Experts share their picks for the Patriots Week 16 matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Mike Reiss, ESPN:
Pick: Patriots 27, Bills 17
The Patriots are the NFL's only undefeated team at home (6-0) this season, and returning to Gillette after back-to-back road losses serves up a reminder of how the club has looked much different this season at home vs. the road. One player in the locker room said focus was sharp this week, with a reminder that just because there is a Patriots logo on the helmet, it doesn't guarantee anything.
Mike Rodak, ESPN
Pick: Patriots 24, Bills 14
Even if the Bills do not pull off a rare victory at Gillette Stadium, where they are 2-14, it would be a win for Buffalo if Josh Allen is competitive in his first game against the Patriots. Allen has the NFL's 10th-best Total QBR since his Week 12 return from an elbow injury, but Tom Brady -- despite his hiccups last Sunday -- has the second-best QBR (80.9) over that span.
Mike Golic, ESPN: Patriots
Mike Clay, ESPN: Patriots
Seth Wickersham, ESPN: Patriots
Mina Kimes, ESPN: Patriots
Dan Graziano, ESPN: Patriots
Trey Wingo, ESPN: Patriots
Molly Qerim, ESPN: Patriots
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports:
Pick: Patriots 28, Bills 13
The Bills have done a solid job of playing hard for the entire season. That's a good sign. The Patriots have lost two straight games, so they have issues. But this will be a game to fix them. The Patriots will get back on track with a big victory.
Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports: Bills
Will Brinson, CBS Sports: Patriots
Dave Richard, CBS Sports: Patriots
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: Patriots
Elliot Harrison, NFL.com:
Pick: Patriots 30, Bills 13
This AFC East clash is steeped in history, as these are two original AFL franchises. The Bills have upset the Patriots a time or three during the Belichick/Brady era, and certainly in the 59-year history of this rivalry. Not seeing it this week. Not sure if Tom Brady is hearing the proverbial whispers, but he certainly has watched the tape of last Sunday's underwhelming performance at Heinz. So has Buffalo's Sean McDermott, who will undoubtedly want DC Leslie Frazier to dial up a gaggle of blitz schemes to rattle the veteran quarterback. I don't anticipate the Bills playing the numbers game all the time in the secondary, solely relying on the front four to create pressure. The missing man in New England's offense who could play a huge role this week: James White, who has averaged 6.5 touches the last two games after getting 12.5 per game over the first 12 weeks. Brady will need to lean on his multi-talented back, especially with Josh Gordon suddenly out of the mix. Looking forward to seeing how the Patriots approach Josh Allen, who was quiet on the ground against the Lions last week. NE: Clinch AFC East with a win.
Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk:
Pick: Patriots 34, Bills 13
Go ahead, write them off. It will play right into their hands.
Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk:
Pick: Patriots 30, Bills 20
The Patriots will clinch the AFC East with a win over the Bills and snap their two-game losing streak.
Paul Perillo, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 24, Bills 13
Buffalo will play hard but lack of weapons allows Patriots to snap two-game losing streak.
Andy Hart, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 27, Bills 16
New England returns home and gets back on the winning track against a Bills team showing fight late in the year.
Erik Scalavino, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 24, Bills 13
After failing to capture the AFC East title the past two weeks on the road, New England finally gets the job done at home, ensuring that it will be home for the holidays, at least through Wild Card Weekend. Buffalo will put up a good fight, but by the fourth quarter, the Patriots pull away.
Don Banks, Patriots.com NFL Columnist:
Pick: Patriots
As bad as it has been the past two weeks for the Patriots — and we don't even recognize them at this point — they're still ridiculously close to earning the AFC's No. 2 seed. It'll take beating the Bills and Jets at home, something they're quite adept at, and getting Houston to lose at Philadelphia this week, as Vegas expects the Texans to do. That's it. Not so hard, really. The Bills will battle them for a good bit of the game, but the Men of Belichick will clean up their act and prevail, even without the enigmatic Josh Gordon.
