Experts share their picks for the Patriots Week 8 matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Mike Reiss, ESPN:
Pick: Patriots 30, Bills 20
The Patriots haven't played a game this season without committing a turnover, and that is the Bills' best hope at pulling the upset, similar to what they did in Minnesota earlier this season. In the end, the Patriots' offensive firepower should be enough against an underwhelming Bills attack in a game that could be closer than many anticipate.
Mike Rodak, ESPN
Pick: Patriots 34, Bills 17
The Bills' offense has scored more than 20 points in only one game this season, while the Patriots' offense has scored fewer than 20 points only once. It is going to take either an outlier performance from either of those units, or scoring from Buffalo's defense or special teams for the Bills to pull off an upset. Other than a high snap to Andrew Luck last Sunday that went for a safety, neither the Bills' defense nor special teams have scored this season.
Mike Golic, ESPN: Patriots
Seth Wickersham, ESPN: Patriots
Mina Kimes, ESPN: Patriots
Trey Wingo, ESPN: Patriots
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports:
Pick: Patriots 31, Bills 10
The Patriots are playing consecutive road games, but that won't matter here. Buffalo is so inept on offense and the defense let them down last week. Tom Brady and the offense will have a big passing in this one. Patriots big.
Jason La Canfora, CBS Sports: Patriots
Will Brinson, CBS Sports: Patriots
Dave Richard, CBS Sports: Patriots
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: Patriots
Elliot Harrison, NFL.com:
Pick: Patriots 31, Bills 13
Bills win by 30! ... OK, I was wondering if any of you actually read these blurbs or simply glance at the score. If Buffalo is to have a chance Monday night, and not lose by 30, three things must happen:Â
1) The front seven shows up like it did vs. the Vikings, Titans and Texans, producing knockdowns, if not sacks.
2) From that pressure, turnovers must come. Move Tom Brady off his all-too-comfortable perch early. He's enjoyed the creature comforts of home in Buffalo over the lengthy course of his career.
3) If LeSean McCoy can't go (concussion), pound Chris Ivory in the first quarter, with another heavy dose late. Exactly nobody loves tackling that guy. I don't even like writing about tackling that guy.Â
So ... James White scores thrice and the Pats win by 18.
Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk:
Pick: Patriots 42, Bills 13
The only unanswered question for this one is whether the Booger mobile will get in the way of the flying dildos.
Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk:
Pick: Patriots 30, Bills 13
The Bills' offense is a bad joke, no matter who's at quarterback. This game will be a blowout by halftime, and the Patriots will take their foot off the gas in the second half.
Paul Perillo, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 34, Bills 13
Patriots defense gets a breather against inept Bills attack.
Andy Hart, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 38, Bills 16
New England is the far better team, as Buffalo's offense is simply not capable of scoring points. Unless the Patriots give it away through turnovers and ugly big plays, the Bills shouldn't really have a chance.
Erik Scalavino, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 35, Bills 13
Had New England not played such a sloppy game in Chicago last week, I might've been inclined to suggest that this trip to Western New York would be a potential pitfall. I just don't see the Patriots playing two such mistake-filled games in a row, and that's Buffalo's only hope of defeating their division foes this week. New England plays a crisp, business-like game and rolls to a 6-2 record.
Don Banks, Patriots.com NFL Columnist:
Pick: Patriots
The Patriots are a mind-boggling, parity-defying 30-4 against the Bills from 2001 on, including a 16-1 mark in Buffalo. The Bills have certainly played New England tough at times, but it's near impossible to create a scenario where Buffalo pushes the Patriots this week while starting journeyman Derek Anderson at quarterback. The Bills have the league's lowest-scoring offense (11.6 points per game), are being single-handedly out-scored by Rams running back Todd Gurley (88 to 81), and have already lost this season by scores of 47-3 at Baltimore, 22-0 at Green Bay and 37-5 at Indianapolis last week. New England meanwhile is rolling offensively and on Monday night can become the first team in league history to score at least 38 points in five consecutive games.
