It all comes down to this, Week 18, for a certain team’s postseason hopes. That team, ladies and gentlemen, is the New England Patriots, whom the Buffalo Bills could send home with a single victory.
The Bills are in an interesting predicament of their own, though, after last week’s Monday Night Football game between them and the Cincinnati Bengals was officially canceled. Now, the Bills need some help in order to end up the number one seed.
Not only that, but the Bills could end up at a neutral site if they make it to the AFC Championship Game.
But first, we must worry about this weekend. The Bills and Patriots meet for the second time this year, after Buffalo beating them in every facet of the game earlier in the year. To send the Patriots home for good, this season, the Bills will have to focus on three specific keys.
The Bills have to look out for the Patriots’ opportunistic defense
While the Patriots barely hang onto playoff hope, they are still in the thick of it for a reason. New England’s defense is always in the top half of football thanks to Bill Belichick, and this year is no different.
They might not be as good as they have in years past, but the Patriots are still as opportunistic as ever. New England is currently tied for the most interceptions in the NFL with 18 and have recovered nine fumbles. That’s good for 27 takeaways on the year. They also boast a league-leading five interceptions returned for a touchdown.
Josh Allen has thrown 13 interceptions and lost eight fumbles this year, so he’s not exactly been immune to mistakes. For the Bills to come away with this victory, they have to limit their mistakes against a well-coached defense under Belichick.