New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills Week: Let's play football
by MaPatsFan on Sep 14, 2009 11:49 AM EDT
in News
25 comments
We've been jabbering on and on about the upcoming Bills @ Patriots matchup. Sure, it's what we do on a blog, but after a full Sunday of other team's games, I'm about ready to explode. I want to see dudes in Patriots throwback jerseys getting some regular season reps. I want to see Brady playing his first regular season game in a year. I want to see how his new toys will fare. Oh, and let's not forget the defense. Lots to watch there.
Brian Galliford, Buffalo Rumblings' head writer, and I have been chatting up a storm for the past week, pontificating about what will happen. Our final entry is a joint prediction about the game.
MaPatsFan's prediction:
Frankly, with the personnel changes on the Patriots and few Brady reps to go on, it's a bit crazy trying to make solid predictions, but that doesn't stop ESPN. ;-) There's a few reasons why New England will keep its winning streak against Buffalo, intact: a) this is the return of Brady, in a home game opener on Monday Night Football, b) the Patriots will announce their All-Time Team at half time, which includes recently retired Tedy Bruschi, named as Honorary Defensive Captain, and c) the Patriots are undefeated, at Gillette Stadium, against the Bills.
None of these are football reasons for winning the game. They have nothing to do with X's and O's. But all I have to go on is the emotional incentives for the Patriots and their fans.Prediction: 28-21, Patriots
Brian Galliford's prediction:
Most NFL fans are making backup plans for tonight's game in the event that it turns into an early blowout. (The Jay Leno Show premieres on NBC tonight, but its 10PM time slot doesn't help potentially bored football fans much, does it?)
I am as relentlessly optimistic as Bills fans come. Considering the fact that New England's defense is in transition, nobody really knows what to expect from the Bills on either side of the ball, and the fact that the Bills will always have a chance to put up points so long as the offensive line is even average, they have the capability to hang with the Pats tonight. But as you accurately point out, Dave, there's just no way - no way - that the Pats outright lose this one. Not in Tom Brady's return, not at Gillette, not in the season opener in front of a national audience. I'm not big on moral victories, but if the Bills can keep this one entertaining, even if only for a while, I'll be somewhat satisfied.
Final Prediction: Patriots 34, Bills 16
I think Brian's giving the Patriots a lot of credit. There's been a lot of changes in this team and it's anyone's guess what can happen. Of course, Belichick is known for playing the preseason with about 20% of the playbook; who knows what he's concocted for our Monday night opener.
Thanks to Brian and all the the Bills fans who have chatted, argued, and shared information with us. It's been a fun ramp up. Now, talk is cheap. Let's play some football!
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28-21?
You really think the Pats defense will give up three touchdowns to the Bills? Not me. In my not-so-humble opinion, the Pats D will be a bit better than predicted and will hold the Bills to no more than 2 touchdowns. I’m thinking 35-10.
Keep the faith!
by Marima on Sep 14, 2009 11:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Defense
There’s been too many changes in the D for me to have a comfort level. I’m predicting the worst and hoping for the best.
Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit
by MaPatsFan on Sep 14, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no way
Buffalo’s gonna own this game. 48-3
Brady will be thinking about playing N+ on his DS and Bill will be thinking about going to breakfast with Carl Vandenhoffer so he’ll be occupied.
I see no way the pats win this one
I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying
by J2 on Sep 14, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You think the Pats D will give up 10ish points (realistic) but that the Bills D will only give up 35??? Whatever happens with the Bills offense (could be terrible and score around 10, decent and score around 24 or great and score 35ish) I can’t see the Pats scoring less than in the 40s. And I’m a Bills fan.
Of course we could make things more challenging, Lisa, but then the stupider students would be in here complaining, furrowing their brows in a vain attempt to understand the situation--Seymour Skinner
by Ron From NM on Sep 14, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
35 points for the bills would be impossible inless NE has like 65 and is all backups on D
by Patsfan4life on Sep 14, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
impossible?
you haven’t even seen them play yet…. that’s hyperbole
your D has just as many if not more questions than our offense does.
geez – hows the view from your perch?
I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying
by J2 on Sep 14, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
we'll see when the game is played.
the only questions for our defense that i need to see is if we play the 4-3 or not. aaaaannnnnd thats it.
by patriotguy on Sep 14, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
we’ll see when the game is played.
that’s exactly right and all anyone asks for. let the game be played then we can tear it apart and analyze it.
I just don’t get prognostications such as those – because when it does backfire you look like a moron.
I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying
by J2 on Sep 14, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bill Belichick quote
We haven’t played yet. I think it’s really dangerous to look at teams, including our team, on paper. That’s easy to do. This guy’s got this guy and this team’s got this guy and another team’s got somebody else. Last year, we were talking about Miami being 0-16 and they win the division. So I don’t think that means anything. It’s how the players play. It’s how the teams perform and we’ll start seeing that this weekend. The rest of it is really a bunch of hot air.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 14, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
d’oh
did I just agree with something he said? no no.. can’t be…. can’t be…..
I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying
by J2 on Sep 14, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, Luke, I AM your Father.
Hehehehehe
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 14, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think there’s a very real chance that the Pats’ special teams give up a return TD to the Bills. They have a couple of explosive return men in Parrish and McKelvin, they’ve done it before against us, and they may be the best coached special teams unit in the NFL.
by RSNexile on Sep 14, 2009 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you're right about the terrific Bills' special teams
but the Pats managed to keep them in check last year and I’m hoping they do the same tonight
Keep the faith!
by Marima on Sep 14, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not really
McKelvin had that 85 yard return against us in the first game last year to set up their only touchdown, and Fred Jackson had a 30 yard part return against us in the vortex that was the second game. In fact, I think we can safely say there were only three reason they didn’t do even more damage: Gostkowski’s touchbacks, Hanson’s punt placement, and the freak tornado that lasted four hours in Buffalo.
by RSNexile on Sep 14, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pats special teams coach
I forget who was the coach of the special teams unit (which may say a lot, now that I think about it), but when he left, was it of his own volition or was he pushed?
Belichick seems to have a high opinion of the new guy; hopefully that translates into better all-round performance.
by Comedic.Sans on Sep 14, 2009 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Scott O'Brien
He’s outstanding. What I was thinking was that I’m hoping O’Brien will have coached up the special teams to counter whatver the Bills throw at us.
Keep the faith!
by Marima on Sep 14, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
crystal ball
This looks like a mine field for my beloved BIlls. Obviously, New England has the embarrassing winning streak going against us right now and there’s no end in sight. Obviously, Buffalo currently employs a timid head coach who is content on deferring to New England’s undeniably impressive decade rather than frantically attempting to unseat them (didn’t previously 1-15 Miami take a shot at this feat last season with some success). Obviously, Buffalo’s offense is a mess, built entirely backwards with plenty of fun and interesting toys at WR, but little pedigree along the line paired with a QB who serves no other purpose than to be cost effective for a franchise stuck in neutral. I’ll say this though; I don’t see the Pats of 09 anywhere near the Pats of 2007, despite what their cheering sections at ESPN and NBC try to wish into creed. New England is probably playoff bound, but they are no longer the undisputed kings of the NFL (Pitt and the Mannings own that distinction in recent years), rather they are one of several contenders- a place Buffalo hasn’t been since at least November of 2000. The fact that the mighty Patriots are so much closer to the pack makes how badly Jauron’s regime has failed in trying to catch them in now his fourth season all the more jarring for this beleagured franchise:
Pats- 34, Bills-9.
B.S.
by Benjamin Salem on Sep 14, 2009 1:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm curious to see how things end up, but to say Brady is motivated would be an understatement.
There is no one on earth I’d want fired up and ready to play then Tom Brady – except perhaps Mike Jordan, though he never played for anyone I root for so F him.
I’d love to see some power football here, a lot of big plays early a lot of ground and time chewing 2 TE sets after that.
I think the defenses is definitely faster then it’s been in many years, though realistically I think it’ll be around week 8 or so when they come together in their best form.
With the OC issue in Buffalo tonight, and no Lynch – I don’t see Buffalo putting up too many points, but I don’t see the Pats D dominating either.
34-14 Pats.
by JonnyNYC on Sep 14, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
IS IT 7PM YET?
Jack of all trades-Master of None.....
by Peter Chung on Sep 14, 2009 4:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No offense to anyone's mancrush on Brady, but...
that logo is really stupid.
Have fun watching the game tonight guys, I hope you lose.
Delightfully Ignoring The Truth since 1995.
by NeverendingOptimism on Sep 14, 2009 5:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Monday night, at home, whole world watching, Brady's return
BLOWOUT!!!!!
No matter who they’d be facing in my opinion. This coming from a Steelers fan so…..
by Freddyd on Sep 14, 2009 5:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
All things possible
I could see this game go all sorts of ways. Shoot-out, blowout, hard-fought competitive game in the midscoring range.
But I just don’t see the Patriots loose this game.
by hythlodaeus on Sep 14, 2009 6:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'll say Pats win
I’ll say the Pats win 31-21. The Bills defense can’t really do much about keeping Brady off the score, while the D gets some clutch stops against Trent Edwards to win this game.
by Tai on Sep 14, 2009 6:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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