Week 17 Patriots vs Bills: 5 Things to Preview

by Richard Hill on Dec 30, 2011 12:00 PM EST in Patriots Game Previews

Revenge? I think that can be the theme of the season. Hopefully the Patriots can avenge their early season loss and end the season on a good note- and with total control of homefield advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Unfortunately (fortunately?), the Patriots play at 1pm, which is before the Ravens and Steelers play (at 4pm), and thus the Patriots will have to play out the game for the full 60 minutes.

Note: It's smart of the NFL to make their scheduling the way they have. Bravo. I like how teams with the same things on the line (Ravens/Steelers, 49ers/Saints, Colts/Vikings/Rams) play at the same time in order to provide the highest quality of play. Think about it- if teams knew they didn't have a chance at making homefield advantage (Saints), why wouldn't they rest their starters? It keeps up the level of competition and allows for interesting story lines. Good job.

1. C.J. Spiller - The Patriots have played a gauntlet of playmakers in the backfield. Roy Helu Jr. Willis McGahee/Lance Ball. Reggie Bush. Now they face C.J. Spiller. Spiller was considered a potential bust prospect after not producing for his first season in the NFL. Unfortunately, the Bills had to lose fellow-stud Fred Jackson for the season in order for Spiller to flourish. Spiller is a threat in all facets of the game (passing, running, blocking) and the Patriots will most likely set a spy on Spiller to limit his impact. Of course, if they use the same spy they used on Bush (safety James Ihedigbo), the Patriots will be susceptible to the deep throw like they were against Miami. How will the Patriots account for Spiller?

2. Tom Brady - Brady has a lot on his plate. Home field advantage. Potential injury. One of the greatest records in the NFL. Ending the season on a good note. His competitive fire. How do the Patriots watch out for Tom Brady? Do they let him play the whole game? When do they sit him? How Tom Brady plays will dictate how the Patriots perform.

3. Good Note - Similar to the Brady point, how will the Patriots treat other players on the roster? Who plays through injury? Who returns from their injury? How do the Patriots face the last game of the season? Do they go all out, or do they limit the risk after losing Wes Welker a few seasons ago? It will be interesting to see which players return from their injuries and which players are too dinged up and will sit out. Whoever plays and whoever steps up will have a large role in this game's outcome.

4. Offensive Line - Easy point: Who plays? Will Matt Light sit? Logan Mankins? Who will play center- Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell, or Nick McDonald? Does Brian Waters play the whole game? How do the rookies Nate Solder and Marcus Cannon play a part? Is Sebastian Vollmer available? How does Donald Thomas play? So many questions and I just happened to list all of the Patriots linemen. How will they play?

5. 60 Minutes - Still a point until they play the full 60.

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The Patriots have the chance to close out the second half of the season with an 8-0 record. They would be the first team in the post-merger NFL history to close a season 8-0 in consecutive years. Of course, that means nothing without post-season success, but it's still a cool fact. The Patriots lead the league in 8-0 second halves with three. The other Patriots teams to finish with an 8-0? The 2003 Super Bowl Champion Patriots, the 2007 Patriots, and the 2010 Patriots. Hopefully they can bookend that record with a 2011 Super Bowl Champion Patriots banner.

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Comments

Is Sebastian Vollmer available?

I think I lost saw him vs. the Jets in the playoffs.

It is what it is

by Middlesex on Dec 30, 2011 7:45 PM EST reply actions

Vollmer is out, but i guess they believe he will be back at some point

if they haven’t Ir’d him by now, he’s got to to be getting closer. I hope we see Chung and Spikes. I think this is the 5th week I’ve said that.

by furiousd on Dec 31, 2011 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

Vollmer’s out
I expect us to lose this game
12-4 is good enough

by quadruple option on Dec 30, 2011 10:07 PM EST reply actions

Why??

Why would you ‘expect’ us to lose?

by pats713 on Dec 30, 2011 11:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

yeah

even with all the injuries we are still better than this bills team

Hideki Matsui: "Kick ass. Pop champagne. And get some ho's."

by Meatface on Dec 31, 2011 2:01 AM EST up reply actions

I think they may look at the wear and tear and shut a bunch of guys down

by quadruple option on Dec 31, 2011 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

#1

With #1 seed on the line, no way Belichick shuts em down. If he plays everyone 2 years ago againt the Texans in week 17 with nothing on the line why would he take them out now.

by pats713 on Dec 31, 2011 2:45 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Because he’s learned from his mistakes?

by quadruple option on Dec 31, 2011 5:08 PM EST up reply actions

Need the win

Bc it’s likely the 6 can beat Houston on the road and likely that Pitt/Balt will beat the 4 seed. Then it’s pats vs average 6 seed and round three steelers ravens. If we beat average team we host beat up steelers or ravens. Alternative is first we host Pitt/Balt after they beat 4 seed then have to travel to the other of Pitt/Balt as they would likely beat the 6 seed after their buy, would be fresh and hosting. So Its HUGE bc it might force Pitt/Balt to play each other.

Play em all 60 or until it’s 21+ in the fourth. No one stays in for records, but for the win, yeah all game.

Expect 3X-1X in 4th n we sit Brady in the fourth.

by gnatecolby on Dec 31, 2011 12:28 AM EST via mobile reply actions

That's the thing though

I’m not sure the 4 seed wins their game. Denver and the Raiders are anything but stable at this point. Keep in mind that they will be playing the 5 seed aka Balt or Pitt. So really as the 1 seed our first game would likely be against Balt or Pitt unless the 6 (which could be Tenn, NYJ, Cinc, or Oak) manages to win versus Houston. That would be a possibility but not a definite. Assuming we get the 1 and Houston holds serve in the Wild card round it’s a good possibility we face both Pitt and Baltimore in the playoffs this year.

by Oughat on Dec 31, 2011 12:48 AM EST up reply actions

The no 1 seed would play the lowest seed still available in the playoffs. I have the feeling that Baltimore and Pittsburgh will play each other again in the Divisional round.

by Patriots12 on Dec 31, 2011 9:56 AM EST up reply actions

this is all idle speculation

We can’t presume to know who would win between, say, Cinti and Houston. The beauty of the NFL playoffs is that the open brackets prevents teams from trying to line up their seeds. The uncertainty makes for more good match-ups.

True wealth is a shelf full of unread books.

by Hometown Gyro on Dec 31, 2011 1:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

It’s all idle speculation, and it also ignores the fact that a healthy team is better than a home field

by quadruple option on Dec 31, 2011 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

I'm aware they play the lowest seed

that was my point. The best chance we have of not facing the 5 seed is if the 6 manages to take down Houston.

by Oughat on Dec 31, 2011 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

OT: Heads up from the rest of SBN Blogs

There’s some guy named asalerno89 that’s spamming fanshot sections on AFC South/AFC East/New York blogs with some BS about Peyton Manning going to the Jets, linking to his own website.

Please, don’t entertain this idiot’s lame attempt at stealing page hits. Thanks.

[disclaimer: this poster has no idea what the hell he's talking about.]

I has a sad. Its name is Eugene Amano.

The Official MCM Idiot

by fanoftheunderdogs on Jan 1, 2012 1:25 AM EST reply actions