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BUFFALO
NEW ENGLAND |
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43.5
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Final
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| 311 | BUFFALO | 44 | 43.5 | | 312 | NEW ENGLAND | -11 | -5.5 |
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| All Games | 8-7 | +0.7 | 8-7 | 3-12 | 21.7 | 9.1 | 321.9 | (5.2) | 1.5 | 18.7 | 8.9 | 315.2 | (5.2) | 2.0 | | Road Games | 4-4 | +0.3 | 5-3 | 2-6 | 23.5 | 10.9 | 326.0 | (5.3) | 1.1 | 19.4 | 9.7 | 313.0 | (5.2) | 2.5 | | Last 3 Games | 1-2 | -2.4 | 2-1 | 1-2 | 20.7 | 7.7 | 329.7 | (5.1) | 2.0 | 21.0 | 12.3 | 328.7 | (5.3) | 1.7 | | Turf Games | 5-3 | +1.6 | 4-4 | 2-6 | 22.6 | 9.1 | 312.5 | (5.2) | 1.6 | 18.5 | 9.0 | 317.0 | (5) | 2.0 | | Division Games | 3-2 | +1.2 | 3-2 | 2-3 | 28.2 | 12.0 | 300.8 | (5.2) | 0.6 | 19.0 | 7.2 | 309.2 | (4.8) | 2.2 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 21.7 | 9.1 | 17.1 | 29:48 | 25-92 | (3.7) | 23-37 | 62.4% | 230 | (6.2) | 62-322 | (5.2) | (14.8) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 22.3 | 11.6 | 20 | 30:02 | 27-109 | (4.1) | 22-35 | 62.1% | 230 | (6.5) | 62-339 | (5.5) | (15.2) | | Offense Road Games | 23.5 | 10.9 | 17.0 | 29:44 | 23-83 | (3.5) | 24-38 | 63.7% | 243 | (6.4) | 61-326 | (5.3) | (13.9) | | Defense (All Games) | 18.7 | 8.9 | 19.2 | 30:33 | 26-106 | (4.1) | 21-35 | 60.6% | 209 | (6) | 61-315 | (5.2) | (16.9) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 22.4 | 11.3 | 20 | 30:08 | 27-111 | (4.1) | 22-35 | 62.6% | 229 | (6.5) | 62-340 | (5.5) | (15.2) | | Defense Road Games | 19.4 | 9.7 | 18.9 | 30:55 | 25-107 | (4.2) | 21-35 | 61.1% | 206 | (5.9) | 60-313 | (5.2) | (16.2) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 15-5 | 36.2% | 1-0 | 42.9% | 2-46 | (22.5) | 2-22 | (9.8) | 8-66 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 14-6 | 40.7% | 1-0 | 49.3% | 3-61 | (23.5) | 19-2 | (9.3) | 7-55 | | Stats For (Road Games) | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 14-5 | 37.4% | 1-0 | 33.3% | 2-40 | (21.4) | 2-14 | (8.1) | 8-65 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 1.3 | 0.7 | 2.0 | | 14-5 | 33.2% | 1-0 | 50.0% | 2-43 | (20) | 2-15 | (6.3) | 7-53 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.4 | | 13-5 | 39.8% | 1-0 | 48.6% | 2-58 | (23.3) | 17-2 | (8.1) | 7-56 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 | | 13-4 | 34.0% | 0-0 | 100.0% | 2-52 | (21.8) | 2-17 | (8.2) | 6-57 |
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| All Games | 12-3 | +8.9 | 9-6 | 9-6 | 30.6 | 17.0 | 372.4 | (5.6) | 0.9 | 19.7 | 9.9 | 349.2 | (5.6) | 1.6 | | Home Games | 7-0 | +7.6 | 5-2 | 5-2 | 36.4 | 21.4 | 406.3 | (5.8) | 0.4 | 16.7 | 7.3 | 365.6 | (5.6) | 1.6 | | Last 3 Games | 3-0 | +3 | 2-1 | 1-2 | 27.0 | 11.3 | 341.0 | (5.2) | 1.3 | 14.3 | 12.3 | 302.3 | (5.1) | 1.3 | | Turf Games | 10-0 | +10.6 | 7-3 | 6-4 | 33.9 | 19.4 | 376.3 | (5.6) | 0.4 | 16.2 | 7.5 | 341.9 | (5.4) | 1.9 | | Division Games | 4-1 | +2.5 | 2-3 | 4-1 | 28.4 | 14.2 | 332.0 | (5.3) | 0.8 | 21.8 | 10.4 | 362.0 | (5.4) | 1.8 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 30.6 | 17.0 | 23.1 | 29:31 | 28-107 | (3.9) | 25-38 | 65.0% | 265 | (6.9) | 66-372 | (5.6) | (12.2) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 22.5 | 11.4 | 19.7 | 30:50 | 26-109 | (4.1) | 22-35 | 62.5% | 228 | (6.5) | 61-337 | (5.5) | (14.9) | | Offense Home Games | 36.4 | 21.4 | 25.7 | 29:41 | 28-106 | (3.7) | 27-41 | 66.7% | 300 | (7.3) | 70-406 | (5.8) | (11.2) | | Defense (All Games) | 19.7 | 9.9 | 20.9 | 30:29 | 26-104 | (4) | 22-37 | 59.2% | 245 | (6.7) | 63-349 | (5.6) | (17.7) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 22.5 | 11.1 | 20 | 30:23 | 26-110 | (4.2) | 22-36 | 63.0% | 232 | (6.5) | 62-342 | (5.5) | (15.2) | | Defense Home Games | 16.7 | 7.3 | 22.3 | 30:19 | 25-104 | (4.2) | 23-40 | 57.1% | 262 | (6.5) | 65-366 | (5.6) | (21.9) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 14-6 | 44.9% | 1-0 | 60.0% | 2-46 | (22.4) | 3-27 | (10.6) | 8-68 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 13-5 | 40.1% | 1-0 | 49.5% | 3-59 | (23.5) | 18-2 | (8.6) | 7-57 | | Stats For (Home Games) | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 14-7 | 47.5% | 1-0 | 75.0% | 2-42 | (26.6) | 2-30 | (13) | 8-69 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 1.1 | 0.5 | 1.6 | | 13-5 | 39.9% | 2-1 | 34.8% | 3-59 | (20.5) | 2-16 | (8.8) | 6-47 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.4 | | 13-5 | 40.1% | 1-0 | 47.6% | 3-62 | (24.1) | 18-2 | (8.3) | 7-55 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.6 | | 13-4 | 31.9% | 2-1 | 37.5% | 3-64 | (20.4) | 2-22 | (11.1) | 7-51 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: BUFFALO 19.9, NEW ENGLAND 19.9 |
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| 11/9/2014 | KANSAS CITY | 13-17 | L | -2.5 | L | 42 | U | 22-111 | 29-48-253 | 3 | 24-127 | 17-29-151 | 1 | | 11/13/2014 | @ MIAMI | 9-22 | L | 3.5 | L | 40.5 | U | 19-54 | 22-39-183 | 0 | 24-125 | 26-34-205 | 2 | | 11/24/2014 | *NY JETS | 38-3 | W | -3 | W | 42.5 | U | 29-116 | 24-32-220 | 0 | 19-92 | 17-31-126 | 1 | | 11/30/2014 | CLEVELAND | 26-10 | W | -3 | W | 42 | U | 30-106 | 17-31-181 | 2 | 26-74 | 23-38-241 | 3 | | 12/7/2014 | @ DENVER | 17-24 | L | 9.5 | W | 47.5 | U | 16-74 | 38-57-341 | 3 | 29-133 | 14-20-173 | 3 | | 12/14/2014 | GREEN BAY | 21-13 | W | 3.5 | W | 49 | U | 33-113 | 14-27-140 | 1 | 25-158 | 17-42-175 | 2 | | 12/21/2014 | @ OAKLAND | 24-26 | L | -7 | L | 42.5 | O | 13-13 | 32-49-308 | 2 | 36-140 | 17-34-207 | 0 | | 12/28/2014 | @ NEW ENGLAND | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| 11/2/2014 | DENVER | 43-21 | W | 3 | W | 52.5 | O | 25-66 | 33-53-332 | 1 | 17-43 | 34-57-429 | 2 | | 11/16/2014 | @ INDIANAPOLIS | 42-20 | W | 3 | W | 58 | O | 45-244 | 19-30-257 | 2 | 17-19 | 23-39-303 | 1 | | 11/23/2014 | DETROIT | 34-9 | W | -7 | W | 47 | U | 20-90 | 38-53-349 | 1 | 25-91 | 18-46-244 | 1 | | 11/30/2014 | @ GREEN BAY | 21-26 | L | 3 | L | 57.5 | U | 18-84 | 22-35-236 | 0 | 29-130 | 24-38-348 | 0 | | 12/7/2014 | @ SAN DIEGO | 23-14 | W | -4 | W | 53.5 | U | 28-87 | 28-44-310 | 2 | 17-53 | 20-33-163 | 1 | | 12/14/2014 | MIAMI | 41-13 | W | -9 | W | 49 | O | 29-108 | 21-35-287 | 1 | 23-76 | 29-47-308 | 2 | | 12/21/2014 | @ NY JETS | 17-16 | W | -9.5 | L | 47 | U | 24-85 | 23-35-146 | 1 | 32-116 | 17-27-191 | 1 | | 12/28/2014 | BUFFALO | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| |  | BUFFALO: Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett brought a much different look to the Bills' running game in his first season with the team in 2013, and it didn't do C.J. Spiller any favors. Buffalo uses a lot of read option plays to try to take advantage of quarterback EJ Manuel's mobility. Spiller was hesitant in read-option situations, and Manuel was fragile as a rookie, so they might move back to a more traditional look this year. Spiller figures to take back more of a No. 1 workload from Fred Jackson, though that was the plan a year ago and Jackson proved too valuable to keep off the field. Bryce Brown provides insurance for the aging Jackson. In the red zone, the Bills quickly moved away from Spiller in goal-to-go situations, opting for Jackson's more decisive running instead.
Hackett uses play-action and crossing action in the middle of the field. Rookie Sammy Watkins will likely be penciled in at flanker, where they'll rely on his YAC ability to make Manuel's life easier. After spending the early part of the year on the perimeter last year, No. 2 WR Robert Woods should work a larger set of routes, similar to what former No. 1 receiver Stevie Johnson used to run. Marquise Goodwin figures to overtake T.J. Graham as their primary deep threat, while Mike Williams comes in as a red zone specialist. Tight end Scott Chandler will be utilized as a receiver underneath.
The Bills will be playing for their third defensive coordinator in three years with Jim Schwartz replacing Mike Pettine, who improved this group a lot in 2013, especially with sacks and interceptions. Free agent outside linebackers Keith Rivers and Brandon Spikes will greatly help Buffalo's transition to a 4-3 scheme. | | NEW ENGLAND: Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has always had a strong preference for the power running game, using a lot of classic looks with pulling guards opening up room on between-the-tackles runs. Stevan Ridley had every chance to become a full-fledged feature back the past two seasons, but his tendency to put the ball on the ground will likely lead to a committee approach again, with Ridley splitting time with Brandon Bolden. Shane Vereen is more of an out- side-the-tackles, change-of-pace back.
This is a pick-your-poison passing game. The fact that New England played all of 2013 without Aaron Hernandez and most
of it without Rob Gronkowski and Danny Amendola makes it difficult to pinpoint what they'd like to do, but Julian Edelman and Amendola working underneath will be a primary focus. Gronkowski, who often stays in to pass protect, stretches the middle of the field, with either Aaron Dobson or Brandon LaFell working on the boundary. Vereen runs a lot of wheel routes, and he and Edelman are used frequently in the screen game. When the Pats throw in the red zone, Gronkowski is often the primary target, but Edelman will continue to benefit from the attention Gronk draws in the end zone. Vereen had three receiving TDs on four targets inside the 10 last season.
The Patriots give up gobs of yards, but still placed among the top-10 NFL defenses in points allowed, turnovers and sacks. They finally bolstered their lackluster secondary by inking star cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, and will also get unit leaders DT Vince Wilfork and MLB Jerod Mayo back from injury to man the middle. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER PRO FOOTBALL PREVIEW (BUFFALO-NEW ENGLAND) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(UPDATES last graf with Bills DT Dareus, CB Gilmore ruled out due to injuries.)
*Bills-Patriots Preview* ========================
By JEFF BARTL STATS Senior Writer
The New England Patriots have Super Bowl aspirations every season, and clinching the top seed in the AFC playoffs is simply an expectation fulfilled as they pursue their ultimate goal.
They aren't looking past Sunday's matchup with Buffalo, though, as the Bills look to end a 13-game losing streak in Foxborough.
New England (12-3) did its part by surviving with a 17-16 victory at the New York Jets last week, and it wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs when Cincinnati beat Denver on Monday night.
Tom Brady, who threw for 182 yards, a touchdown and an interception against the Jets, believes the extra week off will be beneficial as he looks to guide the Patriots to their first Super Bowl title since the 2004 season.
That's not on his mind just yet, though.
"There is plenty of time to think about things down the road," Brady said. "This isn't the time for it. We've got to go play well this week. That is the attitude and that is what all the leaders of the team have to make sure everyone is on the same page."
Coach Bill Belichick isn't celebrating New England's No. 1 seed but rather focusing on how his team can improve after a lackluster performance against the Jets. The Patriots finished with a season-worst 231 total yards.
"I don't think (home-field advantage) really has a big effect on what we've been doing. (We'll) just keep getting ready for Buffalo," Belichick said. "That's what our challenge is. What our position is, it is, but that will all take care of itself in due course. It doesn't really have anything to do with right now."
With nothing on the line in terms of postseason positioning this week, Belichick said he'll "do whatever is best for the team" when it comes to resting some of his regulars. Reports have surfaced that tight end Rob Gronkowski could rest, and it's unclear if receiver Julian Edelman, offensive lineman Dan Connolly or running back LeGarrette Blount will play after each sat out last week with injuries.
"With the (first-round bye), you realize we're going to have a little time to rest up," Brady said. "We just want to go out and play well and see if we can string together as many good plays as possible.
"(The Bills') defense will challenge you. They've got a good front, one of the best defenses in the league, one of the best defenses we've faced all year."
Brady picked it apart in the first meeting, though, throwing for 361 yards and four touchdowns - two to Brandon LaFell - in a 37-22 win Oct. 12. It marked the Patriots' 21st victory in the last 22 matchups with the Bills, who are playing for their first winning season since going 9-7 in 2004.
Buffalo (8-7) was eliminated from playoff contention for the 15th straight season with last week's 26-24 loss at Oakland, extending the longest active playoff drought in the NFL.
"It just breaks your heart," said Kyle Orton, who threw for 329 yards, three touchdowns and two picks. "It was all there. We just didn't have the execution. And in the end, it cost us."
Orton has started the last 11 games in place of second-year quarterback EJ Manuel, and coach Doug Marrone doesn't plan on making a change this week despite the playoffs being out of reach.
"The game means a lot to me. We're going to play the players that we feel give us the best chance to win," Marrone said. "That's just the way that I'm wired and that's my responsibility to the team. We all have a responsibility to each other and I have to make those decisions each week.
"Right now we still feel that (Orton) gives us the best chance to win in terms of efficiency, control, things of that nature than any other quarterback that we have."
Buffalo's defense likely will need to have a better performance than in the first meeting, when it allowed 396 total yards - its second-most of the season - and didn't force a turnover.
The Bills rely heavily on their imposing front line of tackles Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams and end Mario Williams, all of whom were selected to the Pro Bowl. Dareus, though, suffered a knee injury against the Raiders and was ruled out of this game Saturday along with Buffalo's top cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who is sidelined with a concussion.
Game Notes: |
| | Last Updated: 4/18/2024 1:39:09 AM EST. |
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