Down their top receiver (A.J. Brown), best player (Christian Gonzalez), lead defensive lineman (Christian Barmore), and riding their fourth different right guard on offense (Ben Brown), the 1-2 New England Patriots head to Buffalo for a Sunday showdown against Josh Allen and the 3-0 Buffalo Bills.
Oh yeah, and the quarterback, who was the NFL’s runner-up to the MVP in 2025, has thrown one touchdown pass and six interceptions.
“That is just what the situation is. There’s nothing we can do about it,” said head coach Mike Vrabel.
How to attack the Bills
But what can Vrabel and the Patriots do in their bid to win at Buffalo for the second straight year? Executing what the coach wishes will be his team’s identity would be a good start.
“Playing full tilt to the tackle, finishing longer than the guy with the ball, protecting the guy with the ball, taking care of the football,” he explained this week.
“Having a defense that hunts the football, that goes and looks for every opportunity they can to get their hand on the football. One that plays with technique and fundamentals, understands what the details of the play are and makes great split-second decisions on the football field.”
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Stay on schedule
Ball control would seem to be the best plan of attack. Keeping the ball away from Allen by riding the likes of Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson would seem to be the top option.
Consistency on the run has been an issue, either with an inability to regularly open holes or with the offense putting the football on the turf – both with Drake Maye and Stevenson.
The Patriots’ two lead backs are averaging just under four yards a carry, heading into Buffalo.
First down production a must
With Maye’s woes throwing the ball, carrying a 58.6 passer rating through three games, winning on first down will be as important as third down. Staying on schedule is top priority.
Possessing the football when Buffalo did not last year was the key.
“Take care of the football. We did a decent job stopping the run,” said Vrabel. “We got turnovers. We executed in critical situations, like the one at the end of the game to go down there. And we made a big kick on special teams.”
