The Buffalo Bills already have clinched the AFC East division title, but they plan to maintain their intensity in the final three weeks of the regular season.
Buffalo (11-3) will host the division-rival New England Patriots (3-11) on Sunday afternoon in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills are coming off a 48-42 win over the Detroit Lions, a decision that marked their eighth victory in the past nine games.
Bills coach Sean McDermott said his players should have no issues focusing on the Patriots.
“A champion’s mindset has a certain degree of discipline that goes along with it,” McDermott said. “They know what they’re after. So, that’s the type of discipline we have to have moving forward every week.
“Every week, it’s a new challenge. We certainly have a ton of respect for this football team. They’ve played really good football, especially since the quarterback has taken over.”
That quarterback is Patriots rookie Drake Maye, who completed 19 of 23 passes for 202 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a 30-17 setback to the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday.
Maye has provided glimpses of his potential but the Patriots as a team continue to slide. New England has lost four games in a row and 11 of its past 13.
The slump has put a spotlight on Patriots coach Jerod Mayo and his job security.
“I think our players, we’re behind him, we’re backing him,” Maye said. “We trust the plan he’s got for us and we trust what he says in the team meeting rooms and all his little sayings that he has. We believe in it and we’re bought into it.
“I think the results are coming. I think they’re coming. Everybody wishes they were now, and I think we’re kind of striving for that. … The winning is coming in the near future.”
Meanwhile, Buffalo has its sights set on a possible Super Bowl run. The Bills are led by quarterback Josh Allen, who is putting together an MVP-caliber season with 3,395 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and five interceptions to go along with 11 rushing touchdowns.
James Cook is the Bills’ top option out of the backfield with 828 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Khalil Shakir leads the receiving unit with 71 catches for 774 yards and four touchdowns.
The weather could hinder both teams’ offenses this weekend. Forecasts call for a high temperature in the teens and a possibility of snow.
McDermott acknowledged that weather could be a factor, especially after the Bills combined for 90 points over their past two games playing the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions in domes on the road.
“It’s a real question,” McDermott said. “We play here, right? We live here. This is what we embrace, playing in Buffalo, and playing well at home.
“It’s just one of those things that you’ve got to accept and you’ve got to figure out early in your journey.”
Weather conditions could lead both teams to rely upon their running game.
Rhamondre Stevenson leads the Patriots with 740 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Antonio Gibson is not far behind with 406 yards and one score.
Aside from Cook, the Bills have two other running backs in rookie Ray Davis (357 rushing yards, three touchdowns) and Ty Johnson (154 yards, one touchdown) who can make a difference.
“It starts with the offensive line,” McDermott said. “Those running backs have been tremendous for us this year. All three of them have done a phenomenal job. It starts at the line of scrimmage, and that’s really where the game begins every week.”
Buffalo is 6-0 at home this season. New England is 2-6 on the road.
The Bills feature six players that were limited in practice on Wednesday, including safeties Damar Hamlin (rib) and Taylor Rapp (neck), cornerback Rasul Douglas (knee), linebackers Matt Milano (biceps, groin) and Dorian Williams (elbow), and wide receiver Curtis Samuel (rib).
As for the Patriots, safety Kyle Dugger (ankle, illness), running back JaMycal Hasty (ankle), cornerback Marcus Jones (hip) and wide receiver Javon Baker (concussion) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.
–Field Level Media
