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Patriots Power Rankings: Pats under the gun to prove it in Week 15

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The Week 15 power rankings reflect the dominance of New England, riding at No. 1 or 2 across major outlets—but the “prove it” chorus remains loud. Riding a 10-game win streak and sitting at 11-2 coming off the bye week, the Patriots are still a hot story. However, experts are split, praising second-year sensation QB Drake Maye while demanding proof their record will hold up against stiffer competition.

That proof will come this week, when all eyes will be on Sunday’s massive Bills-Patriots AFC East showdown—the Pats’ toughest test yet and a game that could either silence the doubters or expose the hype.

With four games remaining in the regular season it’s put-up or shut-up time for most of the AFC. If the Broncos lose a single game, they could lose the No. 1 seed and the playoff bye. The Patriots need to win out if they want a chance at either. Every team seems to have another team breathing down its neck just to earn a wildcard berth. Adding to the intrigue, are the health of already beat-up rosters and unpredictable winter weather—Sunday’s forecast at Gillette Staduim calls for 32° with possible snow. Ho! Ho! Ho!

Buffalo is favored over the home team by 1.5 points, but I predict the Patriots will beat the Bills. Mike Vrabel will have the team focused and ready to go as practice ramps up full-speed tomorrow. As always,

GO PATS!!

1st – Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News): The Patriots enjoyed their bye week to get some rest late in the season before they get ready to build on their dominant breakout season with Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel before their playoff run. They will be ready to try to sweep the Bills at home. [nc]

1st – Ralph Vacchiano (FOX Sports): The Pats preserved their top spot and their 10-game winning streak through their bye week. Now they can clinch their first AFC East title since 2019 with a win at home on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. [nc]

1st – Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk): The AFC East crown is within reach. [nc]

1st – Pete Prisco (CBS Sports): They come off their bye with a big one this week against the Bills. Drake Maye’s MVP candidacy will be on full display. [nc]

2nd – NFL Nation (ESPN): Most shocking statistical ranking: Marcus Jones is second in average yards on punt returns. Jones has 87- and 94-yard punt returns for touchdowns, and his 18.8 average is just behind the Titans’ Chimere Dike (19.9). Jones entered this season, his fourth in the NFL, averaging 13.3 yards per punt return in his career, with one touchdown. “I think he’s an All-Pro player — an all-around athlete who does everything,” wide receiver Stefon Diggs said. “He brings a lot of juice.” — Mike Reiss. [-1]

2nd – Nate Davis (USA Today): They’re holding steady at No. 2 − though they lost their grip on the AFC’s No. 1 seed during their bye week. Drake Maye continues to play like the MVP runner-up, whether or not he’s actually the league’s second-best quarterback. He can further burnish his case Sunday if New England is able to complete a season sweep of the Bills and wrap up its first AFC East crown since 2019. [nc]

4th – Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports): It’s hard to believe but true: The Patriots can clinch the AFC East title with three games to go. If New England beats Buffalo on Sunday, the Patriots will have a three-game lead and own the tiebreaker due to a sweep, so the division race would be over. The Patriots are still fairly low in the advanced metrics despite their record — 14th in total DVOA, 10th in offense and 25th in defense — but this has been a wildly successful season no matter how it turns out. [nc]

4th – Eric Edholm (NFL.com): Ten straight wins, followed by a bye and a shot to end the Bills’ division run this Sunday in Foxborough. Patriots are flying high in what could be a post-Chiefs playoff field, with a chance to earn a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. Beating Buffalo won’t be easy, especially with Josh Allen heating up and undoubtedly champing at the bit for a second crack at that Patriots defense, which will be without Milton Williams. New England also will be shorthanded on the offensive line for a bit, and the run game has had its limitations. But Drake Maye and his receivers, with some brilliant guidance from Josh McDaniels, have made it work quite well to this point. The Pats aren’t a perfect team, but they’re pretty darned compelling, and they’ll give anyone they face from here on out a great battle. Guaranteed. [nc]

5th – Conor Orr (SI): New England gets Buffalo coming off the Bengals game and, as of Monday night, the Ravens flexed into Sunday night football. I’m less and less absorbed by my New England soft schedule take, but I am very interested to see how the team handles these two weeks in particular. [-2]

7th – Diante Lee (The Ringer): Will they be the next AFC contender to hit a cold stretch? New England has enjoyed one of the league’s softest schedules and should finish this season with at least 12 wins–and potentially an MVP award for second-year QB Drake Maye. But we’re not done evaluating whether this team is serious just yet. The biggest game of New England’s season is on Sunday against the Bills, and the following week they’ll face the Ravens, who will be playing for their postseason lives. If they lose either game, questions will be swirling about whether this team is a true Super Bowl contender. [+2]

GO PATS!!

Around the AFC East:

New England Patriots (11-2) vs. Buffalo Bills (9-4)

Miami Dolphins (6-7) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)

New York Jets (3-10) at Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)

AFC Matchups:

Denver Broncos (11-2) vs. Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)

Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)

Houston Texans (8-5) vs. Arizona Cardinals (3-10)

Indianapolis Colts (8-5) at Seattle Seahawks (10-3)

Baltimore Ravens (6-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)

Cleveland Browns (3-10) at Chicago Bears (9-4)

Tennessee Titans (2-10) at San Francisco 49ers (9-4)

Las Vegas Raiders (2-10) at Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)

AVG RANK: 2.8 [-0.3]
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Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...ngs-pats-under-the-gun-to-prove-it-in-week-15
 
A look back at a record-breaking game in Patriots history

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Since former Patriot Jacoby Brissett broke the record for completions in a game with 47 earlier this season, it got me thinking that we needed to revisit the game where the original record was set, back on November 13, 1994. And with the Patriots on a bye this week, this felt like the perfect opportunity to look back 31 years in team history.

The 3-6 Patriots, with second-year quarterback Drew Bledsoe at the helm, were facing the 7-2 Minnesota Vikings led by veteran Warren Moon. The Vikings jumped out to a 20-0 lead with less than a minute left in the second quarter. Up to that point, Bledsoe and the Patriots offense had been less effective than a Bailey Zappe deep pass. Bledsoe was only 4-for-12 for 24 yards going into the last drive of the first half. No one would have believed you if you told them that this would finish as a historic performance from Bledsoe.

Trailing by 20 points, their season was on the brink of extinction, but Bledsoe decided that the Patriots weren’t dead yet. He led them on a seven-play, 48-yard drive that ended with a field goal. Bledsoe went 4-for-5 for all 48 yards on the drive. Still, his team went into the half down 20-3, and Bledsoe’s stats were sitting at 8-for-17 for only 72 yards through.

The second half was an entirely different story. Bledsoe started things off quickly, going 4-for-5 for 54 yards on a 68-yard drive that ended with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Ray Crittenden. For the next quarter and a half, both the Patriots and Vikings struggled on offense. The Vikings actually turned the ball over in their own territory, but Matt Bahr shanked a field goal to keep it a 20-10 game.

That score stayed until the Patriots took over on their own 13-yard line with just over five minutes left in the game. Bledsoe led the Patriots on a touchdown drive, going 9-for-11, and passing on every play of the drive. With just over two minutes left and now trailing by only three, they needed to stop the Vikings to get the ball back.

Following a 6-yard completion on first down, the Patriots forced an incompletion on 3rd-and-2 to make the Vikings punt back to the Patriots. Bledsoe led the Patriots down to tie the game, converting a 4th-and-10 with a 25-yard completion to Vincent Brisby. He followed up the conversion with four straight completions, but the drive would eventually stall after a pair of incompletions from the 5-yard line. They ended up settling for a game-tying field goal to send the game to overtime instead.

Bledsoe finished the second half 31-for-47 for 298 yards. Let me repeat that, since I bet you misunderstood: Bledsoe threw the ball 47 times for 298 yards in the second half alone.

After completing the incredible comeback, the Patriots won the coin toss and received the ball to start overtime. At this point, the NFL still had sudden death overtime, which meant all the Patriots needed to do was score any points, and the game was over. Bledsoe continued his hot streak, going 6-for-6 for 56 yards in OT, capping the game with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Turner in the corner of the end zone.

Bledsoe, who, through 29 minutes of game play, was 4-for-12 for 24 yards, finished the game 45-for-70 for 426 yards and three touchdowns.


This game has a special meaning to me, because it was the second game I had ever attended. Interestingly enough, the first game I ever attended was also against Warren Moon, the year before when he played for the Oilers. Bledsoe was hurt for that one so Scot Secules was the quarterback, meaning this was the first chance I ever had to watch the first overall pick in 1993 live, and it did not disappoint.

When Matt Bahr was lining up for his field goal attempt at the end of the first half with the Patriots trailing 20-0, my dad leaned over and told me that if Bahr hit the field goal that the Patriots would win, which, of course, was completely insane, but what a way to call his shot. That’s why what the Patriots did in the second half meant so much more to me. When the late, great Kevin Turner caught that touchdown pass in the corner of my end zone, which 10-year-old me never saw, since the entire section stood up and blocked my view, I was hooked, and I’ve had a (mostly healthy) obsession with the Patriots ever since.

A thread of my favorite Patriots game of all time: Patriots vs Vikings, November 13, 1994. An absolute classic. Drew Bledsoe would finish the game with the most attempts and completions in NFL history. I was 10, and at the game with my dad. Here’s how they started the broadcast. pic.twitter.com/Cb6EoRPyJe

— Pat Lane (@plane_pats) June 21, 2020
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I’m sure there are a lot of people out there in their 40s who have a similar story about Drew Bledsoe, and a lot more people in their 20s and 30s who have similar stories about Tom Brady. Now it looks like there might be a new generation of Patriots fans who will have stories just like this about Drake Maye as well, and I think that makes us the luckiest fan base in the world.
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Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-history/115778/record-breaking-game-drew-bledsoe-nfl
 
Patriots restore running back Jashaun Corbin to practice squad after stint on injured reserve

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Backfield moves were made in Foxborough on Wednesday.

The New England Patriots restored Jashaun Corbin to the practice squad from injured reserve. To make room among the 17-man group, the organization announced the placement of fellow running back Craig Reynolds on injured reserve.

Corbin, 25, signed following a workout in October and was moved to injured reserve three weeks later. Undrafted out of Texas A&M and Florida State in 2022, the 5-foot-11, 215-pound back has also been a member of the New York Giants, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons since then. Logging three catches and one carry through six games, his NFL career includes 15 snaps on offense and 118 snaps on special teams.

In 2024, Corbin signed with the San Antonio Brahmas. He went on to earn a spot on the All-UFL team after leading the league with 514 rushing yards in the spring. Four touchdowns were totaled to go with 138 receiving yards and 252 return yards.

Reynolds, 29, joined the practice squad at Gillette Stadium at the end of November after clearing waivers on Thanksgiving. The 5-foot-11, 216-pound Kutztown product spent the past five years with the Detroit Lions. A veteran of 60 NFL games, including a pair of starts, he has handled 469 snaps on offense and 785 snaps on special teams.

In the regular season, Reynolds stands with 658 rushing yards, 258 receiving yards and one touchdown across 179 scrimmage opportunities. His career has featured an additional visit to the end zone in the playoffs. The 2019 undrafted free agent made initial stops with the Washington Commanders, Jacksonville Jaguars and Falcons.

Head coach Mike Vrabel’s 11-2 contingent moves forward with Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings, a recent non-participant due to a concussion, on the 53-man roster. The running back depth chart also includes three-time standard elevation D’Ernest Johnson on the practice squad.

The Buffalo Bills visit for a 1 p.m. ET AFC East kickoff on Sunday.
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Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...ce-squad-place-craig-reynolds-injured-reserve
 
Patriots links 12/11/25: ‘Uniquely unselfish’ receiving corps key to success

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TEAM TALK


LOCAL LINKS

  • Chris Mason points out how although the Patriots have amassed the NFL’s second-most receiving yards entering Week 15, they don’t have a pass catcher in the Top 25. Stefon Diggs explains the uniquely unselfish receiving corps in New England.
  • Doug Kyed explains how Drake Maye reached Josh Allen’s level of play much sooner than expected.
  • Karen Guregian suggests Drake Maye and Josh Allen could make Patriots-Bills the next great rivalry.
  • Chris Mason mentions the bit of fumbling kryptonite that has popped up for Bills star RB James Cook in recent weeks, and says the Pats won’t hesitate to take advantage.
  • Alex Barth reports the first injury report since bye week shows the Patriots are getting healthier.
  • Andrew Callahan notes DT Khyiris Tonga participated in a second straight practice, a good sign for his chances of returning from a one-game absence with a chest injury.
  • Mark Daniels writes how after years of losing seasons following Tom Brady’s departure, long-tenured Patriots players have a chance to win their first division championship
  • Andrew Callahan makes the case that Sunday is about more than a division title for the Patriots. It’s about renewing a rivalry with Buffalo, the same team that replaced them atop the AFC East.
  • Doug Kyed highlights Stefon Diggs on why he is happy the Pats are underdogs this week against the Bills.
  • Mike D’Abate relays Drake Maye sending love to Pats fans after Pro Bowl votes show him leading all players.
  • Matt Vautour says that while he feels the Patriots ‘can win’ vs. the Bills, he picks the Bills to win on Sunday. Bills 31-28. /Click for the explanations.
  • Karen Guregian notes Mike Vrabel offered condolences to Patriots great Kevin Faulk over the loss of his daughter.

NATIONAL NEWS

  • Bill Barnwell (ESPN) Ranking MVP candidates: Matthew Stafford (2) vs. Drake Maye (1).
  • Jason Fitz and Caroline Fenton (Yahoo! Sports) Why the Patriots vs. Bills matchup is so important for both teams. (3 min. video)
  • Cameron Filipe (Football Zebras) Week 15 referee assignments. Bills at Patriots: John Hussey. /Hussey is among the more lenient crews league-wide, ranking near the bottom in penalties per game.
  • Jordan Dajani & Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) NFL Week 15 picks. Dajani: Bills win 23-21, Dubin: Bills win 24-21. /Click for commentary about Bills taking better care of the ball, how unlikely it is to think the Pats can beat the Bills twice, etc… etc…
  • Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Week 15 NFL picks: Bills beat Patriots in AFC East battle, 30-28. ‘Josh Allen has to be Josh Allen for the Bills to win. He wasn’t the last time these teams met, which is why the Patriots won. This time will be different. Allen wins it with his usual big plays.’
  • MMQB Staff (SI) NFL Week 15 picks: Patriots can clinch AFC East against Bills. 3 of 6 pick Pats.
  • Iain MacMillan (SI) NFL upset predictions and picks for Week 15. No Pats.
  • Anthony Gharib (ESPN) NFL Week 15 uniforms: Bucs bring back Creamsicles. Patriots: Silver helmet, Navy jersey, pants: TBA.
  • Kevin Patra (NFL.com) 5 playoff contenders facing most pressure: Colts, Chiefs, Eagles, Ravens, Bears.
  • Douglas Clawson (CBS Sports) Super Bowl Survivor: Which two teams are left standing in one of the NFL’s most unpredictable seasons? /Interesting way of whittling down the contenders.
  • Maurice Jones-Drew (NFL.com) Top 15 running backs entering final stretch of the NFL season. No Pats. No. 5. Bills’ James Cook.
  • Madison Williams (SI) NFL announces highly anticipated Saturday doubleheader games for Week 17: Texans-Chargers at 4:30 and Ravens-Packers at 8:00.
  • Andy Backstrom (Yahoo! Sports) NFL reportedly pushing for performance-based officiating model, as league’s collective bargaining agreement with refs nears end.
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Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...niquely-unselfish-receiving-corps-key-success
 
Patriots rooting guide and discussion for NFL Week 15

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The New England Patriots are heading into arguably their biggest game of the post-Tom Brady era, meaning our focus will be fully on their matchup with the Buffalo Bills. However, there is a lot more going on across the NFL this weekend.

With that said, let’s go through the other 15 games and find out who you should be rooting for in Week 15.

As a disclaimer, we are looking at the games through two primary lenses: New England’s chances of winning the division — which they could do by beating the Bills on Sunday — as well as earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

When looking at this week’s games and considering the point of the season we are in, we can see that only a handful of games actually have an impact in that regard. Why? Because lower-level tiebreakers such as strength of victory are schedule no longer become relevant at some point; there simply is too much football played already and we know who more important tiebreakers such as head-to-head, conference record or common games favor.

The Patriots are entering the weekend with a 48% chance of earning the No. 1 seed, an 89% chance of winning the division, and a 99+% chance of making the playoffs, according to The Athletic.

Thursday​

8:15 p.m. ET​


Atlanta Falcons (4-9) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6): Go good game! The Patriots have had both teams on their schedule, yet this game has no significant impact on their playoff outlook. | Amazon

Sunday​

1 p.m. ET​


Cleveland Browns (3-10) at Chicago Bears (9-4): Go Browns! This has little to do with the Patriots’ outlook, but rather the NFL Draft. The Bears missing the playoffs, after all, would have a positive impact on the 2026 fourth-round draft pick that went from Chicago to Kansas City to New England. | FOX

Baltimore Ravens (6-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-9): Go Ravens! We are playing some 4D chess here, because the game itself has no impact on the Patriots’ playoff outlook. However, it could indirectly help the position of the sixth-round draft pick they received from Pittsburgh in the Kyle Dugger trade: Baltimore winning the AFC North over the Steelers would help in that regard. | CBS

Arizona Cardinals (3-10) at Houston Texans (8-5): Go Texans! There are two reasons to root for a Houston win here. It would help possibly keep Kansas City out of the postseason (more on that in a second), while also potentially having a negative impact on the Jets’ draft outlook. | FOX

New York Jets (3-10) at Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4): Go Jets! Frankly, the farther New York is away from the top picks in next year’s draft, the better. A win over the Jaguars would be a positive outcome in that regard, while also creating some extra wiggle room for New England near the top of the AFC. | CBS

Los Angeles Chargers (9-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-7): Go Chargers! The Chiefs do not look like a particularly potent team this season, but better to be save than sorry: them not making the playoffs is the best-case outcome. That is particularly true given that the Patriots own one of their draft picks next year, a sixth-round selection stemming from the Joshua Uche trade. | CBS

Washington Commanders (3-10) at New York Giants (2-11): Go Giants! If the aforementioned Jets fail to pull off the upset against Jaguars, which seems likely, a Giants win would ensure they stay behind both of those teams in the draft order. | FOX

Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) at Philadelphia Eagles (8-5): Go Eagles! Again, this is more about the top of the draft and a Patriots division rival not getting a clear path toward the top picks. | FOX

4:25 p.m. ET​


Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) at Denver Broncos (11-2): Go Packers! Now this is a game that could have a major impact on the AFC playoff picture. The Patriots need the Broncos to finish with a worse record if they want to earn the top seed in the conference, and this game present a potential opportunity for that to happen. | CBS

Tennessee Titans (2-11) at San Francisco 49ers (9-4): Go Titans! Ideally for the Patriots, the 49ers end up outside of the playoff so that the sixth-rounder they acquired from the Keion White trade is better positioned. San Francisco is the current No. 6 seed in the NFC. | FOX

Carolina Panthers (7-6) at New Orleans Saints (3-10): Go Panthers! If the Patriots want the 49ers and Bears to miss out on the playoffs in hopes of boosting their draft stock, a Carolina win would be helpful. | FOX

Detroit Lions (8-5) at Los Angeles Rams (10-3): Go Lions! The same reasoning as above, with the current No. 8 seed needing to leap-frog Chicago and San Francisco in the standings to maximize the Patriots’ draft outlook. | FOX

Indianapolis Colts (8-5) at Seattle Seahawks (10-3): Go Seahawks! The Colts are no longer a realistic threat for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but best not to risk anything. | CBS

8:20 p.m. ET​


Minnesota Vikings (5-8) at Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1): Go Cowboys! Let’s throw Dallas into the “49ers and Bears missing the playoffs to help the Patriots’ draft stock” mix as well. | NBC

Monday​

8:15 p.m. ET​


Miami Dolphins (6-7) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6): Go Dolphins! Miami qualifying for the playoffs still seems unlikely, so this outcome would not move the needle too much. It would, however, hurt the Steelers’ chances of taking the AFC North and ending up in the tournament. As mentioned above, New England stands to gain from that happening. | ESPN


This article also serves as an open thread for this week’s games. Please head down to the comment section to discuss and share your thoughts on the games as they unfold.
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Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...-guide-nfl-week-15-how-to-watch-live-playoffs
 
Patriots links 12/12/25: Pats-Bills matchups, Keys to victory

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TEAM TALK


LOCAL LINKS

  • Thomas Murphy posts this week’s Monster Key’s to a Pats victory over Buffalo. 1. Man Up. If there is a counter punch to the great arm Josh Allen possesses it’s Man Defense. … More!
  • Steve Balestrieri dives into the Patriots-Bills matchups to see who has the edge. 1. Patriots RBs vs. Bills front seven — Edge New England; More!
  • Mark Morse dives deep into the Patriots vs. Bills matchup: Roster strengths, key player performances; More.
  • Jacob Rebb previews the much-anticipated Patriots and Bills Week 15 rematch; More.
  • Andrew Callahan‘s Week 15 thoughts: Patriots-Bills is one of the AFC’s most anticipated games of the season; Why the Pats are underdogs, Drake Maye vs. disguise; More!
  • Alex Barth’s Friday 5 Things: Can the Patriots sweep the Bills coming out of the bye?
  • Karen Guregian explores whether Josh McDaniels might have a few new wrinkles for the Bills on Sunday.
  • Andrew Callahan looks at the latest injury report and finds several key defenders downgraded at Thursday practices.
  • Karen Guregian spotlights both coaching staffs to see who has the edge on Sunday: Mike Vrabel & Co. took Round 1 against the Bills. How will the chess match play out in Round 2?
  • Doug Kyed spotlights how Drake Maye and Josh McDaniels both enjoy working together.
  • Danny Jaillet passes along what Bills QB Josh Allen had to say about Drake Maye. Allen hates to admit how good Drake Maye is getting, but he’s also proud of his new division rival.
  • Ethan Hurwitz reminds us that regardless of Sunday’s outcome, the 2025 Patriots season was a successful year in every aspect.
  • Nick Goss looks at how Bills fans are reacting to the Patriots’ resurgence with Drake Maye
  • Danny Jaillet says the announcers for Patriots-Bills are Ian Eagle (play-by-play) and J.J. Watt (analysis).
  • Phil Perry‘s Patriots Mailbag: Run game solutions, Gonzalez extension questions and more.
  • Jerry Thornton wishes everyone a Merry Bakemas, acknowledging Pats fans’ new tradition of paying homage to our Christmas Queen, Ann Michael Maye.
  • Andrew Callahan discloses the tragic loss that LB Jahlani Tavai and his partner Kalei Mau shared in a recent social media post. /Heartbreaking.
  • A Clare Perspective podcast: Clare and guest Phil Perry discuss Week 15 and all things Pats. (23 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

  • Nate Tice (Yahoo! Sports) Key numbers for AFC’s top 4 seeds that could tell their postseason story. Patriots commentary included.
  • Chris Bumbaca (USA Today) Josh Allen, Drake Maye primed for many more AFC East, MVP battles.
  • Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Patriots, Broncos are home underdogs — despite 10-game winning streaks.
  • Douglas Clawson (CBS Sports) Week 15 viewer’s guide: Top 10 things to watch, including Super Bowl contenders and Philip Rivers comeback. 3. Broncos and Patriots on 10-game winning streaks. 5. Bills trying to chase down Patriots (and MVP battle). 10. Polar vortex; More.
  • Matt Verderame (SI) Key matchups, predictions for Bills-Pats and More Week 15 games. Key matchup: James Cook vs. New England’s front seven. If Buffalo can run the ball, it’ll be in terrific shape. But if the Patriots, off their bye week, can bottle up Cook once more and limit Allen, they’ll be division champion.
  • Multiple Contributors (ESPN) NFL Week 15 picks, predictions, schedule, odds; More. Bills-Patriots: Bold prediction: Bills CB Christian Benford will allow fewer than 20 yards in coverage. It’s not quite the zero yards allowed (plus a pick-six and sack) that he had in his monster Week 14 game, but if he stays hot, that will go a long way toward a Bills victory. 2 of 3 pick Pats to win.
  • Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports) NFL Week 15 odds, predictions, expert picks: Who gets the edge in Bills-Patriots? Can Chiefs bounce back? Pats-Bills commentary included. 2 of 7 pick Pats to win.
  • Nate Davis (USA Today) NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread. 3 of 6 pick Pats to win.
  • Nick Shook (NFL.com) NFL QB rankings, Week 15: Patrick Mahomes hits season low. No. 2 Drake Maye.
  • Anthony Dabbundo (The Ringer) eest NFL bets for Week 15: Bye weeks are over, bringing us a packed slate full of playoff implications. Concerns about the Patriots included: Run defense, Red zone struggles.

VIEW FROM BUFFALO

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Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...nks-12-12-25-pats-bills-matchups-keys-victory
 
Patriots vs. Bills Friday injury report: Terrell Jennings ruled out for Week 15

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The New England Patriots will host the Buffalo Bills down one.

Running back Terrell Jennings has been ruled out for the AFC East rematch due to a concussion, as head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed during his final press conference of the week. And on the other side of the ball in Foxborough, defensive captain Robert Spillane moves forward as the team’s lone questionable.

Here’s the rest of the game statuses leading up to Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium.

OUT​

Patriots​

  • RB Terrell Jennings (concussion)

Bills​

  • No players listed

Jennings remained a non-participant through three consecutive injury reports before officially being ruled out. The 2024 undrafted arrival out of Florida A&M entered the NFL’s concussion protocol against the New York Giants as the calendar turned to December. The running back depth chart will now be subject to movement behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson and reigning AFC Offensive Rookie of the Month TreVeyon Henderson. Veteran D’Ernest Johnson, a three-time standard elevation from the practice squad, is on track to join the 53-man roster. That will require a corresponding move by 4 p.m. ET on Saturday.

“Yeah, D’Ernest will probably get to the game and help us,” New England’s head coach said. “We’ll have to figure some things out now, this afternoon or tomorrow, with the roster.”

QUESTIONABLE​

Patriots​

  • LB Robert Spillane (foot)

Bills​

  • WR Joshua Palmer (ankle)
  • LB Terrel Bernard (elbow)
  • CB Christian Benford (toe)

The Patriots added Spillane to the injury report as a limited participant on Thursday due to a foot injury. A questionable tag followed on Friday. The off-ball linebacker had seen his workload scale back to a season-low 38 defensive downs during his latest start. He ranks atop the unit with 97 tackles while also having a hand in one sack, one forced fumble, five passes defensed and two interceptions returned for 70 yards. Only cornerback Carlton Davis III and safety Craig Woodson have logged a higher rate of snaps for New England’s defense than his 95.36 percent.

But guard Jared Wilson, nose tackle Khyiris Tonga and special teams captain Brenden Schooler are set to go without game designations after landing among the inactives prior to the bye week. The same prognosis holds for swing tackle Vederian Lowe, defensive tackle Christian Barmore as well as outside linebacker and sack leader Harold Landry III.
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Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...-out-robert-spillane-questionable-nfl-week-15
 
6 Patriots to watch against the Bills in NFL Week 15

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Despite entering Week 5 as massive underdogs, the New England Patriots managed to beat the Bills in Buffalo to carve out a major advantage in the race for the AFC East. Now, 10 weeks later, they need to repeat that feat in order to lock up the division and crown themselves champion for the first time since 2019.

For a victory in the rematch with Buffalo, however, the team of head coach Mike Vrabel will need to bring its A-game. The Bills, after all, are far from dead and stayed the course even after losing to New England earlier in the year: at 9-4, they still have a chance to win their sixth straight division title, and a victory on Sunday would help boost their chances to snatch the top spot away from the Patriots after all.

As always when going up against an opponent of that quality, a complete game is need in all three phases. That said, our eyes will be on a handful of players in particular: considering the circumstances and opponent, here are our pivotal Patriots for Sunday’s game.

RB Rhamondre Stevenson​


The Bills run defense has improved slightly over the course of the season, but it is still ranked toward the bottom of the league in efficiency categories such as yards per carry (5.1) and EPA per run (0.045). For New England and its lead running back, this presents an opportunity.

Rhamondre Stevenson has had an up-and-down year so far; he missed time with a toe injury and fumbled three times over the first five weeks of the season, but also has contributed some big plays as a runner and receiver while additionally showing some good pass protection. Considering Buffalo’s defensive weaknesses, one would expect him to be in line for a solid game. Then again, despite scoring two touchdowns, Stevenson was a relative non-factor in the first meeting between those two teams.

WR Stefon Diggs​


In his first ever trip back to Orchard Park, Diggs was the most impactful skill position player on the field. Catching 10 passes for 146 yards in Week 5, he willed the Patriots to victory over his former team. To repeat as victors in front of the Gillette Stadium crowd, a similar performance would go a long way.

A veteran of 11 NFL seasons, Diggs knows that no two games are alike. That does not mean there are no lessons to be taken away from his first meeting with the Bills in October either

“That was a long time ago,” he said this week. “A lot of things have happened throughout this season that we kind of learned from. Even that game — we learned a lot from that game and we were like, ‘Damn, if we had this back, we would have done this differently. We would have done that differently.’ But all is well ends well when you win the game. You learn a lot throughout the season that’s going to help you towards the end.

“And the landscape looks different. It’s going to be a little more colder. It’s going to be some winter weather, whatever it is. I think the biggest thing for us is packing what our coach called identity and who we are, what we like to do and that’s finishing plays and that’s being aggressive and that’s being smart.”

LG Jared Wilson​


The Patriots suffered some major losses during their win in Cincinnati in Week 12, including the entire left side of their offensive line. While tackle Will Campbell will be out another week on injured reserve due to the sprained MCL he sustained that day, guard Jared Wilson seems set to make a comeback against Buffalo.

Under normal circumstances, Wilson would slot into the left guard spot between Campbell’s replacement Vederian Lowe and center Garrett Bradbury. However, there is no telling just how quickly the third-round rookie will be up to speed again despite not carrying an injury designation into the matchup; even if he is cleared for starting action, there might be some rust to be shaken off after virtually not playing for three straight weekends both physically and in regards to his chemistry with Lowe in particular.

It helps that Buffalo will be without stalwart defensive tackle Ed Oliver. The remaining front seven — including starting tackles DaQuan Jones and Deone Walker as well as edges Joey Bosa and Greg Rousseau — will still present a challenge for the young lineman and the rest of the starting five.

DT Khyiris Tonga​


Another player who recently missed some time, Tonga is set to make his own comeback after suffering an injury against Cincinnati. The Patriots will need him to be at his best, too, given Buffalo’s willingness to run the football as well as the scramble abilities provided by quarterback Josh Allen.

“He can do everything,” Tonga said about Allen this week. “Run the ball, throw the ball, throw 60 yards across his body — he can do it all. And we know that, so it’s going to be a fun challenge.”

With fellow defensive tackle Milton Williams on IR, Tonga projects as a starter alongside Christian Barmore (who himself was a limited participant in two of three practices this week). How much action he will actually see, however, has yet to be determined: Cory Durden, Eric Gregory and Joshua Farmer provide rotational depth behind the two top options, and likely will be moved in and out of the lineup as well. That said, at his peak, Tonga and Barmore is the best pairing New England has available against Allen and company.

LB Robert Spillane​


The Bills offense presents an array of problems, and as a result no position might be under bigger pressure than linebacker. Tops among the LBs on the Patriots, of course, is team captain Robert Spillane.

Typically a 100-percenter on the defensive side of the ball — even though it remains to be seen whether his current foot injury will impact his availability — Spillane will be faced with a multitude of tasks. There is coming downhill to help stop James Cook and Buffalo’s potent run game; there is spying Josh Allen as a run threat; there is covering tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox; and there is communicating with the rest of the unit against a team using motion on 55.2% of snaps and play action on 16.5%.

K Andy Borregales​


Whether or not you believe the Patriots’ underdog status is justified, Sunday’s game projects as a highly-contested affair that could be decided by a handful of points. If so, kicker Andy Borregales will again be in the spotlight.

The sixth-round draft pick has had a solid rookie campaign so far, hitting on 23 of 26 field goals and 36 of 38 extra points. The Patriots will need him to be accurate again on Sunday, especially after he went off he mark in both of his last two appearances at Gillette Stadium: against the Jets and Giants in Weeks 11 and 13, respectively, he missed one field goal each. Like this upcoming game, those two were played in cold conditions as well.
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Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...ews/116160/players-to-watch-nfl-week-15-bills
 
Patriots sign veteran D’Ernest Johnson to 53-man roster amid series of moves

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The final standard elevation is in the rearview for D’Ernest Johnson. Ahead is a spot on the 53-man roster.

Amid a series of moves, the New England Patriots promoted the running back leading up to Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.

Johnson, 29, had signed to the practice squad at the end of October. From there, he reached the NFL limit in call-ups and reversions in three consecutive weeks. Those November appearances brought a combined 23 snaps between offense and special teams for the 5-foot-11, 205-pound back.

Undrafted in 2018, Johnson stands 99 games into his career. Following a tour with the Alliance of American Football’s Orlando Apollos, the South Florida product landed with the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and went on to earn FedEx Ground Player of the Week during his stay. He made subsequent stops with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals.

Along with three starts and three touchdowns, Johnson’s time in the league includes 219 rushes for 996 yards, 53 receptions for 467 yards, as well as 33 kickoff returns for 772 yards. The vested veteran now resides in an active backfield led by starter Rhamondre Stevenson and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month TreVeyon Henderson.

“Yeah, D’Ernest will probably get to the game and help us,” head coach Mike Vrabel said during his Friday press conference. “We’ll have to figure some things out now, this afternoon or tomorrow, with the roster.”

The Patriots sent incumbent third running back Terrell Jennings, who was ruled out on the final injury report due to a concussion, to injured reserve in a corresponding move. The club also elevated defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III from the practice squad for Sunday.

Jennings, 24, will now miss the final four games of the regular season before being eligible to return. The 6-foot, 217-pound rusher had not practiced since entering concussion protocol in the first half against the New York Giants prior to the bye week.

A rookie minicamp tryout in 2024, Jennings has appeared in 10 games during his run in Foxborough. Signed back to the active roster from the practice squad in October, the Florida A&M alum’s career includes 115 yards and one touchdown acriss 37 touches from scrimmage. He has added three tackles on special teams this campaign while also returning two kickoffs for 59 yards.

Taylor, 23, joined New England’s practice squad in the fall after clearing waivers elsewhere in the AFC East. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive lineman went undrafted out of the University of Miami in 2024, and appeared in 16 games while a member of the New York Jets.

During his initial stint in the division, Taylor logged 27 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a pair of batted passes through 308 snaps on defense and 14 snaps on special teams.

Sunday’s kickoff at Gillette Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET.
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Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/new-engl...r-place-terrell-jennings-ir-nfl-week-15-bills
 
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