The stakes couldn't be higher in Foxborough on Sunday. With a win, the Patriots (11-2) can clinch the AFC East and secure their first playoff berth since 2021. Standing in their way are the Buffalo Bills (9-4), winners of two straight after a midseason slump. Josh Allen is back in MVP form, and this matchup has all the makings of a December classic.

The Patriots edged Buffalo 23-20 in Week 5, thanks to a late 52-yard field goal by Andy Borregales. Expect another nail-biter with the division crown on the line.

Here are the three keys to victory:

1. In Search of Kryptonite

Josh Allen remains the ultimate dual-threat weapon. He's thrown for 3,083 yards, 22 TDs, and 10 INTs with a 102.9 passer rating, while adding 487 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, the most by any QB this season and a total that already matches the 12 rushing TDs he had last year during his MVP campaign.

Earlier this season, he set the NFL record for career regular-season rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, and he's showing no signs of slowing down.

Last week against Cincinnati, Allen accounted for 329 total yards and 4 TDs, including two scrambles that helped put the game away. As the season comes down to its final most important weeks, he is starting to surge.

The Patriots must keep Allen in the pocket and limit his legs, especially on third down, where five of his rushing TDs have come. Expect the Pats defense to mix spy looks with pressure packages, forcing Allen to win from structure rather than the chaos in which he thrives.

2. Containing James Cook & the TEs

Buffalo's offense might not be as explosive as they've been in years past, but Allen has enough around him to challenge the Patriots defense. James Cook ranks second in the NFL with 1,308 rushing yards and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry. In the first meeting, New England held Cook to 49 yards on 15 carries, but Allen found success targeting tight ends. Dalton Kincaid had 108 yards in that game.

Fellow TE Dawson Knox is coming off his best performance of the season: six catches for 93 yards against Cincinnati. That combination of Cook and the two tight ends will be New England's biggest challenge. Stopping the run, then protecting the middle of the field, are huge keys to slowing down Allen and keeping his offense contained.

Expect Buffalo to lean on Cook early and use play-action to attack linebackers and safeties with Kincaid and Knox. If the Patriots can bottle up Cook on early downs and disrupt those middle-of-the-field throws, they'll force Buffalo into uncomfortable third-and-longs.

3. Play Like a Champion

It's been years since the Gillette Stadium crowd has seen a game of this magnitude. Drake Maye has been sensational in Year 2, throwing for 3,412 yards, 23 TDs, and just 6 INTs with a 111.9 passer rating. However, this kind of game could pose a novel challenge for the leading Pro Bowl vote-getter. Maye has one game-winning drive and zero fourth-quarter comebacks in his career, and that lone drive came against Buffalo in Week 5.

That's where important NFL games are won or lost, and this one is likely to come down to which quarterback makes the last play. Allen has done it countless times, but Maye hasn't, mostly because he hasn't really needed to during the Patriots 10-game win streak.

That could change this Sunday.

Against an aggressive Bills defense that blitzes heavily, Maye must stay poised, protect the football, and deliver in the clutch. December divisional games define MVPs. This is an opportunity not just for the team to secure a division title, but for Maye to outduel last year's MVP and carve out an even more compelling case that he is the game's most valuable player this season.

The Patriots have the edge at home and the better overall record, but Buffalo's experience in big games and Allen's playmaking ability make this a true toss-up. If New England executes these three keys, they'll punch their playoff ticket and send a message that the AFC East runs through Foxborough again.

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