiving)
  • - WR LEE EVANS (954) needs 46 rec. yards to reach 1,000 for 2nd time in career (1,292 in 2006). Evans has rec. in 77 of 79 career games. Rookie WR STEVE JOHNSON (7th rd., Kentucky) aims for 3rd consecutive game with TD reception
  • - T JASON PETERS was named to 2nd consecutive Pro Bowl
  • - Rookie CB-KR LEODIS MC KELVIN (1st rd., No.11) ranks 1st in AFC & 2nd in NFL with 28.7 kick return avg. McKelvin has franchise record 1,464 kick return yards in 2008.

PREDICTION: Buffalo Bills 20, New England Patriots 14

Heading into the game nothing is in the Buffalo Bills favor as the Patriots have won the 10 past meetings, Bill Belichick is 15-3 against the Bills and since 2003, the Patriots have compiled a 23-2 (.920) record in the month of December.

The New England Patriots have won 11 straight December games dating back to 2006, is 3-0 in December 2008 and went undefeated in December in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007.

So do the Bills win since this an even-numbered year? No.

The Bills spring the upset because they have been playing better the past few weeks and Trent Edward's is healthy. The end of the NFL 2008 season has seen its share of upsets and this may be the suprise of the NFL's final regular season Sunday.

However, the Bills defense must contain the Patriots offense from the onset. If the Patriots start marching up and down the field early, like they did last week against the Cardinals and last year in Buffalo against the Bills, then the Patriots will coast to easy victory.

Bills Could Spring December Upset on Patriots - NFL 2008 Week 17