The last time these two AFC East rivals squared off was on Oct. 5 at home. Bills Mafia wasn't very happy with the outcome of the final score. The now-11-2 New England Patriots beat the now-9-4 Buffalo Bills, 23-20, on a game-winning field goal.
It's vital that the Bills flip the script this time around to remain in contention for their sixth straight AFC East title.
The Bills need to lock in these key matchups to stay competitive with the Patriots
1. DE AJ Epenesa vs. QB Drake Maye
While DE Greg Rousseau is still the Bills' prominent sack leader, Epenesa would be a great secondary weapon to sack Maye if Rousseau is double-teamed.
Epenesa currently has 13 solo tackles and 2.5 sacks, but with a recent injury to DE Joey Bosa, the former Iowa product has a significant opportunity to be in the limelight this week against a formidable quarterback.
As for Maye, he currently has 23 touchdowns and six interceptions, and is still one of the betting favorites to win his first NFL MVP award. What better way for the Josh Allen-esque quarterback to make his case to win MVP by sweeping the team that has the current reigning MVP as its signal caller?
2. RB James Cook vs. RB Treveyon Henderson
How have things come full circle? Just a few years ago, NFL fans and pundits basically declared the running back position dead, citing the league's perception as a "passing league." A few years later, these two backs have proven that the run game has come back and that they are the ones who have to set up the passing attack first.
Cook is a player who needs no introduction. Since becoming the starting tailback for the Bills, replacing RB Devin Singletary in 2023, he has redefined what it means to be a premier back in today's pass-dominant game.
The former Georgia product currently has a career-high 1,308 rushing yards on the year, and he has seven 100-yard rushing games. He is second in the league behind Jonathan Taylor, as he has 1,356 yards rushing. Cook is on pace for 1,710 yards, which would make it his third straight season with 1,000+ rushing yards.
As for Henderson, he was part of a great rookie running back class that featured him and Cam Skattebo, but Skattebo ended up missing the whole year with a severe right ankle injury. The rookie currently has 625 yards rushing and is on pace for 817 yards in just his first year as a pro football player.
The last matchup saw Cook actually get the better of Henderson, even though the Patriots won the game. Cook was limited to just 15 carries for 49 yards. Meanwhile, the Pats back had six carries for 24 yards.
3. CB Christian Benford vs. WR Stefon Diggs
He's back, Bills Mafia. After making a dominating return to High Mark Stadium back in October, Diggs will look to create a sequel at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
Last time out, the talented, but outspoken receiver had 10 catches for 146 yards and played a huge role in wanting to win back at the place where he shined for four seasons. If the Bills' Mafia is there and present for this game in the stands, on the road, he will definitely look to put on a show against his former team, but this time at the Patriots' house.
Diggs currently has 705 yards on 64 catches, and even though he is projected to get slightly under 1,000 yards, he's already back to playing at the high level he was performing before going down with a season-ending injury with the Houston Texans in 2024.
4. LB Shaq Thompson vs. TE Hunter Henry
If last week was any indication, Shaq Thompson was a hitting beast while covering against Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki. This week, he'll have to fend off another receiving tight end in New England's Hunter Henry.
While Gesicki may be a good receiving tight end, Henry is a great receiving tight end. The former second-round pick out of Arkansas in 2016 played five seasons with the San Diego Chargers, then the LA Chargers, and has been with the Patriots since 2021.
This season, Henry boasts 610 yards on 45 catches. He's a powerful blocker, but his bread and butter is making catches and turning them into yards after the catch.
This will be an intriguing matchup, as Thompson has been coming along in the Bills' linebacking room and has become a thumper in the offensive backfield.