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The Buffalo Bills Week 16 opponent, the New England Patriots is a very familiar one these two franchises have battled it out twice a year in the AFC East for the past 62 years. The rivalry goes back to 1960 when New England was called the Boston Patriots. It remained that way for ten years, but even as the name changed, the rivalry stayed the same. Over the years, the Patriots lead the all-time series between the two franchises, 77-45-1.
That record includes a 37-5 overall mark for the Patriots over the Bills since Bill Belichick took over as head coach over two decades ago. The Bills were able to beat the Patriots twice in the same year in 2020–the first time they had done so since 1993–but that momentum did not carry over to 2021 as the Patriots took out the Bills in Buffalo 14-10 earlier this season. Here are four bold predictions from Sunday's Bills-Patriots game on how Buffalo can get back in the win column and back into the AFC East race.
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Buffalo Bills Week 16 predictions
4. Josh Allen will have a lincoln game (four scores)
In his first game since being one of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs of 2021, Bills quarterback Josh Allen will have his first four-score game in over a month. That last time was a Thanksgiving night game against the New Orleans Saints, so maybe Allen is saving them all for the holidays. This game being played the day after Christmas should do the trick.
3. Josh Allen will be sacked four times
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After allowing zero sacks during a 5-2 start to the season, the Bills' offensive line has collapsed around Josh Allen. Due in part to their inabilities in the run-game, teams have been able to pin their proverbial ears back and attack Allen off of the edge. In the last seven games, Allen has been sacked 18 times and the Bills have gone 3-4 in the process. The Patriots will use Matthew Judon to their advantage this week and it will create havoc for the Bills.
2. The Bills defense will also have four sacks
This is how the Bills will stay in the game. Much like their first matchup, this one figures to be another low-scoring affair, with the over/under set at just 43.5 total points scored. The Bills are just 27th in the NFL in sacks per game, but they will need them this week if they plan to compete. The Patriots famously threw the ball just three times in the previous matchup, so this prediction is certainly bold.
1. The Bills will force three turnovers
Once again, the Patriots could take this prediction out of the picture if they employ their strategy from Week 13's matchup between the two teams. But, we are not expecting that type of game this weekend. The Bills know that they cannot afford to play another grind-it-out type of game against the Patriots and will come out of the gates hot by scoring a touchdown on their opening possession.
