NFL forecast: Bill Belichick, Patriots should handle Bills again

With the passing crippled gone with the upwind astatine Buffalo, Bill Belichick produced what galore considered a coaching masterpiece successful New England’s 14-10 triumph Dec. 6 connected “Monday Night Football.”

The Patriots rushed for 222 yards and a touchdown connected 46 carries and finished with lone 3 walk attempts.

Asked astir Belichick’s winning strategy aft the game, Bills manager Sean McDermott was unimpressed.

“Let’s not springiness much recognition than we request to springiness recognition to Bill Belichick successful this one,” helium said.

McDermott is 2-7 against Belichick since becoming Buffalo’s manager successful 2017, sweeping past season’s bid successful the archetypal twelvemonth of the post-Tom Brady epoch successful New England.

Brady went 32-3 against the Bills with the Patriots and ran his vocation grounds to 33-3 this play erstwhile Tampa Bay bushed Buffalo 33-27 successful overtime the week aft the nonaccomplishment to New England.

The inconsistent Bills, who haven’t won back-to-back games since Oct. 10, are 2-point roadworthy underdogs Sunday to the Patriots successful a matchup successful which the victor astir apt volition assertion the AFC East crown.

Belichick has had an other time to hole aft New England saw its seven-game triumph and screen streak extremity successful a 27-17 nonaccomplishment astatine Indianapolis connected Dec. 18.

The part rivals are beauteous adjacent connected paper. I’ll backmost Belichick and instrumentality the Patriots to propulsion much than 3 passes and screen the tiny spread.

Here are 4 much plays connected teams that volition beryllium location for Christmas (home squad successful CAPS):

PACKERS (-7) implicit Browns: Cleveland backmost Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Jarvis Landry were among respective Browns players activated from the COVID-19 database Friday, causing the enactment to dip from Green Bay -7½ to -7 astatine aggregate Las Vegas sportsbooks. I’ll backmost the Packers astatine a reduced terms connected Christmas Day astatine Lambeau Field. The Ravens rallied for a screen successful past week’s 31-30 nonaccomplishment to Green Bay. But the Packers are inactive the NFL’s astir profitable squad astatine 11-3 ATS and request to support winning to clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Green Bay has won and covered each six location games this season.

BENGALS (-4½) implicit Ravens: This enactment changeable up from 3 connected Friday erstwhile Baltimore backup backmost Tyler Huntley missed signifier with a non-COVID unwellness and the Ravens listed him and Lamar Jackson arsenic questionable. Huntley inactive is expected to commencement if Jackson misses his 2nd consecutive crippled with an ankle injury. Cincinnati blew retired Baltimore 41-17 connected Oct. 24, and the victor of the rematch volition person the wrong way to the AFC North title.

SEAHAWKS (-6½) implicit Bears: Chicago placed prima antiaircraft tackle Akiem Hicks connected the COVID database Thursday, and Seattle activated wideout Tyler Lockett. This is much of a play against the Bears, who mean lone 17.1 points, are connected an 0-5 dispersed descent and person covered 1 of their past 9 games. The Seahawks person won and covered 3 of their past 4 location games.

RAIDERS (Pick) implicit Broncos: The Raiders bushed the Broncos 34-24 astatine Denver successful October for their 3rd consecutive triumph successful the bid and person won 5 of the past six meetings. In a virtual playoff elimination game, I’ll instrumentality Derek Carr implicit Drew Lock.

Last week: 2-3

Season: 41-34

Contact newsman Todd Dewey astatine tdewey@reviewjournal.com. Follow @tdewey33 connected Twitter.