Buffalo, NY aka B-lo…Freezing
Mike D: Overdue Bills Senior Writer
It has been a while, and I thoroughly missed everyone. But I couldn’t mustard up any energy to write about the Falcons or Jets. It’s different now. Everything about this playoff game is different. Where should we start? Should we start at the fact that we are playing a team for the 3rd time this year? We split 1-1 with them, so this is the tie-breaker. Should we start at the fact that we are playing a division foe, one who has terrorized us for the better part of 20 years? Or should we start with the fact that we are playing a rookie QB, but he has the best NFL coach of all time behind him? There are all great candidates, but it is only one place to start this week.
Below Zero. I wish that was going to be Mac Jones passing yards. And honestly, it actually might be due to the fact that this will be one of the coldest games in Buffalo Bills history. in fact, this will be the coldest game since the 1994 game vs. Raiders. This has been an issue with home games for most of the year. Actually, last time we played the Patriots, it was so windy that kickers couldn’t kick field goals, and Jones went 2-3 for 19 yards. Wind won’t be much of an issue, as it will have gusts of 5-10mph. With this being the case, the margin of error is much smaller. Therefore these people must be on their A-game
Josh Allen must be Josh Allen. He is our best player and leader of the team. He must set the tone for the game, and knowing him, the kid from Firebaugh, California will be fired up. But we need Stef Diggs and Motor to help him out. Diggs must get the best of JC Jackson, while Dev needs to keep running the ball as he has. Giving us much-needed balance. On the defensive side, our D-line must play as they did vs the Jets. Getting 9 sacks for any NFL team is impressive, but now it is the Playoffs. And Preach always reminds us that Jerry Hughes or Ed Oliver hasn’t made an important sack their entire time here. Also, the linebackers must ball out. Edmunds and Milano need to make plays, while it will be nice to have Klein for this game to stuff the run. Our secondary aka “The Hitman” will be topnotch as always, no doubt in my mind.
We are clearly the better and more talented team, I think New England fans would admit that. But the evil genius himself always finds a way. To me, this will be Mcdermott’s biggest test. You know Bill Belichick has something up his sleeve, and will Mcdermott be able to take a punch, and stay on his feet? The last time we saw him in the playoffs, he shrunk at the moment vs Kansas City. In my opinion, the pressure got to him. The pressure of playing a division foe with a rookie QB, who has a coach that McDermott doesn’t seem to particularly like, will put all the pressure on McDermott. As long as he stays confident in his team, and makes smart decisions, this game should be in the bag.
Saturday 8:15 PM the whole time will be holding their breath during the kickoff. Everything has been waiting for this moment. While I appreciate them making the playoffs, I expect it now. The real season starts now, where everyone is 0-0. It’s not a time for a Jaguars debacle, or to come out slow like they did verse Tampa Bay. It's win or go home. A first-round exit to a team we hate, who we buried last year and thought we had at least 5 years before they would be a threat again would be soul-crushing. But a victory would taste almost as good as our sponsor Wing Kings. So get the touchdown shots ready, and chase it with a bills win #BigDubs.
Betting Information
Spread: Patriots -4
Over/Under: Under 44