Experts share their picks for the Patriots Week 5 matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Mike Reiss, ESPN:
Pick: Bills 27, Patriots 20
Buffalo has won 14 straight games at home, which reflects how the Patriots are entering one of the toughest environments for a road team in the NFL. The Patriots should be competitive, but winning seems to be asking a lot of a young, ascending team.
Stephania Bell, ESPN: Bills
Matt Bowen, ESPN: Bills
Mike Clay, ESPN: Bills
Chris Fowler, ESPN: Patriots
Dan Graziano, ESPN: Bills
Kalyn Kahler, ESPN: Bills
Pamela Maldonado, ESPN: Bills
Eric Moody, ESPN: Bills
Jason Reid, ESPN: Bills
Lindsey Thiry, ESPN: Bills
Seth Wickersham, ESPN: Patriots
NFL.com
Ali Bhanpuri, NFL.com: Bills 30, Patriots 24
Brooke Cersosimo, NFL.com: Bills 33, Patriots 20
Dan Parr, NFL.com: Bills 31, Patriots 23
Gennaro Filice, NFL.com: Bills 28, Patriots 24
Tom Blair, NFL.com: Bills 29, Patriots 20
Why Tom picked the Bills: I agree with Drake Maye that this will be a "checkpoint" game for the Patriots -- and I suspect they will ultimately be found wanting. New England has every right to roll into this one with some confidence, coming off a 42-13 rout of the Panthers. But on Sunday night, Maye's job will be keeping up with Josh Allen, and that's just a different sort of project entirely. Then there's the fact that Buffalo's most glaring weakness -- a 31st-ranked run defense -- isn't exactly something New England seems equipped to exploit, with Rhamondre Stevenson (4.0 yards per attempt) and TreVeyon Henderson (3.7 yards per attempt) heading up the 25th-ranked ground attack, especially if Ed Oliver and Matt Milano are back. Buffalo's been ruling this rivalry for long enough that it would be almost refreshing for Maye and Co. to pull themselves closer to equal footing, but it feels a bit premature to bank on that happening now.
Pete Prisco, CBS Sports:
Pick: Bills 31, Patriots 20
The Patriots impressed in blowing out Carolina last week, but this is a big step up in class. Facing the Bills at their place on a Sunday night is tough sledding. The Bills have been outstanding on offense and that will continue in this one. Look for Josh Allen to play big as the Bills win it.
Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports: Bills
Jared Dubin, CBS Sports: Bills
Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: Bills
John Breech, CBS Sports: Bills
Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports: Bills
Dave Richard, CBS Sports: Bills
Jamey Eisenburg, CBS Sports: Bills
Pro Football Talk
Mike Florio: Bills 30, Patriots 23
Chris Simms: Patriots 27, Bills 24
Paul Perillo, Patriots.com:
Pick: Patriots 34, Bills 33
Patriots and Drake Maye's coming out party ends with a dramatic last-second victory in Buffalo.
Mike Dussault, Patriots.com:
Pick: Bills 30, Patriots 24
The Pats look like they're on the right track, but the Bills are still a wagon. Drake Maye and the offense should be able to move the ball against Buffalo's defense but Josh Allen and James Cook are give the Bills the edge at home. Pats go down swinging.
Evan Lazar, Patriots.com:
Pick: Bills 31, Patriots 24
As much as my heart wants to pick the Patriots, the Bills are pretty much unbeatable at home. The Patriots compete and make it close, but the Bills have too much offense.
DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer
