Patriots Pregame Show 12/14: Bills vs. Patriots Preview

Tune-in as we preview the Patriots Week 15 divisional matchup against the Buffalo Bills. We share our keys to the game, matchups/players to watch, react to inactives, and more! We discuss the weight of the game and it's implications on the AFC East and playoffs. Plus, Mike Catalana from Wham and the Buffalo Plus Podcast joins to share observations and opinions from the Bills' perspective.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
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Speaker 2 (00:20):
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Speaker 1 (00:27):
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Speaker 3 (00:34):
Get by first Till Tellers and then.

Speaker 1 (00:37):
Johnson Patriots Nation. Welcome to the Patriots Pregame Show fueled
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Speaker 4 (00:43):
Patriots Fans, you've heard it all week long. The Patriots
looking to clinch the AFC East here in Foxborough against
of course, the divisional arrival, the Buffalo Bills. Paulparolos here,
Mike do So, I'm Kwannie Lunis and I know you
too are excited about this matchup.

Speaker 3 (00:58):
That's a big game feeling in the air.

Speaker 5 (01:00):
Game vibe here today, absolutely hat and T shirts all
that stuff, but there you can you can feel there's
a different intensity in the stadium today, Mike, I felt
it even walking in there was you know, got in
roughly the same time I always do. There were more
people already with their tailgates set.

Speaker 3 (01:15):
Up today than you normally get.

Speaker 6 (01:17):
Yeah, I saw some bills fans out there. No tables
being broken, nobody being thrown through any tables just yet.
But Paul's right, a little bit of snow, a little
bit of atmosphere. I don't think the weather's gonna be
a major factor. Maybe a little bit slippery, but it's
not windy, it's not heavy snow. It's just enough to
give this game a little bit of atmosphere. But I'd
go back to that twenty nineteen playoff game, Paul. Mike
Rabele was here on the other sidelines with Tennessee.

Speaker 7 (01:37):
That's probably the biggest game.

Speaker 6 (01:38):
I know this isn't a playoff game, but that's the
last time you felt that kind of juice and energy
in this in this building.

Speaker 7 (01:43):
It's going to be a ROCKUS crowd today, I would agree.

Speaker 4 (01:45):
In The big headliner, of course, will be Josh Allen
versus Drake May. We'll obviously talk about that, you know,
the matchup later on in the show, But I think
it's time we get into the keys of the game.

Speaker 7 (01:55):
Jump in.

Speaker 8 (01:57):
You waited all week for the whole teams locker room
right now just listening to this, waiting to hear what
you're gonna say here.

Speaker 3 (02:07):
It is an MVP matchup. I mean, if we want to,
you know, get into the keys. I do think you
know a lot of it's going to come down to
those quarterbacks. It always does. But in my view, which
one of those guys gets more support?

Speaker 5 (02:24):
You know, which one? You know, does Josh Allen have
to do the superman thing? Does Drake May have to
be as perfect as he was in the first game
against the Bills, because that was that still to me,
maybe the best best I've ever seen him throw the
ball consistently. He had more tight window throws in that
second half, and he had to be perfect in that game,

(02:45):
and he was. You know, so does he get you know,
which one of those guys has to has a little
bit more help this time around? Josh Allen didn't get
a whole lot of help in the first one. Drake May,
did you know, with Stefan Diggs you know, coming up
with ten catches for a buck forty six, which supporting cast,
so to speak, is.

Speaker 7 (03:06):
Going to offers more.

Speaker 8 (03:07):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (03:07):
Well, you look at this Bill's run defense and you
say there might be something there to take advantage of.

Speaker 7 (03:10):
We've been saying that all year though. With this Patriots
rushing offense.

Speaker 6 (03:13):
The guy I'd look at those Ramondre Stevenson, and you know,
he missed a few games with a tow injury. He's
back now, he's had a couple games under his belt,
he's had the bye week. But you know, when you
look at the numbers thirty two point four rushing yards
per game, can he be one of the guys that
steps up and gives Drake Made some support. Maybe it
is a little slippery out there. Maybe it's a good
time to break some tackles for Ramondre Stevenson. You look

(03:35):
at that big play had against Miami, that big reception,
I think it was about fifty five yards. You know,
other than that, you haven't really seen Remondre chip in
and in a major way this season, and I think
this is the perfect game for him to potentially step
up and really do what bal Paul said, give them
some balance. You're looking at this Bill's run defense that
we already know is going to be a little short
handed based on the on the inactive So it's an

(03:56):
area to take advantage of. I'd love Travan Henderson to
some explosiveness, but more Stevenson, big tough guy, can break
some tackles down.

Speaker 7 (04:04):
Hear the goal line.

Speaker 6 (04:04):
We've talked about red zone as well, like de Seper
Wonder Steves to be a factor.

Speaker 5 (04:08):
Yeah, and we should probably mention that the inactives, you know,
are trickling out, and you know, good news for the
Patriots in that there was one guy list that is
questionable and it was a pretty important guy in Robert Splaine.

Speaker 3 (04:18):
And he's he's up, he's ready to go today.

Speaker 5 (04:22):
So otherwise for the Patriots, you know, all the normal
kind of backups Eric Gregory, Fton Chisholm, Braden Swinson, c J.

Speaker 3 (04:30):
DePree.

Speaker 5 (04:31):
Uh, you know, so like the nobody really you know
that that's not on you know, obviously missing Will Campbell
and Milton Williams, they're on ir they weren't eligible to
play in this game for the Bills. Some bad news
for them, they got an injury during the course of
the week to what a lot of people are calling
their best defensive player in Christian Bedford. He's not playing today,
so that's a that's a big positive development for New England.

(04:55):
That's a big part of their secondary. They'll be playing without.

Speaker 9 (04:59):
More.

Speaker 5 (05:00):
We'll put Maxwell Hairston, you know, I think into a
larger role, the rookie who's played well at times during
the course of the year, but chips away your depth,
so that that's an edge. And Terrell Bernard is a
linebacker that's been out for a while. You know, it
looked like he had a chance to track back into
the lineup. Not going to happen, So I think that

(05:20):
puts sha Shaq Thompson still, you know in that spot
which you know, talking to some guys, and we're going
to talk to Mike Catalana a little later when we
do our Behind Enemy Lines segment. Got a chance to
speak with him a little bit before the show and
he said that that's actually been a reasonably positive developed
for them, development for them.

Speaker 3 (05:37):
He's played well.

Speaker 6 (05:38):
Yeah, Spencer Brown will be back in the lineup. That
right tackle, big monstrous guy that missed last week. So
that's a you know challenge for Harold Landry on the
edge be lining up across from him a lot. Harold Landry,
Joey Bosa back in miss some practice time as well,
you know, And I just to comment on spelling real quick.

Speaker 7 (05:54):
I mean, just an interesting one.

Speaker 6 (05:55):
A couple of weeks ago Monday Night Football, he saw
his snap start to reduce, wasn't on the injury report
initial part of this this week. Then he pops up
with a tow he's been limited. He was the only
guy who was questionable. I think he's a huge key today.
I mean, just we talk about they need to be
good against the run. That is Robert Spain getting guys
lined up, you know, tracking making plays, reading plays. We

(06:16):
talked this week with Evan and saying Buffalo likes to
run a lot of the same plays. And you look
at experienced middle linebacker like Robert Spolene, that intelligence that
he has, I think would you know, help keep the
Patriots defense maybe one step ahead. So curious to see
how much he's able to go today. They have Ellis
and Jack Gibbons, two guys who have played a lot
this year, so they have some depth there. But I
just think Robert Spolene really is one of those guys

(06:37):
who makes things go and other Just last one, Jared
Wilson back in the lineup. So we thought a couple
of weeks ago maybe he was going to be lost
with a high ankle spring for a while.

Speaker 7 (06:45):
Just missed a week.

Speaker 6 (06:47):
The bye week did him some good, so he's going
to be back in there as Well's you could sign
for the Patriots.

Speaker 4 (06:51):
We talked a lot about the run defense and even
just the red zone offense overall. But what would you
say is kind of the biggest red flag for you
when it comes to this match up against the Bills today.

Speaker 7 (07:02):
Josh Allen is the giant red flag. That is the
Josh Allen red flag.

Speaker 10 (07:07):
Man.

Speaker 6 (07:08):
I mean, look, and that's and that's you know, And
you don't want to put too much on Drake going
against Josh Allen. I mean they're not, you know, going
directly against each other. But that's the narrative of the game.
Josh Allen was the m v P last year. We're
seeing him start to surge and take his team on
his back as he is well capable of doing. He
can do it with his arm, he can do it
with his legs. So it's it's pretty simple to me today,

(07:29):
keep Cook contained, initially put the game on Josh Allen,
and then try to make the last sorry.

Speaker 3 (07:36):
Intrude into my key to the game.

Speaker 11 (07:39):
Dare you spoiler alert? Sorry to do it? All right,
now we get into the keys of the game.

Speaker 8 (07:49):
You waited all week for the whole teams in the
locker room right now just listening to this, waiting to
hear what you're going to say.

Speaker 12 (07:55):
Here are keys to the.

Speaker 7 (07:56):
Game, all right.

Speaker 11 (07:58):
That being said, because you did that first, you get
to go first.

Speaker 3 (08:04):
So I'm a little outside the box on this one.

Speaker 5 (08:07):
Originally, no one's really talked about the ability of you know,
the Bills to run the ball, So I actually think
this could be a sneaky cheat at the game here. No,
don't let James Cook. You know you've seen the last
couple of weeks their offense has been you know, certainly
against Cincinnati was it was unstoppable. Three weeks ago against Tampa,

(08:27):
similar kind of situation. The commonalities here are James Cook
getting it running, and against Pittsburgh the Steelers still haven't
been able to stop those simple plays. Now, the drawback
for Buffalo is he's coughed the ball up a few
times along the way. So if you do allow him
to get going, are you able to maybe force a
turnover or two to offset that? So but I think

(08:49):
this is the Bills become imminently easier to defend if
you make them one dimensional.

Speaker 3 (08:55):
So don't let James Cook get going in this one.

Speaker 7 (08:56):
Yeah. I like your point two, Paul.

Speaker 6 (08:58):
In the pregame, we were talking about that Pittsburg game
where Buffalo ran all over them, but I don't think
they scored their first offensive touchdout untill midway through the
third quarter. It's a scoring thing with the running backs,
and James Cook has the most carries in the league.
I mean, he's really starting to add up right now.
You wonder is he going to start to get a
little beat up. They've relied so heavily on him. But
I totally agree. You'll know right out of the gate.

(09:18):
Patriots defense last time they played Buffalo did a great
job early on of just containing him, not allowing the
big runs. I think, you know, four or five was
about as much as he got. Maybe he had a
six yard running there, but otherwise they were really clamping
down on him. And then you saw as the game
went on more more on Josh Allen. Now that's going
to lead into I think you and my key to
the game, but out of the gate, if you can

(09:40):
slow cook down and start to put the game more
on Allen's shoulders.

Speaker 7 (09:43):
I think it's a great thing.

Speaker 11 (09:44):
Absolutely agree.

Speaker 7 (09:45):
You go yours next, I.

Speaker 4 (09:48):
Lay it up and mine kind of ties into yours,
Paul when it comes to what overall, it's finished the fight,
and it's very big picture in the sense of we
know that this is an important game for the sake
of them clinching the AFC East. Overall, just one you've
beat the Bills before, we know that you're capable of
matching up against a team like this despite the personnel
on the field. But also making sure that that run

(10:09):
game is not what it looks supposed to look like
for the Buffalo Bills, making sure that this defense, which
is again one of the frustrations this season of that
run defense, making sure they're able to pressure the run
game and if they can Josh Allen. Earlier this week,
Mike Graby was talking about, you know the way that
Josh Allen is just so versatile. He knows how to

(10:30):
work the pocket, he knows how to work run the field,
whatever he needs to do so, just figure out ways
to disrupt him, figure out ways to not let them
get into the red zone, which obviously easier said than done.
But this is about finishing the fight, getting that AFC champ.
At the end of this post game show, we want
to be seeing hats and yeah, that's.

Speaker 7 (10:46):
You want a little more macro.

Speaker 6 (10:47):
I'm going to go a little bit more micro and
that is, you know, find out what did I say,
engage the clutch.

Speaker 7 (10:52):
I think this game is going to come down to
the very end.

Speaker 6 (10:54):
It's going to come down to which team executes in
the you know, the last half of that fourth quarter
and especially down to the final drive. And when you
look at the numbers this year, Josh Allen's got three
fourth quarter comebacks, He's got three game winning drives. You know,
Drake in his whole career, he's got one game winning drive,
no fourth quarter comebacks, and that game winning drive.

Speaker 7 (11:10):
Came against Buffalo earlier this season.

Speaker 6 (11:12):
So it might be on the table today that you're
going to need Drake to take the field with less
than two minutes left needing a score, or it might
be you're gonna have to stop Josh Allen on that
final drive, and we know how difficult that is. He's
consistently performed and is this going to be a changing
of the guard day? Is this going to be a
day where Drake May steps up and has that late,

(11:32):
you know, game sealing kind of drive or is it
going to be Josh Allen continued to do what Josh
Allen has done for the last you know, five six
years in this league.

Speaker 7 (11:39):
I mean, you have to respect the player that he
is and what he is capable of.

Speaker 6 (11:43):
If the Patriots let him take the field with a
chance to win that game, he better hold on your
hats because it's gonna be right down to the final play.

Speaker 4 (11:50):
And I like your changing of the guard point because
the frustrated shouldn't I'm sure for Patriots fans is like,
why are we comparing Josh Allen to Drake May? The
you know, the experience is different. Obviously the skill set
is there as well. But at the end of the day,
this Patriots team and Varibel's leadership has shown that they
have the potential to continue to be consistent in the AFC.
So this game I think is more important in that

(12:10):
sense of big picture. What does the future look like
for New England? And this game could be determining that.

Speaker 6 (12:16):
I mean, if I'm a Buffalo fan right now, I'm
looking at Kansas City and Cincinnati and Baltimore and saying,
these are the teams that have been challenging in the AFC,
and they might be if not completely out of the way,
they're going to be a road dog as it is.

Speaker 7 (12:28):
So this is your chance. You know, you can't let
Drake May and Bowe Nicks all of a sudden.

Speaker 6 (12:32):
Come out of nowhere in their second seasons and you know,
put you down and now you're going to have to
be the one traveling. So it's a huge opportunity for
both teams today and certainly for the Patriots to you know,
seal up a win, to get this AFC East Divisional title,
to really have something that they can hold in their
hand and say this has been an outstanding, you know,
first year. And then I'm not saying take your foot
off the gas over these last three games, because they'll

(12:53):
still be the number one seed on the buy, but
you know, you can have a degree of all right,
we don't quite need to have it pedal to the medal,
which if they lose this game, they're probably going to
have to right down to the end of the season,
be locked in right through week eighteen.

Speaker 5 (13:05):
Yeah, and this, and I think that's part of it,
and that's part of some of the intangible things that
I think favor of the Patriots today is just that
sort of grind that But the season's been a grind
for Buffalo because they just haven't seemed.

Speaker 3 (13:17):
To be healthy, clicking.

Speaker 5 (13:21):
I think they're short personnel wise, you know, even at
full strength, I don't think they have enough in terms
of weapons. It's why they're going out and you know,
signing a guy like Gabe Davis who's inactive today, and
you know, signing Brandon Cooks, you know, sort of off
the waiver wire. So I think there's been a lot
of things in Buffalo that just haven't been quite right.
And I think you're seeing it. You know, Mike, you

(13:42):
mentioned all the teams, and less so with Cincinnati, but
you know, Kansas City, Baltimore, Buffalo played a lot of football.
Those three teams have played a lot of extra football
over the last five years.

Speaker 3 (13:53):
We started in New England.

Speaker 5 (13:55):
And every once in a while, there was one of
those years with the Patriots where you look like, like,
oh nine, you're like, oh five. Yeah, you know, it
just doesn't seem right this year, you know, and they're
still good, you know, and there's there's there's still a threat.
You know, no one wants to play them in a
playoff game, but you just kind of wonder if they
a little out of gas.

Speaker 3 (14:14):
Is it's not going to happen this year?

Speaker 6 (14:15):
Yeah, that's usually too. You get down to this point
of the season, you say what team needs it more?
And I would say maybe as far as the standings,
you might say that the Bills need it more.

Speaker 7 (14:25):
But but I also think that the Patriots have more
of an opportunity today.

Speaker 6 (14:27):
You know, even if the Bills win today, they're going
to have to continue to fight and claw for.

Speaker 5 (14:32):
Every Yeah, like the division is probably still you know,
and I know Evan gets mad when I mentioned that
the Patriots. It's a big game for the Patriots. I'm
not going to pretend it's not. But if they lose it,
they still are the odds on favorite to win the division.

Speaker 13 (14:45):
Yeah.

Speaker 11 (14:45):
Yeah, And so you cow up a really good point.

Speaker 4 (14:47):
Right as our guests walked in, and before I introduce
our guests, I do have to let you know that
behind enemy Alliance is brought to you by Pepsi. Game
Day is here, so grab a refreshing Pepsi zero Sugar
twelve back now because tailgating deserves better and behind enemy lines.
Our guest today is Mike Catalana, who is from w
H A M and the Buffalo Plus podcast. But we

(15:09):
were talking to you before, yes, but also your roommate
is here, so we are very familiar with Schuler Matt.

Speaker 2 (15:19):
If he stinks in the segment, you can blame me there.

Speaker 7 (15:23):
I was the one who vouched for him.

Speaker 2 (15:24):
Matt had a line of Matt Morrell had a lineup
of people ready to go. I said, you bumped them
to just give this guy a shot. He goes, oh, yeah,
we had him on last year. He wasn't terrible. I said,
he wasn't terrible, So I think that's why we brought
him back.

Speaker 3 (15:36):
That's my goal, not terrible, not terrible.

Speaker 11 (15:42):
But Matt, you had an interesting question that you wanted
to pose, So.

Speaker 2 (15:45):
Mike, I did some show prep last year over a
couple of sud lights, and in that showp Mike brought
up a very interesting point about if the Bills were
to win today, and I'll let Mike expect on that.

Speaker 14 (15:59):
Look look at where these teams are right now and
New England, what they have done is impressive. A year
ago I was sitting here with you guys and it
wasn't going well. He was in a bad place, and
so here you are in this spot. And yes, I
know everybody talks about schedules and all this, but there
are things for them to prove. I think a loss

(16:20):
by the Patriots today could be beneficial to the Patriots
the way this game plays out, just because you don't
want that to happen round one of the playoffs. Like
they have been very very good. We all know about
the schedule. We know you've got a few breaks, like
the way you played. You know the team you played,
and you played the Bengals. The Bills just played all
of those guys and those guys didn't play. All of

(16:42):
that happens. They have taken advantage of all these opportunities,
but sometimes getting smacked in the face a little bit losing.
They're not going to lose, in my opinion, They're going
to win the division, right I think I think even
the Bills feel that way. So you're going to win
the division, going for the one seed. All those things
are important. I just don't think a loss would be
I think it can actually be a benefit to the Patriots.

(17:03):
Nobody wants to lose, but I think in the long
run it might be a good thing for him.

Speaker 7 (17:07):
I'm gonna remember that. Paul notes that if I'm seeing
a little down in but there's a little.

Speaker 3 (17:12):
Flashback eat to two thousand and seven.

Speaker 5 (17:14):
Yeah, sure, you know, and you know, a lot of
people after the fact felt like, you know, maybe in retrospect,
the burden of the winning streak, you know, kind of
weighed on them a little bit. There was building pressure
every week and that was obviously historic, right, and this
is just really really impressive. But again, you want the
one seed. Denver's you know, a good team. They're certainly

(17:35):
going to be better in Denver. Like all those things
would be helpful, but we'll see how it plays out
to that.

Speaker 2 (17:40):
So I'm I always like Paul, you know this about me,
I like the intangibles, which generally don't mean anything as
far as the relationship to the game. Which intangible do
you think means more? Is it that the Bills lost
in Buffalo and have something to prove as they want
to hold on to the streak of winning division titles
or is it? And you guys haven't really dealt to
that that much.

Speaker 3 (18:01):
The no respect card that.

Speaker 2 (18:02):
The Patriots have home dogs, you know, winners of ten straight,
which and chanted intangible do you think carries a little
bit more weakly game.

Speaker 5 (18:10):
I would have thought the Buffalo side was really big,
But Mike, you really downplay that because I think you
have sort of illustrated the Buffalo mindset. They've kind of
already handed the torch over in terms of the division.
I don't think this is maybe as big a game
for Buffalo as I thought.

Speaker 7 (18:26):
It might be.

Speaker 14 (18:27):
Look, they want to get a victory, they need it still,
they to you know, get in the playoffs and all
those things. I think they want their highest seed possible,
and look, if it happens, I think they would gladly
accept a six straight AFC East title. But they put
themselves in this spot by losing that Dolphins game, and
that is what makes it so tricky for them.

Speaker 5 (18:47):
Now, the postgame show talking about that Bill's lost to
the Dolphins at length and the importance.

Speaker 3 (18:52):
Of it, I wonder who that was good job.

Speaker 14 (18:58):
Now, Now that being said, Bills go out and win
the game today. You know, then it becomes a little
closer to top of mind here because now it's realistic,
more realistic. But look, their focus is making the playoffs,
and they've they've had their struggles this year, but they're
still nine and four. They're still a very good team.
It's just a matter of is it good enough to win?

Speaker 2 (19:16):
Mike Alaska this one, Paul was talking about his keys
with being Cooks running the ball, even though I know
you don't think they can score if Cooks is running
the ball, because you mentioned that about the Pittsburgh game,
But I would ask.

Speaker 3 (19:27):
You about that tight ends exclusively.

Speaker 5 (19:29):
No, I'm saying, like, if they do the Pittsburgh thing right,
they couldn't throw it, but they ran it all over
the place. But if they do like last week where
Cooks are running all over the place and they've thrown
it all over the place.

Speaker 3 (19:37):
Right, the Titans is going to play in this game
for Buffalo, Mike.

Speaker 14 (19:42):
I think it's in part because this wide receiver room
is not good for the Bills at all, and Josh
Allen still can put up points. And last week, we
know Cincinnati's historically bad well defense and against tight ends,
you know, and Dawson Knox got going, and Dalton kN
has been probably their best pass catcher this year. He's

(20:03):
dealt with injuries too. He was pretty good last week.
I think he'll be healthier this week. It seems like
he's coming around more. I think he uses them more
because they need to. The other thing I would say
is when the Bills offense gets going, he's been pretty good.
Alan is getting the ball to in the passing game
to both James Cook and Ty Johnson. Ti Johnson's a

(20:24):
guy people forget about a lot when he's involved in
their pass game. I think that helps him. I think
it's out of more out of necessity. I don't think
he really trusts this receiver group. Khalil she cares a
nice player. Kean Coleman's been a disappointment. Like they got
Brandon Cooks out there now, so it's a different group.
But yeah, I think if I was in the Bill spot,
and to your point about that Steelers game, they turned

(20:46):
it over twice in that first half when they were
removing the ball and then eventually got the defensive score
and scored. But Cooks is number one. A Cook is
number one, then Cook's and the wide receivers would be
pretty far down the list for how they how they
moved the football.

Speaker 4 (21:00):
That being said, do you feel as though Josh Allen
does have enough weapon We were just talking about that
to one win today, but also push throughout the rest
of the season.

Speaker 14 (21:09):
I mean, I hate to sound like this. He is
incredible with what he does with but I don't think
anybody would say is a great group round, very good
offensive line. They've been good. James Cook is one of
the best backs in the league, and like I said,
the tight ends are pretty good, but the wide receiver room,
he still finds a way to do it. And obviously,

(21:29):
when Josh uses his legs and runs, he's an elite
runner of the football. It is an absolute weapon. I
think that's I think if this Bills team is going
to win this game and win in the playoffs, it's
more of run the football and then let Josh be
Josh for five or six plays. It's hard to have

(21:49):
games like he had against Cincinnati where it's just crazy.
He's had three of those this year, Cincinnati, Tampa, and
the crazy fourth quarter against Baltimore. But I think in
the playoffs it's going to be more of running it
and then let Josh be Josh.

Speaker 2 (22:03):
Doude, do you think a scenario exists where you see
Christian Gonzalez maybe matchup against one of the tight ends
you know, situationally, No, really no, I mean.

Speaker 7 (22:12):
I don't know. That'd be way out, it'd be way
outside the norm.

Speaker 14 (22:14):
Okay, you know, I think it's funny.

Speaker 7 (22:17):
I was just thinking like like maybe I don't got
to have it play or something like that.

Speaker 3 (22:21):
I don't know.

Speaker 6 (22:21):
I just think he's got a size this disadvantage and
so those players are going to be whambam in the
middle of the field. You know, it's not gonna be
able to use Gonzalez's speed to you know, track those
guys far.

Speaker 14 (22:31):
It is funny. Sometimes we will see the Bills playing
against the team with a number one corner and we're like, well,
they advantage to not having a number.

Speaker 3 (22:38):
One wide receiver.

Speaker 14 (22:40):
I mean, they just do not have that guy on
this team, and Josh Allen still makes it work. However
it works. So yeah, it's funny when teams will say,
and I understand this, stop James Cook, make them a
passing team when you have Josh Allen.

Speaker 3 (23:00):
But that's the way.

Speaker 14 (23:02):
I think, that's the way you hurt the Bills is
stopping the run game first, To you.

Speaker 6 (23:06):
Get any sense with either the team or the fan
base that they look at what's going on in Kansas
City and Baltimore and say, there's an opportunity here, if
we can get into the playoffs, that we might not
have to deal with Patrick Mahomes or.

Speaker 7 (23:16):
Lamar Jatson this time around.

Speaker 14 (23:17):
Well, their focus obviously has been so much on Kansas
City the whole time, and then you guys come right
back here and it's the Patriots again, and this has
I would think it's kind of unnerved the fan base
a little bit that this happens so quickly here in Foxborough.
And I think it's mostly because of well, it's veryable too,
but it's the quarterback, because they see this young guy

(23:38):
and see the things he does. Now, he's been in
a pretty good spot most of the year, so I
think everybody's going to be looking to see how he
responds at this time of the year. But I don't
think there's any question when you look at the playoff race,
you're like, because I could say, the people, well, who
do you trust? And it usually does come down to
the quarterback, and you might have that guy the Bills
know they have that guy. Big moments, right, they've lost

(24:01):
big playoff games, but it's not because of josh Amayah.

Speaker 5 (24:03):
I was dead wrong about that. Fred, you know, called
that out when we were talking about the first game.
If the Patriots were to go there and win, you know,
how much would that change? And it was like, it's
a blip on the radar. You know, twelve weeks later,
it's not a blip on the radar. It's happened exactly
the way Fred sort of hypothesized about it.

Speaker 3 (24:20):
I mean, we haven't talked at all about the other
side of the ball. Mike. I'm just curious. May was
so good in that first game, especially in the second half.

Speaker 5 (24:29):
I mean it's just made you know, a half dozen
really really exceptional throws. What do the Bills do to
prevent some of those plays? You know, No Christian Benford today,
we've talked about what do they do to slow this
this offense team?

Speaker 3 (24:42):
Can they look?

Speaker 14 (24:43):
I think it's it's a big issue for them. In
the slot is Tarren Johnson, who has been a just
a really good player for this team. He's taking a
beating in his career, like it is, he's dealt with
a lot of injuries. The Digs matchup is a fascinating one.
They know each other very very well, and Digs lit
the Bills up in that first game. I think an
issue has been they don't get a great pass rush.

(25:04):
Now Bosa's back today, I think that's very impactful for them.
They need a better pass rush. Shack Thompson in the
middle has helped this defense. They have been better in
all the metrics, but it's not a great defense. It's
not they can give up some plays. They have made plays.
That is what they've survived on turnovers, and I know

(25:25):
it sounds such a simple thing. When the Bills offense
doesn't turn it over, they average well one turnover or less,
they average over thirty points a game. When they turn
it over bad defensively, they give up a lot, but
they find a way to make a play. Benford's been
that guy. So that's the concern today, like who's the
playmaker and the one guy? What do you want to add?
Cold diship was disappointing in the beginning. They're wondering can

(25:48):
this guy play? And the light went on for him
and he has been much much better, and that's a
big thing. In a Sean McDermott defense. You know, Poyer's
still there for a long time, the whole time yet
and got to have trust in that guy. He is
a different player than what the Patriots saw earlier in
the year.

Speaker 2 (26:05):
And you're seeing Drake May as the Patriots are warming
up right now before the game. Here's one thing, It's
it's been one sided for the last fifteen or twenty years.

Speaker 7 (26:13):
The Patriots had.

Speaker 2 (26:13):
Their run for a long time, Buffalo had their run
now five straight division titles. Their chances or rivalry might
be Actually, we could get a rivalry between these two
teams with Alan being the unicorn that he is, Drake
May doing what he's doing like this could be kind
of this could be an interesting stuff in a different page.
In all these games that the Patriots and Bills have played,

(26:33):
this is.

Speaker 14 (26:34):
My thirty eighth year covering the team. I'm a lot
older than mad Is.

Speaker 3 (26:41):
I don't think they.

Speaker 14 (26:45):
I don't think they've ever been real rivals.

Speaker 3 (26:47):
Noo, you know.

Speaker 14 (26:51):
And for the Bills, it was always the Dolphins with
Marino and Kelly and all that, and then I don't know,
the Bills went to sleep for like two decades and
the Patriots were winning everything, and you know, Brady had
more home wins than anybody but Jim Kelly in Buffalo,
which is insane. But now I think you're right. The
quarterbacks like could be really fun stuff. Yeah, this is

(27:13):
And I don't know how you got I feel they're
playing a third time. I think we're back here again
for the playoffs. It's gonna match up that way.

Speaker 15 (27:19):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (27:19):
Well, that to me is when you say the thing
about maybe the Patriots lose, but if the Patriots do
still get the division and then that third rubber match
is back here at home, then I can see, all right,
I'm glad we lost one nowt now we know what
it takes, right, But then you guys will have.

Speaker 14 (27:31):
To explain why do we always say it's hard to
beat a team three times in a year?

Speaker 3 (27:35):
Why is it hard if you beat them? I don't
get it.

Speaker 5 (27:38):
It's a hill I'll die on. I'm with you one
thousand percent. We talked about it during the course of
the week. What would you rather be the team that
won two and have to win the third one or
the team that lost to and has to try to
find a way to break through. Because if I'm Buffalo
and I don't win this game today. I don't have
great confidence. I know that they'll they'll come in knowing
they can do it. Yeah, but they won't have that

(27:58):
that actual tangible evidence that they can do it.

Speaker 14 (28:00):
And you know, Patriots should have their tackle back, Milton
Williams back, like they'll be a different team too, it'll
be a different matchup. But yeah, if you've beaten them.

Speaker 3 (28:08):
Twice, I guess you'll tell you I can do it
a third time.

Speaker 11 (28:12):
Mike, before we let you go, what is your prediction
for this one?

Speaker 14 (28:14):
All right?

Speaker 11 (28:15):
So we will not tell the Buffalo.

Speaker 3 (28:17):
It's fine.

Speaker 14 (28:18):
Like I have not been great predicting the Bills this year,
usually have a pretty good feel. I work with a
very talented woman named Jenna Kottrell who beats us in
the predictions every year on our podcast. She's done it.
There'll be a punishment for me this year. I had
to do a pilates class last year. It was ridiculous plights.

(28:43):
But I do like the Bills in this one in
a close game. I think Josh Allen announced he's having
a baby with his wife this week. Positive vibes that
way for him. It's Josh doing it for the kids to.

Speaker 3 (28:57):
Find that out. I didn't see that anywhere.

Speaker 14 (28:59):
In social right.

Speaker 3 (29:00):
It's very quiet. It wasn't done.

Speaker 14 (29:03):
I just feel like it's made. This, this is going
to be. This is why I'm excited that rivalry wise,
I think the Bills get this one and they come
back here against the division champs in the playoffs maybe
and then championship get rivalry.

Speaker 3 (29:15):
Think, there you go, that's how. That's how rivalry result.
Can you just when the stakes become huge?

Speaker 7 (29:21):
Well we might be starting something there.

Speaker 3 (29:22):
Yeah, that's all I think.

Speaker 2 (29:24):
It hasn't been for however many years.

Speaker 14 (29:26):
I think what really bothers Bills fans is they know you.

Speaker 3 (29:29):
Got a guy.

Speaker 4 (29:30):
Yeah well, Mike, thank you for your time. We hope
your prediction is wrong, of course, and you guys stick around.
We'll be right back after the break.

Speaker 5 (29:38):
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Speaker 4 (33:20):
Welcome back into the Patriots Pregame Show fueled by Duncan.
We're taking a look at Austin Hooper right now, running
around warming up, trying to at.

Speaker 7 (33:28):
Least become the scary stadium.

Speaker 3 (33:31):
Moses. Yeah, Robert Spain, they're doing it.

Speaker 11 (33:36):
I went outside. It's not that chilly. It's really just
the snow.

Speaker 3 (33:40):
It doesn't seem.

Speaker 5 (33:42):
We're always preoccupied with the winds. It doesn't seem overly
windy to me. Doesn't look like to me anything that
would prevent Allen in May from doing.

Speaker 11 (33:50):
Their thing, even though Alan does thrive in snow. Anyway,
to make a different problem.

Speaker 12 (33:54):
Last week, Urry, New England, Aquantia, it's not cold, it's
just snowing.

Speaker 3 (34:00):
Yeah. I was proud of you for that. Was I
was very annoying.

Speaker 4 (34:07):
Finally, Yeah, well, I think we didn't talk about yet,
and I'm curious to hear what you two think. Stefan
Diggs less than thirty receiving yards in the past two games. Obviously,
he played very well a Week five against the Bills,
because of course former team.

Speaker 11 (34:22):
How do you expect for him, how do you expect
him to perform today?

Speaker 7 (34:25):
I expect another solid game from him.

Speaker 6 (34:27):
I just think he's the kind of guy that gets
up for these kind of games, especially against a former
team that he played for.

Speaker 7 (34:33):
On the relationship he has with Josh Allen.

Speaker 6 (34:36):
You know, it's it's it's nice that you have the
luxury where they can still win games where you don't
have Stefan Diggs or Hunter Henry having you know, all
the catches and they're able to spread the ball around
a little bit.

Speaker 7 (34:46):
But hard to see them winning a big game.

Speaker 6 (34:48):
Of this kind of magic with magnitude without Stefan Diggs
playing at least I mean, it might only be three
or four catches, but I bet you at least two
or three.

Speaker 7 (34:55):
Of those are third down conversions or he got to
have a count.

Speaker 3 (34:58):
Yeah, I agree with Mike.

Speaker 5 (35:00):
I have a hard time trying to predict how the
receiving production is going to go because it's been so unpredictable.
It's it's a different guy seemingly every game. But I
would be shocked if there weren't a couple of occasions
that were big spots, just the way Mike just said
fourth downs even you know where Drake may is looking
at Stefan Diggs. I don't know if it'll be you know,

(35:21):
ten for one forty six like it was the first time,
but I think he'll have a couple of big plays.

Speaker 6 (35:26):
Yeah, it's just nice to have two of those guys
with Hunter Henry where you know, and I mean nothing
against the other receivers, is I think Drake has a
real comfort factor with just about everybody at this point.
But in those, you know, places where you kind of
have to throw it up and let your guy go
get it or make a play, I think he's.

Speaker 7 (35:40):
Got that kind of confidence with especially Hunter Henry and Diggs.
You know you saw it. Maybe not volume, but importance
for sure.

Speaker 11 (35:48):
Yeah, because we can't predict.

Speaker 4 (35:49):
Is there anyone else you are hoping to see more
receptions from today?

Speaker 7 (35:54):
Receptions? No, I just I'd like to see Ramandre be
production yea day. And then you know that can a wide.

Speaker 3 (36:00):
Run, can the red zone offense?

Speaker 5 (36:02):
You know, you know, improve can they can they put
This is a team that really struggles to stop the run.

Speaker 3 (36:08):
Can you get you know, can you get down?

Speaker 5 (36:10):
There's just like one hundred and thirty five rushing yards
a game over five, you know, five point one to carry.
That's what the Bills are allowed in twenty eighth in
the league, twenty ninth per carry. Can can Remandre or
Trevion Henderson run the ball in in the red zone
and sort of for at least a week alleviate some
of those concerns?

Speaker 11 (36:29):
Yeah, take advantage of bad defense?

Speaker 7 (36:31):
No, And it's just you know, one more thing on Remondre.

Speaker 6 (36:33):
Like you know, James Cook leads to the league with
two hundred and forty nine rushing attempts from Andre, He's
got one hundred to this year, one hundred and one.

Speaker 7 (36:38):
You know, So it's just I still love to see
more out him.

Speaker 6 (36:41):
And then I know it's asking a lot and it's
very much connected to the offensive line, and there's some
issues right there and there haven't been a lot of
clean holes this year in the running game.

Speaker 7 (36:48):
But you know, you get it back with not a
lot of wear and tearing on this season.

Speaker 6 (36:52):
And I know that he had an injury, so that
is significant something to concern yourself with. But at the
same time, it's this is such a perfect kind of
game where remind Andre Stevenson. Guys bouncing off him, you know,
trying to make some extra tough yards. They need him
in the red zone. He can catch the ball a
little bit. I just I'd love to see him have
a big game today.

Speaker 11 (37:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (37:09):
Well, you guys have heard a lot of what we
think about this matchup, but let's think get out to
the phone lines and here what the fans are thinking.

Speaker 11 (37:16):
We're gonna start in Connecticut with Nate. Good morning, afternoon, Nate.

Speaker 20 (37:23):
Uh So, I think this is going to be a
great game. You know, we got we got a snow game.
Uh it's been in a while since we've had one.
And you know, just looking at the players warming up,
doesn't look too bad of snow.

Speaker 10 (37:39):
Connecticut.

Speaker 20 (37:40):
Yeah, down here in Connecticut we're getting slammed.

Speaker 10 (37:42):
So but but I think for this game, you know
we're gonna have.

Speaker 20 (37:48):
Uh Stefawan Diggs and Matt Collins have a great game.
You know, both former Bills, and this game means a
lot for the Patriots. You know, if they win, they
get the division. I just seen, I just see a
real good game out of these two, and I just
really hope that we have another horror, physical game like
we did against New York.

Speaker 18 (38:06):
Go Pats.

Speaker 7 (38:07):
Yeah, yeah, I like that point by him. I was
thinking the same things.

Speaker 6 (38:11):
See the energy that the defense came out with against
you know, against the Giants, but to see that energy
today against the Bills. You've had an extended week off,
you don't have Milton Williams. Love to see some of
these you know, backup guys come in be able to
bring that kind of energy in just the gap. Discipline
is huge today, the run game. James Cook's a master
offining seams.

Speaker 7 (38:31):
Josh Allen. We saw it last week with that long touchdown.
You know, even when you got him, you don't got him.
And if he's able to scuore out, he might take
a fifty yards to the house.

Speaker 6 (38:38):
So they've really got to work in conjunction with each other,
make sure there are no gaps within their gaps, you know,
and keeping everything, you know, building the wall as they
like to say.

Speaker 3 (38:46):
Yeah, Mike made that point.

Speaker 5 (38:48):
Too, about how you know, as these games have gotten bigger,
you know you've seen Josh Allen do that a little
bit more.

Speaker 3 (38:52):
You know, like can you can you do that four or.

Speaker 5 (38:54):
Five times a game? I would expect to see him
more involved with his legs today than he was back
in Week five.

Speaker 7 (39:03):
Yeah. Yeah, And what about Drake too.

Speaker 6 (39:05):
I mean that's something we speculated about the red zone,
about red zone issues. You know, is now the time
to bring some read option stuff into the goal line
work saw a little bit of it in the preseason training.

Speaker 7 (39:15):
Camp, that kind of thing.

Speaker 6 (39:17):
You know, on the goal line, you're not really putting
him in danger of taking huge hits and you're adding
yourself another an extra gap when you're putting him as
a potential ball carrier. So it might be just something
as we get down the end.

Speaker 5 (39:26):
Josh Allen, I think would disagree with that. Down on
the goal line, you're not really in danger of taking it.

Speaker 3 (39:32):
He takes quarterback power and you just run over him, libackers.

Speaker 6 (39:38):
No, he welcomes that contact. And I mean, I think
that's the biggest difference between the two quarterbacks. You know,
Jake's very Drake's very mobile, but Josh Allen is is
is a train. I mean, he's just an absolute tanker
truck coming down and really physical and uh, that's just
the physicality they're going to have to match with the
quarterback hard to get to the ground. You know, make
sure you got a good grip today if it is
a little bit slippery out there.

Speaker 1 (39:57):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (39:58):
But also going back to that point that Nate made
about the snow sticking, I just found this out today,
so don't judge me, but I didn't realize that the
Patriots turf is heated.

Speaker 11 (40:07):
So again, this is probably not breaking new to you guys,
but for the people that also did not realize, they
aren't going to be that much.

Speaker 6 (40:13):
I mean, I think the snow is going to stop. Yeah,
I think it's the perfect thing where it's not going
to really impact the game. But like the lead up
to the game is just cool atmosphere. It feels like
December and it's it's not a snow game. It's not
because it's not really part of the you know, the field.
Like I agree with kawnny Well last week, they.

Speaker 5 (40:31):
Actually don't have it's it's it's it's not enough snow
to really cause any concerns.

Speaker 3 (40:37):
Yeah, it's it's a visual.

Speaker 11 (40:40):
It's for the Graham exactly.

Speaker 3 (40:42):
There you go, all right, the Hailey Steinfeldt can include
that in an ext But now I.

Speaker 6 (40:46):
Actually call maybe, I mean, we should be able to
answer this, but when does Josh Allen actually get Dad String?
It isn't like as soon as you announced that it's
going to be a dad like Dad String gets down String.

Speaker 3 (40:56):
I can tell you it's not. He's like conver.

Speaker 6 (41:00):
You know, once your dad, you're in your like forties fifties,
you could just you know, you like you can lift
a car off of somebody if they have to. I
don't think he's got dad's drink yet though you're getting him.
But by next year he might have dads.

Speaker 5 (41:11):
That could be a really scary straight from Josh Allen.

Speaker 11 (41:15):
We do not want to see that. All right, Let's
it to Patty at Aga.

Speaker 10 (41:18):
Hi, Patty, Hey, you get early afternoon? Everyone, how doing
all right? So I got a couple of points. Then
I'll end with a question. I really do think that
the Patriots have a great chance of breaking this game
open against the Bills. And the reason why I have
this gut feeling is it's just the coaching matchup. I said,

(41:42):
this this past week on Catch twenty two. I think,
thirteen games into Brabel's Patriots career, he's already far and
away best coach in the division, and I just I
have a hard time believing that he's not going to
have this team up and ready, considering what's on what's
on the table. If they win this game, I think,
if they execute, if they're able to execute their game plan,

(42:03):
which is kind of a big plus with being at home,
I think the communication is going to be good. No
Christian Benford, I mean, all things are pointing on that side.
And on defense, I think at some point, I mean
we've heard it on the micd up segments with Christian
Gonzales and calling himself the best corner. His coach is
calling him the best corner. He needs to take his

(42:24):
game to a new level if not only we want
to win this game, but going forward into the playoffs,
if we want to make some noise, I think not
only him in this game, but like the whole secondary
has to step up. And I'll just end with the question,
who do you guys think they spy Josh Allen with
if they do deploy a spy, and I'll take it
off there, guys, let's go.

Speaker 11 (42:44):
That's good.

Speaker 3 (42:45):
Probably Ellis Christian Ewis it'll be my pick.

Speaker 6 (42:48):
Yeah, yeah, Ellis, maybe a little bit of Gibbs, but no,
it's I think what Patty's getting at is what I
was kind of getting now where you felt when they
came out against the Giants. I was worried they might
be a little bit tight. You know, it's just you
got the buye waiting for you. They came out, they
took the fight to them, and that's what you knew
it right from the get go, that oh, these guys
came to play today.

Speaker 7 (43:05):
I want to see that today.

Speaker 6 (43:06):
I don't want to see a you know, rusty team,
a team that looks like they're going to be tentative
about it. I agree with what he says about Mike Rabel.
That's not his style. This is he's probably pumping that
we're underdogs at home. We beat these guys already, We've
won this many games in a row, no one respects.
I'm sure he's hammering all that stuff. So come out
and play with that fire like you're gonna go take
a championship, because Buffalo is not going to hand you

(43:26):
the AFC East Trophy.

Speaker 11 (43:27):
Today.

Speaker 6 (43:27):
I expect that they'll come and play, you know, and
give their best, certainly, Josh Allen will all right, let's
set out to La Christian.

Speaker 11 (43:35):
How are you.

Speaker 13 (43:37):
Hello, Patriots fan? All right, good early afternoon for you guys.
So I'm excited about the game. I am.

Speaker 21 (43:46):
I'm up for the win, but I'm emostly prepared for
the loss, not the end of the world if we lose.
I know a caller called in the other day and
talked about me, saying when I commented when I said
the Patriots might be a paper tiger moving on to
the end of the season and come and gainst some
of these good teams, well.

Speaker 10 (44:04):
That was before.

Speaker 21 (44:07):
That was like week four, week five, But that's I
really didn't know where the AFC or the conference was
really going as far as the competition. And now that
we're at this place, not that I necessarily think we're
still a paper tiger, but I think these next two
weeks will be a proving ground to see where we
are as far as are we a team that's going
to make the playoffs or are we a playoff team?

(44:27):
And I know Buffalo is going to be ober prepared.
I kind of disagree with the gentleman earlier that said,
it's not that the deal game for Buffalo. I think
Buffalo is low key desperate. There are some teams that
are trying to sneak in the back door to get
into the playoffs, and Buffalo cannot afford to drop a game.
Sean McDermott does not want to drop a division seeding

(44:49):
game to see the division to us at our home stead.

Speaker 3 (44:54):
Too late for that.

Speaker 21 (44:54):
That's not Sean McDermott.

Speaker 3 (44:56):
The division's kind of over. I mean, it's got to
lose three out of four like to lose the division.

Speaker 5 (45:02):
I think they're just being realistic and and you know,
to defend Mike a little bit, Mike Catalana, he didn't
say that the Bills aren't treating this as a big game.
He just said they kind of feel like the division
is lost and they're just got to do what they
need to do to to do, you know, the best
they can to be in the best position.

Speaker 3 (45:21):
Like he had mentioned to us.

Speaker 5 (45:22):
Off air that he probably felt that Bedford probably could
have played today, But they look at the division as
being lost, and they're looking at the bigger picture of
making sure that they're healthy for January.

Speaker 3 (45:33):
But He didn't say that that that this is not
a big game for them.

Speaker 13 (45:36):
He absolutely said those exact words.

Speaker 21 (45:38):
He said that he didn't make a game for the
Bills that the Patriots. Well, someone said that. I'm listening.

Speaker 3 (45:44):
It's not as big a game for the Bills. It's not.

Speaker 5 (45:46):
It's a big game for the Patriots to clinch the division.
But for the big picture, the Patriots are in the playoffs,
like they can lose this game, and it's okay.

Speaker 21 (45:54):
You think the Bills want to lose to the Patriots.

Speaker 3 (45:56):
They don't want to lose. This is what I'm trying
to tell you. He didn't say that.

Speaker 11 (45:59):
He didn't say that.

Speaker 3 (46:00):
He didn't say they want to lose.

Speaker 11 (46:01):
They obviously want to win.

Speaker 3 (46:02):
But he thinks that he said win will lose. The
division has already lost for Buffalo. That's what he said.

Speaker 21 (46:07):
For a win. You guys aren't talking about that. Buffalo
is desperate for you.

Speaker 3 (46:10):
They're not desperate for a win in the playoffs. In
the playoffs, they might not make it to the playoffs.

Speaker 5 (46:17):
So they yeah, yeah, they could lose all their games,
Christian and not make the playoffs. Yes, you're right, technically
they're not clinched the playoff spot yet. Yeah, you're right,
the Patriots haven't clinched the playoff spot yet either.

Speaker 3 (46:27):
Are they going to make it this game? The Patriots
going to make the playoffs here?

Speaker 21 (46:30):
So no, I don't think the Bills are going to
make the playoffs, especially if they lose.

Speaker 3 (46:35):
You don't think do You don't think the Bills are
going to make the playoffs?

Speaker 5 (46:38):
No?

Speaker 3 (46:38):
Okay.

Speaker 21 (46:39):
I think they lose this game and they got three
more games to go. That means they go only they
can only pour one more loss out of three games,
and they're not playing that great. No, Paul, They're desperate
and you're minimizing it.

Speaker 5 (46:48):
I'm not minimizing anything. I think this is a big game.
You have a chance to win the division on your
home field. I think this is the I think Mike
said it off the top of the show, might do
so that this is the biggest game since the Tennessee
game in the playoff, his biggest game at Jollette Stadium
for sure. Right, But we're to lose. Both of these
teams are going to probably make the playoffs. I'm just
that's just my opinion. I've been wrong many times. I've

(47:09):
been wrong about this Patriots team throughout the season. So
if you guys feel like you just want to take
what I say with a grain of salt, you wouldn't
be wrong. I did not see the Patriots winning ten
in a row.

Speaker 3 (47:20):
You did, You said it. I was wrong, you were right.

Speaker 5 (47:24):
I didn't see many of these things that are happening
with the Patriots this year. But I look at Buffalo
at nine and four, nine and five, you're going to
be in the playoffs. You'll figure out a way to
make the playoffs. But that doesn't mean it's not an
important game. And Mike didn't say it wasn't an important game.
He didn't say that. He just said he looks at
the division has already lost their Buffalo and he's right.

(47:45):
The Patriots are not going to lose three of their
last four games, and that's what it's going to take
for them not to make the playoffs.

Speaker 21 (47:51):
I agree with you there, but you're minimizing the deceration
at Buffalo Field. I'm telling you, Okay, if you think.

Speaker 3 (47:56):
They're desperate, then you're right. Christian. I don't know what
to tell you that you are right. You are right again.
I'm sorry to have questioned you. You are correct.

Speaker 5 (48:08):
But all I can tell you is what the Buffalo
guy said is that he feels like there was guys
that could play today that aren't playing because they don't
look at the division as still being up for grabs. Sorry,
you're right, he's wrong, all right. I've never seen anybody
more obnoxious than that guy.

Speaker 11 (48:29):
Let's switch the gears here, we're gonna go to Arizona, TJ.
What are your thoughts?

Speaker 3 (48:34):
And he does it. The guy can't even defend himself,
he's not even here.

Speaker 22 (48:40):
I love when you get days going figure the line
of letting them.

Speaker 3 (48:48):
You just you just gotta let it out, you know
what I'm saying.

Speaker 5 (48:51):
Every once in a while, when one guy is just
constantly right and can't wait to tell you every week
how right he is, even though he's had in one
week that they're gonna win ten in a row and
then another week that they were paper tigers, which would
on the on the surface seemed to be two polar
opposite things. He said them both and he was right
both times. It's amazing how he pulls it off. Christian

(49:13):
in La our hero.

Speaker 22 (49:15):
Needs to bet at the casinos and put all his
money on whatever he thinks on everything.

Speaker 3 (49:19):
He's like the human tarp, but he covers all bases.

Speaker 13 (49:24):
Thank you, but no I called in to first day.
Good morning everyone. I hope you'll all are doing well
and get excited about this game like I really am.
Like normally, when I'm watching our games, my heart just
beats a little fast because I'm just so anxious to
see us play great. But after seeing that Giants game
and seeing how the energy we had, I feel we're

(49:45):
gonna come out with that same energy, and if we do,
it's it's our game.

Speaker 22 (49:50):
Like I honestly feel it's our game to lose. I
don't think that the Bills are a bad team by
any means. What that last guy was saying is far fetch.
The Bills very sure still have a shout at the playoffs.
So that guy there, we're gonna disregard him, Paul and
let him go about his way. Don't let that guy.

Speaker 3 (50:06):
Mean two and two gives you eleven wins. You're not
gonna make the playoffs with eleven wins exactly.

Speaker 13 (50:11):
That's crazy.

Speaker 22 (50:12):
But listen, Paul and everyone else, this is our day.
We're gonna ignore.

Speaker 13 (50:16):
All the haters, all the doubters.

Speaker 22 (50:18):
We're gonna get the AFC East and all of y'all.

Speaker 13 (50:21):
I'm gonna tune in the.

Speaker 22 (50:22):
Second we're back, and y'all got the shirts, t shirts
and the cigars for it.

Speaker 13 (50:26):
It's there and there we're all gonna be celebrating.

Speaker 14 (50:28):
How does.

Speaker 3 (50:30):
The show sounds goodjee the other side?

Speaker 11 (50:34):
Yes, fingers crossed, not gono all of it.

Speaker 4 (50:36):
All right, guys, it's time for my favorite part of
the show, because I do well usually. But before we
get into it, it's snowing outside. You know this, You probably,
especially if you're in New England Connecticut obviously getting a
lot of snow, So make sure you're ready when you
need to clear your snow and get back inside the
cheer on your New England Patriots. Aaron's is the proud
official snowblower of the New England Patriots and you can

(50:58):
visit that my w W A R I E NS
dot com to find your errands.

Speaker 5 (51:04):
Alrighty, Paul, all right, so you know blind squirrel not time.
Last week Paul was four and two. Quannie and Michael
both two and four. However, that's that's very little to
change the big picture here. Kwannie forty nine and twenty nine,
Mike forty seven and thirty one, both very solid records.
Good job by you, two. Paul is forty seven, thirty seven.

(51:25):
I'm sorry thirty seven and forty one. It's the third
person so much like Christian likes to point out every week,
Paul is in last place and doesn't know what he's
talking about, respect, which is what I tried to say.
I've been wrong about virtually everything with this Patriots season.

Speaker 11 (51:39):
All right, well, we'll see how you do this week.

Speaker 4 (51:41):
Let's start our over unders with Drake May passing yards
right now at two hundred and forty and a half.

Speaker 11 (51:47):
I think it's the same number every week.

Speaker 7 (51:48):
Yeah, that's a good number.

Speaker 3 (51:50):
Yeah, come, it's about what he happens.

Speaker 7 (51:51):
Yeah, I'm going over, yeahing over.

Speaker 6 (51:53):
It's I mean to be honest, like you, look at
the injuries that Buffalo has. I don't think it's asking
a lot to say that Drake May should have a
big day.

Speaker 11 (51:58):
No, I agree with you. I'm going over as well.

Speaker 3 (52:00):
Yeah, I'm going to take the over. Two fifty seems
to be uh, you know, the standard, pretty pretty average, Drake.

Speaker 11 (52:07):
Yeah, all right.

Speaker 4 (52:07):
On the other side, Josh Allen passing yards two hundred
and thirty and a half, which actually feels a little low.

Speaker 5 (52:14):
Yeah, it does.

Speaker 6 (52:16):
Gooring here. You know what, I'm just going to stick
with what I've been feeling that it's going to be
back and forth. I'm going to go over on this one.

Speaker 11 (52:22):
Yeah, what about you?

Speaker 3 (52:24):
So I am going to take the U the over
as well. I think it's a good number.

Speaker 5 (52:31):
I think it's right around because he hasn't The receiving
issue is real.

Speaker 3 (52:36):
It gave me the receiving issue is real. But I'm
going to take the over as well.

Speaker 4 (52:40):
See you swayed my answer as you said that I'm
going to take the under because of the receiving issue.
If anything, Josh is running it in himself. We'll see,
we'll see all right. Up next Stefan Diggs.

Speaker 11 (52:52):
We talked about him earlier in the show Receiving Yards
at fifty and a half. I'll go first. You think
I will take the over on this one?

Speaker 3 (53:01):
Yeah?

Speaker 7 (53:02):
Yeah, he looks pretty fired up today. I'm gonna go
over here, I'm.

Speaker 3 (53:06):
Gonna take I'm gonna take the under.

Speaker 5 (53:09):
I think that the Bills are going to be a
little bit more cognizant of him this time around, but
had a huge game the last time.

Speaker 4 (53:18):
Up next, James Cook. Can't let him cook rushing yards
ninety and a half.

Speaker 7 (53:24):
To me, Yeah, I'm gonna. I'm gonna go under.

Speaker 6 (53:27):
I think the Patriots defense plays well today, but I
think that's a good number and it's really indicative of
how this game.

Speaker 7 (53:32):
Is gonna go.

Speaker 11 (53:32):
Good number, But I'm gonna go under as well.

Speaker 3 (53:36):
Yeah, I'm gonna take the over. Just a little game,
little game theory, trying to make it run.

Speaker 7 (53:43):
It's tempting.

Speaker 3 (53:44):
I mean, you know, trying to make a run late.
I think you guys are probably right. Nineties nineties a
high number, and.

Speaker 11 (53:49):
It's you know, anything is possible, Josh.

Speaker 7 (53:51):
Today, all it.

Speaker 5 (53:52):
Would take is like a turnover early and make it
a passing game for Buffalo and that nineties out the windows.

Speaker 4 (53:57):
Yeah right, Okay, Up next, Drake may pass seeing TDS
one and a half.

Speaker 3 (54:03):
I can't do game theory here. I got to take
the over on this. He seems like he throws two
every game, So I'm gonna. I'm gonna trends, my friend, trends,
probably not.

Speaker 7 (54:10):
From inside the red zone, but exactly it's thirty forty yards.

Speaker 11 (54:13):
Sure are you taking over as well?

Speaker 7 (54:16):
Over? Yeah?

Speaker 4 (54:17):
Yeah, I'm taking over as well. That's all three of us,
all right. Finally, total score forty eight and a half.
Drake had two passing. I'm gonna just take the over. Yeah,
because I didn't have time to do math.

Speaker 7 (54:32):
I'm going I'm going to to finish the show.

Speaker 3 (54:36):
My prediction is over that point total.

Speaker 7 (54:40):
So yeah, me too.

Speaker 11 (54:41):
Okay, time is now Sunday six pack.

Speaker 7 (54:46):
This is the Sunday six pack, So kick back and
listen to my position. I'm getting to get the pits back.
You better bring a big stack, get it mixed.

Speaker 3 (54:54):
Came to win it yet.

Speaker 4 (54:55):
This is the Sunday sixth bad before we get into
what last week look like, all right, we actually will
get into last week one. For Paul, you look good
as well, dude. Sorry, you only had one chance, and
the one.

Speaker 3 (55:08):
The Patriots, not the Latrick Christian should be arguing with you.

Speaker 5 (55:12):
Yes, I picked the Patriots thirty seven and thirty two
for Kwani, Mike twenty nine and forty Paul twenty nine,
forty we stink.

Speaker 11 (55:20):
Hey, you're not too poor behind them.

Speaker 4 (55:22):
That's terrible mathema part all right, Before we get into
the six pack, just a reminder. It is brought to
you by the Massachusetts two fifty campaign, commemorating a history
of possibility. Plan your revolutionary weekend right now at Massachusetts
two fifty dot org.

Speaker 11 (55:35):
All right, let's get right into it. The one o'clock games.

Speaker 4 (55:38):
The Jets are at the Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville with a
fourteen points on that.

Speaker 7 (55:45):
Yeah, that's that's a big spread, but I think it's
a it's a good one. I'm gonna take Jacksonville alway
the points.

Speaker 3 (55:50):
Yeah, I'm gonna take Jacksonville too. Do not believe much
in Brady Cook.

Speaker 4 (55:54):
I don't think anyone does. I also will be taking Jacksonville.
That makes that one easier. Up next, Baltimore events at
the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore with two and a half.

Speaker 7 (56:04):
Ah, that one ahead.

Speaker 3 (56:06):
I got Cincinnati.

Speaker 5 (56:07):
I know that Lamar owns the Bengals in Borrow, but
they already lost to them on Thanksgiving.

Speaker 3 (56:13):
And I just don't like the way that the Ravens look.

Speaker 7 (56:15):
Ye, I'm with you, I know, I don't.

Speaker 10 (56:17):
I don't know.

Speaker 7 (56:18):
I'm gonna go with no te Higgins, but I think
Joe Burrow bounce back get a division win.

Speaker 11 (56:23):
Okay, So I want to agree with you.

Speaker 3 (56:24):
Guys.

Speaker 4 (56:24):
But now I'm doing game theory and I'm like, should
I pick the Ravens? But you know what, I'm gonna
go with the Bengals because I agree with all.

Speaker 6 (56:30):
The toying with us exactly, playing with their food.

Speaker 10 (56:34):
All right.

Speaker 4 (56:35):
Up next, Cleveland Browns at the Chicago Bears Chicago with
seven and a half.

Speaker 11 (56:40):
Kind of a you're taking Chicago.

Speaker 7 (56:42):
And the Chicago Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna take Chicago too.

Speaker 5 (56:45):
Yeah, I like, I like the Bears at home, bounce
back after a good performance in Green Bay. Just got
to make sure you chose some professionalism, bounce back off
of that loss, and take care of business at home
against a bad team.

Speaker 4 (56:56):
All right, all right, Four o'clock games, Indianapolis Colts in
Seattle against the Seahawks, Seattle with fourteen.

Speaker 6 (57:05):
I mean, we did talk about dad strength earlier, and
if anybody's got dad strength, Philip Rivers gott about fourteen times.

Speaker 3 (57:10):
He's got.

Speaker 6 (57:12):
Grandpa strength. But I don't think that's enough against a
really good Seahawks team.

Speaker 7 (57:18):
I'm gonna take Seattle and I'm gonna lay the point.

Speaker 3 (57:20):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (57:20):
I can't believe there's two fourteen point spreads here. And
I'm taking the home to the favorite in both of them, Seattle.

Speaker 11 (57:26):
You know what, I'm gonna take Indian this one. We'll
see all right Monday night.

Speaker 7 (57:34):
Cool?

Speaker 4 (57:35):
Okay, the Dolphins at the Steelers Pittsburgh with three interesting?

Speaker 7 (57:43):
What's that you probably A Yeah.

Speaker 3 (57:44):
I'm gonna take Miami.

Speaker 5 (57:48):
I think that they can run the ball on Pittsburgh,
and you know, the Steelers had a hard time stopping
the Bills.

Speaker 3 (57:53):
I think Miami does the same thing.

Speaker 11 (57:55):
I'm taking Miami as well. I'm very interested in the
trajectory of this season.

Speaker 6 (57:59):
For me too, I wish i'd seen like a pregame
weather that might you know, in Pittsbury it's kind of crummy.

Speaker 7 (58:04):
It might sway me a tiny bit.

Speaker 6 (58:06):
But I think Miami's playing well right now and I
think that that's gonna maybe I'd like that to be
a meaningless game and the story too.

Speaker 3 (58:13):
If Miami gets up off the mat.

Speaker 5 (58:15):
Yeah, you know, I know that the division, you know,
but like, get up off the mat and make yourself relevant.

Speaker 3 (58:19):
They're not going to make the playoffs.

Speaker 5 (58:21):
Now, that's a team that's not going to make the
playoffs at six and seven, but you know who knows,
all right.

Speaker 11 (58:26):
Last but least of course. Here let's say, um, Buffalo
Bills at the New England Patriots.

Speaker 4 (58:31):
Now, earlier, before the game started, the spread was with
Buffalo at one and a half.

Speaker 11 (58:36):
Now it is at two and a half.

Speaker 4 (58:38):
We just wanted to note that because lightly upset as
to why it changed so quickly, and no one has
a for it.

Speaker 6 (58:46):
No, I mean either way to me, the line has moved,
but it's already you know, it's been going for the
rest as it.

Speaker 7 (58:51):
I just think that this is going to be a
good game. It's going to be a close game. I
like the Patriots. Sorry, I was already focused.

Speaker 3 (58:57):
I'm sorry.

Speaker 7 (58:59):
Sorry. I that all the time. I make a joke
and people don't hear, and then I get a little
sat Usually Paul, here's the though, and then he gives
you kind of yeah, h yeah, I appreciate that.

Speaker 3 (59:06):
But if I don't tell him that I heard it,
he gets really yeah, he gets it really mad.

Speaker 6 (59:10):
But I'm gonna go with the Patriots. Hard to bet
against them the way they've been playing at home. Just
excited to see how the game kind of declares itself
and starts out.

Speaker 7 (59:17):
Is it going to be a track meet the whole time?

Speaker 6 (59:19):
Is it going to be a little bit of a
tractor pull as they feel each other out early on?
Maybe neither team is able to run. Not sure, but
I'm gonna still take the Patriots. A bunch of points
scored thirty five, thirty three, then on that number since Monday,
so no use changing and now get ready it's gonna
be a heart attack.

Speaker 3 (59:34):
Yeah, I'm with Mike.

Speaker 5 (59:35):
Twenty seven to twenty four Patriots, And I think this
is a big game. I think Buffalo wants to come
in here and show something, but I think the Patriots
have a little bit more. I think the intangible of
being underdogs, as silly as that sounds, I think can
help them. I think they're much healthier than Buffalo is.

(59:58):
And right now, I just like the momentum that Drake
May and company bring into this game. I think they
come away with a sort of a validating win. You know,
everybody's like, Okay, you beat them the first time, can
you beat them again?

Speaker 7 (01:00:09):
Yeah?

Speaker 5 (01:00:09):
You know, and maybe you know this is the only
two tough games on the schedule. It could be that way.
I mean it could you play seventeen games and these
are really the only two teams that are like more
than a game over five hundred. But this is a
big opportunity for the Patriots to show everybody this is
no fluke. It's eleven in a row and we're here
and we're going to be as dangerous as anybody come
playoff time.

Speaker 11 (01:00:29):
Yeah, I'm one hundred percent with both of you.

Speaker 4 (01:00:31):
Obviously, the spread changing just shows it's going to be
a really good matchup today. But I'm taking the Patriots
in this one, and we'll see you back here with
the Patriots Post Game Show for pal.

Speaker 11 (01:00:41):
Parolo, Mike Duso, I'm Conny Luniz. Enjoy the game. Hey,
this is Alex. Thanks for tuning into the show. If
you really want to help us, make sure.

Speaker 23 (01:00:50):
You like us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you
get your podcasts. Also make sure you follow us on
the New England Patriots YouTube channel to see this show
and everything else we do here at the Patriots.

Speaker 12 (01:01:01):
A Patriots postgame Show.

Speaker 1 (01:01:20):
Join Matt Smith along with Patriots dot Com Paul Perillo
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Plus you'll hear press.

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