pinned
Catch up on what you may have missed from the Patriots this week
▪ What to watch for in Bills-Patriots rematch? Here are four things to keep an eye on.
▪ Here’s your Patriots-Bills game day weather forecast
▪ The Patriots are the hottest team in the NFL. So why are they home underdogs to the Bills on Sunday?
▪ After the bye week, the Patriots’ health trending in the right direction
▪ Gasper: Years later, the dynasty Patriots continue to win, this time with the Chiefs’ demise
▪ Three up, three down, and three to watch for the Patriots in Week 15 against the Bills
▪ Stefon Diggs has had his eyes on Bills CB Christian Benford since he was a rookie
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Here’s how the Globe’s writers think this will go — 12:30 p.m.
Christopher Price: Patriots 38, Bills 35. A classic shootout. Buffalo will be able to move the ball against the Patriots — particularly on the ground with Josh Allen and James Cook — but the Bills’ defense has struggled in recent weeks. Look for Drake Maye to put up his first career 300-plus yard passing game as New England celebrates a division title.
Dan Shaughnessy: Bills 27, Patriots 17. Remember when we thought a well-timed loss might be the best thing for the 2007 Patriots? Well, it never happened. They got to 18-0, then were stunned in the Super Bowl by the Giants. So let’s call this New England’s well-timed loss in their march to another Lombardi trophy.
Nicole Yang: Patriots 35, Bills 27. The Patriots keep it rolling and get their hats and t-shirts.
A look at Sunday’s officiating crew — 12:20 p.m.
John Hussey will work as the lead official today. According to NFLPenalties.com, Hussey and his crew are less inclined than most officiating crews when it comes to throwing flags; their 12.92 per game average is eighth-lowest in the league. His most frequently called penalty is false starts (37). Only four other crews have called more false start penalties this season than Hussey’s team. — Christopher Price
The Globe staff’s players to watch — 12:00 p.m.
Here’s who the Globe reporters and columnists are keeping an eye on.
Patriots
Stefon Diggs. The last time these two teams played, Diggs erupted for his best game of the season — 10 receptions for 146 yards. The Patriots like to spread the ball around on offense, so Diggs has been quiet the past two games with just five catches for 46 yards. Diggs has said all the right things about his target share, but he’s also said that all receivers admittedly want the ball. Today, against his former team, seems like a good time to feature him again, especially since Buffalo’s top cornerback, Christian Benford, is sidelined (toe). — Nicole Yang
Marcus Jones. Interception or whopper punt return. It’s just about always one or the other with this guy. — Dan Shaughnessy
Hunter Henry. The remarkably consistent tight end has been a steadying presence for Drake Maye over the last year-plus, rising to the challenge time and again to make plays for the quarterback. In the biggest game of the season, expect the veteran to come through again this afternoon. He may not have the overwhelming offensive numbers of some of his teammates in the passing game, but he’s a safe bet to make an important play with the game on the line. — Christopher Price
Bills
James Cook. Cook has been an incredibly productive back this season, leading the league in carries and ranking second in rushing yards (behind only Jonathan Taylor). But he also leads the league in fumbles. With today’s weather conditions, the Patriots should be aggressive in punching the ball out. In the Bills’ four losses this season, they’ve lost the turnover battle by a combined 11-3. — Nicole Yang
Josh Allen. Here’s his chance to say he’s The Man in the AFC East. If not, he cedes his crown to Drake Maye. — Dan Shaughnessy
James Cook. The Bills have a solid and steady ground attack, and with the New England run defense struggling in recent weeks (in large part because of the absence of Milton Williams), Cook and Josh Allen have the capability to gash the Patriots throughout the afternoon. If Buffalo wins, it’ll be because of Cook and its ground game. — Christopher Price
Who’s inactive for the Bills? — 11:45 a.m.
By Christopher Price
Inactive for the Bills: WR Gabe Davis, OT Tylan Grable, OT Chase Lundt, DT Phidarian Mathis, LB Terrel Bernard, CB Christian Benford, S Darnell Savage.
Christian Benford’s absence for the Bills is very big. The young corner, who has emerged as one of the best young defensive backs in the league over the last month, won’t be able to go today because of a toe issue.
Who’s inactive for the Patriots? — 11:30 a.m.
The Patriots will be without Bradyn Swinson, Marcus Bryant, Eric Gregory, C.J. Dippre, and Efton Chism on Sunday. Tommy DeVito will be the emergency third quarterback.
Left guard Jared Wilson and special teams ace Brenden Schooler, who both missed the Patriots’ Week 13 win over the Giants, will return to the lineup Sunday.
Four things to watch in Patriots-Bills Sunday — 11:15 a.m.
By Nicole Yang
In Week 5, the Patriots put themselves on the map with a 23-20 upset of the Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y.
In Week 15, they have a chance to officially assert themselves as serious contenders.
Here are four things to watch for Sunday at Gillette Stadium …
1. How will the left side of the offensive line hold up?
After missing one game with a high ankle sprain, starting left guard Jared Wilson is set to make his return. Wilson was a full participant in practice this week and does not have a designation for this game, meaning he should be ready to go.
Starting left tackle Will Campbell remains on injured reserve, so Vederian Lowe will once again step in. Lowe, who had a disappointing 2024 season, fared well in Week 13.
It’s a snowy one in Foxborough — 11:00 a.m.
By Ken Mahan
Patriots fans are in for some wintry weather at Gillette Stadium, with subfreezing temperatures and scattered to steady snow showers expected to linger in the Foxborough area early Sunday afternoon amid mostly cloudy to overcast skies. A bit of a slight breeze will drop wind chills closer to 20 degrees during game time as a storm system nears the region.
Snow falls on Gillette Stadium before the Patriots hots the Bills.Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe StaffShaughnessy: Patriots can reclaim AFC East against ‘filling in’ Bills — 10:45 a.m.
By Dan Shaughnessy
They are the Mike Vrabel-Drake Maye Patriots now, and Sunday at Gillette Stadium they have a chance to clinch their first AFC East championship.
Not so long ago — when we watched the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady Patriots, winning the division was something that happened here annually — like February Fenway Truck Day, the Pops on the Fourth, and Allston Christmas on Labor Day Weekend. From 2001-19, the Patriots won the AFC East 17 times in 19 seasons.
That all ended when Brady left. Belichick lost his way, and the Patriots wandered aimlessly across the NFL landscape. Five long years came and went with no division titles and no playoff victories.
Now it is the holiday season and we have this unexpected gift of the 2025 Patriots. A franchise that won four games in each of the last two seasons comes into this weekend with the best record in the NFL (tied with the Broncos), 10 straight victories, and a chance to win the AFC East Sunday.
There is great symbolism and symmetry in the presence of Josh Allen and the Bills at Gillette. Buffalo replaced New England atop the AFC East in 2020 and has finished first every year since. With a win, the Patriots have a chance to say, “Thanks for filling in, guys. We’ve got it from here.”
Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com. Emma Healy can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @ByEmmaHealy. Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Christopher Price can be reached at christopher.price@globe.com. Follow him on Bluesky at christopherprice.bsky.social. Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com. Follow her on X @nicolecyang. Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at daniel.shaughnessy@globe.com. Follow him @dan_shaughnessy.