Week 11 : We're on to (play) Buffalo

NFL Week 11 Early Advanced Lines: Pats favored by 9½ vs Bills

John Morgan

For the second straight week a game involving the Patriots shapes up to be one of, if not the most compelling matchup of the week. This is one of only three week 11 games (Packers-Vikings, Bengals-Cardinals) between two teams with winning records. It will also be a time where New England fans can “welcome” ESPN to Gillette Stadium and let them know how they feel about their integrity and unbiased reporting.

Week 11 is also the first time that the NFL and their broadcast partners can utilize flex scheduling, and they justifiably took advantage of that opportunity. The Chiefs and Chargers have a combined record of 5-12; their game has been moved out of the Sunday night prime time slot. NBC will now broadcast Cincinnati at Arizona; those two clubs have a combined record of 14-2. In addition a key NFC matchup between the Packers and Vikings has been pushed back to the late afternoon time slot. Previously the only late game on FOX, Seattle at San Francisco was looking like a dud; neither of those teams have winning records and the Niners have by far the most impotent offense in the league.

Happy Birthday to Leon Gray, who would have turned 64 today. The left tackle lined up alongside John Hannah to form what may have been the most formidable left side of an offensive line in NFL history. Behind those two the Patriots set an NFL record in 1978 with 3,165 yards rushing, and he was a vital part of those great 1976 and 1978 teams that should have (if not for Ben Dreith) and could have (if not for the cheapness of Billy Sullivan) been NFL champions. Gray was a four time Pro Bowler and three time All Pro. Sadly he passed away in 2001 just days before his 50th birthday; in 2013 his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the NFL. Number 70 was was named to the Patriots’ All-Decade team for the 1970s, and was a finalist for the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2013 and 2015.

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We're onto Buffalo

Saxy Wrexy coming to town... ☺

Is this not the funniest thing you've ever read? Bills fans bragging about beating our backups last season in week 17, after we had the top seed locked up.

http://boards.buffalobills.com/showthread.php?521802-The-last-time-the-Patriots-were-beaten

Bills fans to commit mass suicide after witnessing another ass whooping at the hands of NE.

Hoping for the return of Collins, Vollmer, and Cannon. This would go a long way to feeling better about this game..

DaBruinz said:

Hoping for the return of Collins, Vollmer, and Cannon. This would go a long way to feeling better about this game..

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As I just said on another thread, I think we may seem some, or all, held out for the Denver game. We have a game in hand for the #1 seed and a win at Denver, on the road on a short week, would virtually clinch a bye. I don't think Bill will push his luck, I expect some of the "almost ready" list to be inactive again and return against Denver.

Hard to predict with Vollmer and Collins since concussions are never the same and nobody really knows what the deal with Collins is. I don't think we'll see Cannon this week. Toe injuries have a way of lingering and have hampered and ended careers. Jack Lambert back in day got one and was never the same.

I expect we will get a few guys back but sit the ones closer to the borderline. The key for me this game is the defense and the OL. Getting back Vollmer would solve just about all your OL problems... Flemming is more apt to do well at RT and Stork can man a guard spot and it just slots everyone to a much more natural position.

The D just needs to do what is has been doing for the most part. It has had some bad plays but overall has done well. Some things I am looking for

Marshall/Decker vs Butler/Ryan part 2 - This is going to be a good measuring stick for the DBs to see how far they have come. We are now half a season removed from the game but will get the match ups as before. I want to see them do better than last time particular if Butler is on Decker again.

Edit: Durr! Ignore the above part.

Pass Rush - The Patriots probably will not match there 7 or so sack performance from week 2 this coming week. I want to see them get a few sacks and a lot of pressure though. the pass rush has been meh the last few games and with Sheard getting back to form the unit is fairly healthy as far as the front 4 goes and I want to see them show it.

Those are the main things. Hopefully no more injuries!

BobDigital said:

I expect we will get a few guys back but sit the ones closer to the borderline. The key for me this game is the defense and the OL. Getting back Vollmer would solve just about all your OL problems... Flemming is more apt to do well at RT and Stork can man a guard spot and it just slots everyone to a much more natural position.

The D just needs to do what is has been doing for the most part. It has had some bad plays but overall has done well. Some things I am looking for

Marshall/Decker vs Butler/Ryan part 2 - This is going to be a good measuring stick for the DBs to see how far they have come. We are now half a season removed from the game but will get the match ups as before. I want to see them do better than last time particular if Butler is on Decker again.

Pass Rush - The Patriots probably will not match there 7 or so sack proformance from week 2 this coming week. I want to see them get a few sacks and a lot of pressure though. the pass rush has been meh the last few games and with Sheard getting back to form the unit is fairly healthy as far as the front 4 goes and I want to see them show it.

Those are the main things. Hopefully no more injuries!

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You're thinking of the wrong division rival.

BelichickFan said:

As I just said on another thread, I think we may seem some, or all, held out for the Denver game. We have a game in hand for the #1 seed and a win at Denver, on the road on a short week, would virtually clinch a bye. I don't think Bill will push his luck, I expect some of the "almost ready" list to be inactive again and return against Denver.

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I know what you said in the other thread. And I 100% disagree. Every game is important and divisional games moreso. Bill has never subscribed to the idea that you are talking about unless he was forced to (ie. LaFell).. Otherwise, when players are 100%, he gets them back in there.

BelichickFan said:

As I just said on another thread, I think we may seem some, or all, held out for the Denver game. We have a game in hand for the #1 seed and a win at Denver, on the road on a short week, would virtually clinch a bye. I don't think Bill will push his luck, I expect some of the "almost ready" list to be inactive again and return against Denver.

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i think belichick has always had his eye towards the denver game when it comes to dealing with this year's injuries. if we can beat the giants on the road without collins, vollmer and cannon, we can win at home against buffalo without them too.

TommyBrady12 said:

i think belichick has always had his eye towards the denver game when it comes to dealing with this year's injuries. if we can beat the giants on the road without collins, vollmer and cannon, we can win at home against buffalo without them too.

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And I'm not saying he'll hold them out for the hell of it. Just that if it's a close call I think he'll lean towards not playing them whereas the following week I think he'd lean towards playing them.

FourierSeries said:

Is this not the funniest thing you've ever read? Bills fans bragging about beating our backups last season in week 17, after we had the top seed locked up.

http://boards.buffalobills.com/showthread.php?521802-The-last-time-the-Patriots-were-beaten

Bills fans to commit mass suicide after witnessing another ass whooping at the hands of NE.

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I'm on that forum and have been for YEARS, but I was at the game last year and it meant something to me for different reasons even if it was completely meaningless to most of you and other football fans. I don't really see anybody bragging about it except i gues if you interpret the O.P.'s post as bragging....

that would've been my 3rd bills-pats game in NE with my late father-in-law who was an avid pats fan. he was tragically killed in a vehicle accident months prior to that game so my wife came with me for the first time and we had a blast and enjoyed the game.

you have a lot of fans who suffered through some pretty miserable years like we do, I remember when the bills were good so I'm with the lucky few.... it was nice to get our first win especially given my circumstances.

We will have a better idea who will play when we see the injury report tomorrow. I want to see the "DNPs" move to "Limited" or better and the "Limiteds" move to ""Full". Especially Collins, Vollmer, Cannon and Martin.

I am also interested in the welcoming:

It will also be a time where New England fans can “welcome” ESPN to Gillette Stadium and let them know how they feel about their integrity and unbiased reporting.

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How many days have the Bills had off? How much time to get ready? How many days did the Texans have off? This game worries me. They better have Collins and Volmer back.

Mack Herron said:

We will have a better idea who will play when we see the injury report tomorrow. I want to see the "DNPs" move to "Limited" or better and the "Limiteds" move to ""Full". Especially Collins, Vollmer, Cannon and Martin.

I am also interested in the welcoming: ESPN

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It's weird, ESPN is right in Bristol, CT (no hometown love).... maybe still jilted about Hartford? lol

DaBruinz said:

Hoping for the return of Collins, Vollmer, and Cannon. This would go a long way to feeling better about this game..

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If we get all 3 of those back, I'm confident we win. Hell, even if we just get back the 3 OL we should be fine.

Billsfanonapatsforum said:

It's weird, ESPN is right in Bristol, CT (no hometown love).... maybe still jilted about Hartford? lol

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ESPN's allegiance is in their wallet.

This game should scare Pats fans more than it seems to be.

Brady tossed the ball 59(!!!!) Times the first time these teams met, with a lot of short routes and quick outs. Of the 507 yards of offense, 250 came from Lewis and Edelman. The major advantage we had in that game was creating confusion with their linebackers and forcing guys to cover quick cut players, while our oline held up long enough to slow the pass rush.

With our oline in shambles and missing our two best short route pass catchers, the task will be much more difficult this time around.

I imagine gronk will be almost triple teamed, with single coverage on dola and lafell. I imagine Rex will challenge white/chandler/Dobson to beat them.

denverpatsfan said:

How many days have the Bills had off? How much time to get ready? How many days did the Texans have off? This game worries me. They better have Collins and Volmer back.

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What does Houston having days off have to do with this game?

everlong said:

Hard to predict with Vollmer and Collins since concussions are never the same and nobody really knows what the deal with Collins is. I don't think we'll see Cannon this week. Toe injuries have a way of lingering and have hampered and ended careers. Jack Lambert back in day got one and was never the same.

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Weren't people saying they were expecting him to be good to go early this week?