MTI
5-Star NEW ENGLAND -3' over Buffalo - After starting 4-0 and looking like they were going to run away with the tough AFC East, the Bills have stumbled recently. Now they are tied at 5-3 with the Patriots and Jets for the division lead. The Patriots are just the team to drive in the stake.
New England is off a road loss at Indianapolis last week in which they suffered a 2-0 turnover margin. This is the Patriots' best spot. They are 8-0 ATS after a straight up loss on the road, covering by an average of 15.8 ppg. They have had one active date this season - their 41-7 demolition of the Broncos on Monday Night football. In addition, the Pats are 7-0 ATS (+11.0 ppg) when they are off a loss in which they suffered a turnover margin of at least +2, as long as they are not laying double-digits.
Buffalo has lost two straight to divisional opponents and they looked bad doing so. Last week they had their chance to show what they are made of at home vs the Jets. They revealed that they are a mentally fragile team, losing 26-17 laying 5 points. Buffalo was 1-of-3 red zone attempts and Edwards was sacked five times.
The Bills are a gutless 0-6 ATS on the road when they suffered a 10+ point ATS loss last week against a divisional opponent, falling short of the linesmakers' expectations by an average of 13.6 ppg. Also, the Bills are 0-6 ATS the week after they attempted at least ten fewer rushes than their season-to-date average as a home favorite and 0-6 ATS (-11.9 ppg) when they are on a two+ game SU and ATS losing streak, as long as they are not getting more than a TD. In addition, the Bills are 0-5 ATS (-12.5 ppg) as a road dog when they failed on at least two red zone attempts as a home favorite last week. Perhaps the most compelling stat of all is that Buffalo is 0-5 ATS as a dog when they lost last week while suffering a turnover margin of at least +2 as a favorite. The young Bills simply adopt a defeatist attitude in this situation, losing every single one of the six games by double-digits, and failing to cover by an average of 13.3 ppg.
Buffalo simply does not have the character and mental toughness to compete with the Patriots here. These two teams are heading in opposite directions. Cassell is getting better and more confident with each start and the Bills are falling apart. This is a key divisional matchup. The Patriots have played many important games just like this one. They know what is at stake. They are mentally tough. They are at home. They will man-up. Their defense will crush the Bills' struggling offense.
Over the past two seasons, the Pats have been a home favorite by less than a TD only twice. They won those two games 38-14 and 41-7 respectively. Lay the 3'.
MTi's FORECAST: NEW ENGLAND 27 Buffalo 0
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