Bills vs. Patriots Line, Odds, Predictions: Buffalo Cruises to Victory

Buffalo Bills are favored to win against the New England Patriots, who are experiencing a rough season. Quarterback Mac Jones has regressed, and the team lacks key players.

The Buffalo Bills are entering the weekend as the league's biggest favorite for the second consecutive week. Despite their failure to cover against the Giants and their near loss, they are once again favored by more than a touchdown as they prepare to face the New England Patriots on the road.

The game is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, and it will be televised on CBS.

The main question surrounding this game is which version of the Bills will show up, particularly in terms of quarterback Josh Allen's performance. In their six games this season, the Bills have displayed two distinct sides. In three games, they have looked like legitimate Super Bowl contenders and one of the best teams in the NFL. However, in the other three games, they have struggled with slow offensive starts, turnovers, and either suffered defeats (against the New York Jets and Jacksonville) or barely escaped with unimpressive wins (against the New York Giants). While the Bills possess the potential and talent to put together a dominant performance, they have yet to do so consistently this season.

On the other hand, the performance of the Patriots has been consistently poor throughout the season. This season's Patriots team is arguably the worst in the Bill Belichick era and quite possibly the worst team in the entire league. They have been blown out by teams like Dallas and New Orleans, and they even lost a game against a team that played with a backup quarterback for half of the game. Offensively and defensively, the Patriots rank near the bottom of the league in almost every major category. Quarterback Mac Jones has experienced regression from his rookie season, and the offensive line in front of him is struggling. Moreover, the team lacks impactful skill position players, and their defense is missing key starters in pass rusher Matthew Judon and rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

It is worth noting that the Patriots being home underdogs is a rarity, as this has only occurred 16 times since 2003. In the previous 15 instances, they have posted a 7-8 record against the spread. However, in the post-Tom Brady era, their performance as home underdogs has been less impressive, with a 3-7 record. This includes a 1-6 record in the era of Mac Jones.

In conclusion, the Buffalo Bills have shown glimpses of being a top Super Bowl contender, but they have also faced challenges with slow starts and offensive struggles. The New England Patriots, on the other hand, are enduring a difficult season, marked by blowout losses and a lackluster performance from their quarterback and key positions. The Patriots have historically struggled as home underdogs, and their recent record in such games does not inspire confidence.