The Buffalo Bills were the first team to ever shut out the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Week 4. But that game might as well have taken place in another universe.
With Tom Brady still serving his DeflateGate suspension and backup Jimmy Garoppolo out with a shoulder injury, the Patriots started rookie third-stringer Jacoby Brissett. He was battling a thumb injury during the game and didn't play well. Suffice to say, the Patriots are a much different team now. In the three weeks since Brady returned, they've beaten their opponents by an average of 16 points. It looks like the Bills may be next.
This contest will be televised on CBS and is available online in multiple ways. Verizon customers can stream it on mobile devices through the NFL's official app and it's also available on DirecTV's Sunday Ticket streaming package for eligible households.
Last week, with Ben Roethlisberger out of the lineup, the Patriots faced Landry Jones when they took on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite making a plethora of mistakes -- two lost fumbles, dropped passes on third down, a missed extra-point -- the Patriots still walked away with a 27-16 victory. The Steelers failed to capitalize on any of their mistakes.
The game broke open for the Patriots when Tom Brady connected with Rob Gronkowski for a couple of big passes in the third quarter. Gronkowski scored his 68th career touchdown pass, which brings him within one of the team's all-time record, 69. The irony did not escape him after the game.
If Gronkowski put the Steelers on the ropes, then LeGarrette Blount finished them off. He rushed for his career-high eighth touchdown in the win and finished with 127 yards. As Pats Pulpit notes in its recap, Blount got revenge against his former team.
The Patriots' defense doesn't seem dominant, but they've allowed the fourth-fewest points in the league. With a 6-1 record, the Patriots are firm control of the AFC. They can expand their lead in the AFC East to three games with a win over the Bills, which they're favored to do.
The Bills were on a roll heading into last Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, but then they got pulverized on the game. They allowed 256 yards rushing in their 28-25 loss, including 214 to running back Jay Ajayi. In the words of Buffalo Rumblings, the Bills were battered and bruised. That's certainly not the way Rex Ryan -- or any coach, for that matter --wants his team to play defense.
How to watch
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Place: New Era Field, Buffalo
TV: CBS
Announcers: Ian Eagle, Rich Gannon, Evan Washburn
Online: Sunday Ticket
Team details
Records: Patriots 6-1, Bills 4-3
Game details: Everything you need to know about this game.
Last week's results: Patriots beat Steelers 27-16; Dolphins beat Bills 28-25
Odds: New England is favored by 4.5 points, according to Oddsshark
What's next: The Patriots will head to their bye week. The Bills take on the Seahawks in Seattle.