Pats @ Bills

[Vin+ 3,121]

Following a tumultuous offseason that resulted in the loss of several offensive weapons, Tom Brady provides the New England Patriots with some stability heading into the season opener.

 

The Buffalo Bills hope they've found their mainstay at quarterback in top draft pick EJ Manuel.

 

Brady and the Patriots look to begin a march to their 10th AFC East title in 11 years Sunday when they visit first-year coach Doug Marrone and the Bills, who are aiming to end the NFL's longest playoff drought.

 

After finishing 12-4 and falling 28-13 to Baltimore in the 2012 AFC championship game, New England could be without its top five pass-catchers from that squad.

 

Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd, who combined for 192 catches last year, and Danny Woodhead are gone, while Aaron Hernandez was released following his stunning June arrest on a murder charge.

 

Rob Gronkowski has been practicing with the team after forearm and back surgeries, but the tight end didn't play in the preseason and isn't likely to play Sunday.

 

"I'm preparing every single day to the max of my ability, preparing every day to (do) the best I can," Gronkowski said. "And when my number's called, that's when I'll play. I can't tell you when that will be."

 

Free agent acquisition Danny Amendola has been battling a groin injury but is expected to be ready for the opener. Amendola had a career-high 85 catches while with St. Louis in his last full season in 2010 and is one of the veterans the Patriots are counting on, along with Julian Edelman.

 

Three rookies - free agent Kenbrell Thompkins and draft choices Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce - may also help fill the void at wideout, while free agent rookie Zach Sudfeld and veterans Michael Hoomanawanui and Matthew Mulligan could step in at tight end.

 

A lack of reliable options, however, could make it difficult for Brady to put up another big year. The two-time NFL MVP completed 401 of 637 passes for 4,827 yards with 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2012, finishing just shy of back-to-back 5,000-yard seasons.

 

Brady has certainly had his share of success against the Bills, winning 20 of 22 starts while completing 65.0 percent of his passes and throwing 51 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

 

Brady passed for 340 yards and three touchdowns and Stevan Ridley ran for 106 yards and two scores as the Patriots put up 45 second-half points en route to a 52-28 victory in their last trip to Buffalo on Sept. 30. Ridley finished with 98 yards and a touchdown in a 37-31 home win Nov. 11.

 

Ridley, who rushed for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, will attempt to build on that breakout effort against a Buffalo defense that ranked 31st against the run in 2012 with 145.8 yards allowed per game.

 

The Bills, however, hope to be much improved after implementing a hybrid 3-4 scheme under former Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. They'll attempt to slow down the Patriots without starting cornerback Stephon Gilmore (broken wrist) and most likely two-time Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd (foot).

 

Marrone, who along with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett helped build Syracuse into a formidable offense before joining the Bills, will go with Manuel to lead the team in his debut.

 

The No. 16 overall pick's status had been in question after undergoing what the team called a "minor procedure" on his left knee Aug. 18. He was injured two days earlier while scrambling in a 20-16 preseason win over Minnesota.

 

"I'd be lying if I'm sitting here saying, 'I don't expect him to do great things,'" said Marrone, who looks to guide the Bills to their first postseason appearance since 1999. "We expect not just EJ, but all of our players that are out there to perform at a very, very high level."

 

That includes running back C.J. Spiller, one of the team's bright spots during last year's 6-10 season. Spiller rushed for a career-high 1,244 yards and averaged 6.0 yards per carry, matching MVP Adrian Peterson for tops in the NFL among running backs.

 

Leading receiver Stevie Johnson finished with 79 catches during his third straight 1,000-yard season. The Bills have second-year player T.J. Graham, and they added rookies Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin to their receiving corps.

 

They'll try to stretch a New England defense that allowed 37 passing plays of 25 yards or more last season - tied for the fourth-most in the NFL.

 

The Patriots, though, improved in that area when they acquired cornerback Aqib Talib from Tampa Bay in November, allowing Devin McCourty to move to safety on a more permanent basis.

 

"McCourty, he's been a Pro Bowl player," Johnson said. "But I still think we can take advantage of their defense."

 

The Patriots have won 23 of 25 against the Bills.

 

Copyright 2013 by STATS LLC.

 

 

[RazorStar 4,025]

No Jeff Tuel means no chances for the Bills. Patriots stomp them so hard they'll shit out their tongues.

[NFL-Lady 1]

Unfortunately highly unlikely but, going with the BILLS to win this one...

[housemd 338]

No Jeff Tuel means no chances for the Bills. Patriots stomp them so hard they'll shit out their tongues.

Exactly. Jeff Tuel = victory. But without him:

 

:Patriots: 34

20

Edited September 7, 2013 by housemd

[Bay 2,003]

:patriots: 31

21

[KempBolt 498]

:Patriots: 42

17

 

I have a feeling New England is going to spend the first half of the season shutting people up.

[Piggly Wiggly 960]

There's really no excuse to not blowout the Bills tomorrow lol.

[Dutch 874]

:Patriots: 42

17

 

I have a feeling New England is going to spend the first half of the season shutting people up.

 

Basically this. I don't think the Patriots will miss a beat. I also agree that the Patriots defense may have the potential to be a greater asset to that team.

 

:Patriots: 41

 

17

[blotsfan 2,112]

i don't think having Manuel play gives us a worse chance. That would require us having a chance at all

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

31-17 Patriots

[housemd 338]

 

 

Aaron Dobson (hamstring) has officially been ruled out for Week 1.

 

Dobson was limited in practice all week with a hamstring injury and remains day-to-day. The Patriots will go with Julian Edelman and Josh Boyce behind Danny Amendola and Kenbrell Thompkins. Rob Gronkowski, Nate Ebner, Duron Harmon and Brandon Bolden have also been downgraded to out for Sunday's game against the Bills.

[Vin+ 3,121]

 

Bills declared FS Jairus Byrd, CB Stephon Gilmore, K Dustin Hopkins, OL Doug Legursky, DT Jay Ross, TE Chris Gragg and DT Corbin Bryant inactive for Week 1 against the Patriots.

Byrd made a long-shot bid to play, but was never likely to suit up after earning a "doubtful" tag on Friday's injury report. He's dealing with plantar fasciitis in both feet, and could easily be sidelined again in Week 2. Tom Brady is going to face little resistance as he throws the ball this afternoon.

 

 

 

Patriots declared TE Rob Gronkowski, WR Aaron Dobson, S Nate Ebner, S Duron Harmon, RB Brandon Bolden, OT Will Svitek and RB Leon Washington inactive for Week 1 against the Bills.

Gronk and Dobson are the notable names, but both were ruled out ahead of time. Washington was re-signed on Saturday, and should eventually see time on kicks.

[Thanatos 2,847]

No Jairus Byrd? Long day for Buffalo's D.

 

:Patriots: 45

20

[Bay 2,003]

Get those legs going Spiller. Manuel 4/5 for 20 yards. Let the kid throw it.

[blotsfan 2,112]

Nice first career td for EJ and Woods.

[Piggly Wiggly 960]

Pathetic display by the offense in the 1st half. Responsible for all 14 points scored by the Bills.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

New England's offense looks horrendous... still. Tom Brady with a very average output thus far... Is this the Welker / Gronk effect?

[funnygunny 521]

no.

 

maybe.

 

i dont know.

 

brilliant fumble by ridley = 7 points.

 

brilliant fucking catch by sudfield leads to interception in the final minute = another 7 points.

 

what the fuck edelman's selective catching = no TD in the 2nd half and thompkins is being a bit of a fuckwit running into kunts and dropping shit. only REAL mistake tom made was the fumbe at the 1 yard line. noone wants to help in the redzone. fuck this game should be 28-7.

Edited September 8, 2013 by funnygunny

[BradyFan81 404]

Amendola is a legend. He is as good as advertised.

 

I'm pretty encouraged to be honest, the Bills offense didn't do anything all game. 14 points was because of Ridley and Sudfeld's fuck ups.

 

The rookies will get better with time, until then Amendola and Edelman can carry them.

 

This is a good example of how stats really aren't that good of an indicator of performance. Looking at the stats you'd think Manuel outplayed Brady, but really Manuel was trash and Brady was very good other than the fumble at the goal line.

Edited September 8, 2013 by BradyFan81

[Piggly Wiggly 960]

New England's offense looks horrendous... still. Tom Brady with a very average output thus far... Is this the Welker / Gronk effect?

Absence of Gronk was felt. Sudfeld was responsible for a pick which put him in the dog house. Also, the o-line was very shaky, Ridley was horrendous with 2 fumbles, and Kenbrell looked very shaky at times.

 

Amendola though, wow. Made some super tough catches in big time situations. There were at least 3-4 receptions he had that Welker probably would have dropped.

[blotsfan 2,112]

I'd be worried if I was new England. They really struggled against our awful d. Liked what I saw from EJ for the most part. It doesn't look like we're a playoff team this year or anything but maybe we could be in the right direction

[funnygunny 521]

hopefully the rookies will improve with more and more game time over the season. the main issue is the fumbles. i mean it was hilarious in the pre-season (lol lions), but now it needs to stop

[Dutch 874]

The Bills defense got some nice pressure on Brady and I liked what I saw from E.J Manuel. The Patriots shaky performance doesn't change a thing for me though. No reason to panic yet. The Patriots are fine.

[Piggly Wiggly 960]

I'd be worried if I was new England.

lol, why?

 

They put up an even worse offensive performance against the Cards in the home opener last year. And that was with a veteran receiving core.

 

This season it's basically a brand new group. They have a lot of promise, but it's gonna take a little while for Brady and his receivers to gel. Keep in mind, Gronk wasn't the only one out, so was Aaron Dobson, the Pats' 2nd round pick who is going to have a key role in the Pats offense this year.

[KempBolt 498]

:Patriots: 42

17

 

I have a feeling New England is going to spend the first half of the season shutting people up.

 

:patriots: 23

20

 

Tough game. Hats off to the Buffalo defense and a nice outing for Manuel. I still think New England is going to be one of the league's top teams this season.

Edited September 9, 2013 by KempBolt