STADIUM: Highmark Stadium
REFEREE: Alan Eck
DATE: Sunday, December 31, 2023
GAME TIME: 1:00 PM ET
CBS: Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, Melanie Collins
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) NE: 158 or 380 BUF: 85 or 225
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY REG. SEASON: NE leads series, 77-48-1 (BUF won 3 of past 4). THE LAST TIME: REG. SEASON: 10/22/23: BUF 25 at NE 29.
HEAD COACHES NOTES: Bill Belichick vs. Opponent (incl. postseason): 37-12 Reg. Season: 302-163 (.649) Postseason: 31-13 (.705). Sean McDermott vs. Opponent (incl. postseason): 6-8 Reg. Season: 71-41 (.634) Postseason: 4-5 (.444).
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS NOTES:
• QB BAILEY ZAPPE completed 25 of 33 atts. (season-high 75.8 pct.) for season-high 256 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with season-high 117.7 rating last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 70+ comp. pct. Has 115+ rating in 2 of past 3. Has 7 TDs vs. INT with 117.2 rating in 3 career road starts.
• RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT had 60 scrimmage yards (33 rec., 27 rush) & rec. TD last week. Has 60+ scrimmage yards in 3 of past 4 & rec. TD in 2 of past 3. Had rush TD in Week 7 meeting. Is only RB with 800+ scrimmage yards in each of past 8 seasons.
• WR DEMARIO DOUGLAS (rookie) had 5 catches & led team with 74 rec. yards last week. Has 5+ catches in 5 of past 6. Had 54 rec. yards in Week 7 meeting. Needs 6 catches to become 1st NE rookie with 50+ catches since Terry Glenn in 1996 (90).
• WR DEVANTE PARKER had season-best 65 rec. yards in Week 16. Has 60+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3. Had 6 catches for 79 yards & 2 TDs in last road meeting (1/8/23).
• WR JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER had 5 catches for 113 yards & TD in his last game vs. Buf. (10/16/22 w/ KC) & has 50+ rec. yards in each of 3 career games vs. Buf.
• TE HUNTER HENRY aims for his 3rd in row with TD catch.
• TE MIKE GESICKI had 2nd TD catch of season last week. Had rec. TD in Week 7 meeting.
• DT CHRISTIAN BARMORE had career-high 8 tackles, career-high 3 sacks & 1st-career FF in Week 16. Aims for 4th in row with 0.5+ sacks & 3rd in row with 6+ tackles & full sack. Had sack in Week 7 meeting. Needs 1.5 sacks for 1st-career 10-sack season.
• LB JOSH UCHE had 3rd sack of season last week.
• LB JA’WHAUN BENTLEY has 7+ tackles in 3 of past 4.
• S KYLE DUGGER had 5 tackles, TFL & PD last week.
BUFFALO BILLS NOTES:
• QB JOSH ALLEN completed 15 of 21 atts. (71.4 pct.) for 237 yards with 3 TDs (2 rush, 1 pass) & 104.7 rating last week, 11th game this season with both pass & rush TD, most in a season all-time. Has rush TD in 8 of past 9, incl. each of past 4. Had 3 TDs (2 pass, 1 rush) in Week 7 meeting & aims for his 5th in row vs. NE with 2+ TD passes & 90+ rating. Ranks 4th in NFL with 13 rush TDs in 2023, tied 3rd-most ever by QB in a season. Needs 222 pass yards & 3 TD passes to join Drew Brees as only QBs ever with 4,000+ pass yards & 30+ TD passes in 4 straight seasons.
• RB JAMES COOK rushed for 70 yards last week. Has 100+ scrimmage yards in 5 of past 6 & each of past 3 at home. Aims for 3rd in row at home with TD. Had 102 scrimmage yards (56 rush, 46 rec.) & rec. TD in Week 7 meeting & has 100+ scrimmage yards in 2 of 3 career games vs. NE. Ranks 4th in NFL with 1,471 scrimmage yards & can become 1st Buf. RB with 1,500-yard season since 2017 (LeSean McCoy).
• WR STEFON DIGGS had 5 catches in Week 16. Aims for his 5th in row vs. NE with 6+ catches, 55+ rec. yards & rec. TD. Needs 4 catches to become 3rd player ever with 100+ catches in 4 straight seasons.
• WR GABE DAVIS led team with season-high 130 rec. yards last week, 3rd game this season with 100+ rec. yards.
• TE DALTON KINCAID (rookie) had 8 catches for 75 yards in Week 7 meeting. Ranks 2nd among rookie TEs with 62 catches.
• S JORDAN POYER has 5+ tackles in 3 of past 4. Had 10 tackles, sack & FF in Week 7 meeting. Has TFL in 4 of his past 5 vs. NE.
• CB TARON JOHNSON had season-best 2 PD last week. Aims for 4th in row with 7+ tackles & PD. Had PD in Week 7 meeting.
• LB TERREL BERNARD had 7 tackles & sack in Week 16.
• DT ED OLIVER had season-high 2 sacks last week, 2nd-career 2-sack game. Has PD in 2 of past 3.
