**Patriots-Bills Preview: Buffalo’s Lip Service to Pats Reveals a Troubling Truth**
Remember the days when we used to fret over the Patriots’ “unimpressive” wins? Those were abundant in the last decade. Barely squeaking by the Jets? Struggling to finish off the Dolphins? We would spend an entire week in an uproar.
But expectations have changed. Now, we can’t even fathom a victory for the Patriots on Sunday against the Bills. A mediocre performance is also a long shot. The new goal? Don’t get completely blown out. Make sure you can at least see the Bills in your rearview mirror when the fourth quarter begins.
Imagine a world where the Patriots have halftime deficits of 79-9 in four out of their five losses (Raiders 13-3, Saints 21-0, Cowboys 28-3, Dolphins 17-3). In their other loss to the Eagles, they went down 16-0 in the first quarter. That’s a combined score of 95-9 in their five losses. Week after week, against both good and not-so-good teams, the Patriots stumble right from kickoff.
When asked on Friday if there was anything the team could do to start faster, a defeated-sounding Bill Belichick replied, “I don’t know how much more we could put into it. We emphasize it a lot, we’ve analyzed it every week, and we’ve given it a lot of attention. So, we’ll see what the results are. But yes, we look at it a lot, talk about it a lot, and try to position ourselves as best as we can at the start of the game. I’m sure every team does that too. But obviously, it needs to be better. We are aware of it and working to make it better.”
So, with an injury report longer than a novel, what makes anyone think Sunday’s game against the Bills will be any different? The Bills have won six out of their last seven matchups against the Patriots (the one loss being the wind game in 2021, which they avenged with a 47-17 playoff victory).
Bills players and coaches have been diplomatic in their words this week, expressing respect for the Patriots and their accomplishments. But let’s be real, the Bills aren’t afraid of the Patriots anymore. Well-coached teams don’t start flat, have brief flashes of competence, and then fall apart. The Patriots’ struggles indicate poor coaching. And teams that play well don’t start the season 1-5.
As it stands, the Bills are comfortably among the top teams in the league, while the Patriots are closer to the bottom. It’s no consolation that the Patriots have faced the second-hardest schedule, with opponents boasting a combined winning percentage of .622. The Patriots have struggled against both elite teams and average ones. Their offensive line can’t provide adequate protection, leading to rookie quarterback Mac Jones making hasty decisions. The lack of surrounding talent at the skill positions only compounds the problem.
This week might not be any better for the Patriots. The team’s culture has dwindled since 2021, and opposing teams that used to pay reverence to the Patriots now see them as a potential victory waiting to happen.
Sunday’s game could turn ugly. The fanbase’s patience has worn thin. They expected Belichick to steer the team out of their 2022 slump and into mediocrity, but questionable roster decisions and poor drafts have left the Patriots with a subpar group of offensive players. Add to that an injury report as long as a grown man’s arm.
The Patriots’ quarterback situation sums up their struggles. Jones, a stationary quarterback with mediocre arm strength, is left to fend for himself behind a leaky offensive line without a proficient right tackle. The offense lacks a reliable slot receiver and a third-down back. DeVante Parker, their presumed No. 1 receiver, would be a No. 3 on an average team. JuJu Smith-Schuster, brought in as a replacement for Jakobi Meyers, has been ineffective or injured all year. Jones is constantly under pressure, resulting in him making sideways throws out of fear and a lack of faith in his protection.
The Patriots made a misstep by cutting veteran backup Brian Hoyer, leaving them without an experienced player to cover for Jones in case of injury or poor performance. Last week, they had undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham as the backup, not because of his throwing ability but because he can move around due to the poor offensive line. They also lost faith in Jones’ previous backup, Bailey Zappe.
In 2014, when the Patriots drafted Jimmy Garoppolo to back up Tom Brady, Belichick emphasized the importance of depth and competitive depth, so the team wouldn’t suffer a drastic decline if any player got injured. Unfortunately, the Patriots have not managed their quarterback position effectively, among other things, in recent years.
The Bills, on the other hand, have little sympathy for the Patriots’ predicament. It’s safe to say they will be out for revenge on Sunday.
Prediction: Bills 37, Patriots 16
