What specialists are predicting for Sunday’s Patriots-Payments sport

COMMENTARY

You will get within the constructing this weekend for as little as $80, a value that for some motive represents a reasonably robust ticket market at Gillette Stadium. The most cost effective ticket to the Chiefs on Dec. 18 is presently $120. 

You may as well see the Chargers for as little as $81; the Commanders for $99. The buy-in value for the season finale in opposition to the Jets is barely $49, which appears excessive. 

Keep in mind although, that price additionally consists of having to observe the Patriots play. No less than in between interminable TV timeouts. 

The house workforce hasn’t received at Gillette Stadium since Jan. 1 in opposition to the Dolphins. They’re 0-3 at dwelling already this yr, coming off a 34-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints two Sundays in the past. Quarterback Mac Jones leads an offense that has scored 37 factors at dwelling this season, a mean of 12.3 factors per sport. 

If the Patriots have any shot to beat the Buffalo Payments Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, it’s going to take the identical type of Act of God that handed the Patriots a win in Buffalo two seasons in the past. Counting that outlier, the Payments have received six of the final seven conferences. Not most of the video games have actually been shut. 

So, does the truth that the Giants performed the Payments so shut final weekend imply something for the Patriots? New York is the one workforce to attain fewer factors (71 to New England’s 72) this season. Think about the thrills in retailer when these two groups face off in Week 12. Belichick may need to jot down a e-book about it. 

Nonetheless, as soon as Invoice O’Brien determined to lean on the working sport (in opposition to one of many league’s worst run defenses in Las Vegas), New England’s offense did stir to life – lastly – throughout final week’s loss. May these indicators, coupled with the truth that gamers and coaches can be combating for his or her jobs, level to a Patriots upset? 

No. 

This week’s predictions: 

Globe employees: Three of six decide the Patriots (+8.5)

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: Payments 27, Patriots 13. “I preserve pondering the Pats can’t be this dangerous (can they?), and that blind religion in no matter is left of Invoice Belichick’s mojo retains costing me. Josh Allen (shoulder) is questionable however ought to play, and feast on an injury-wracked NE protection. Buffalo had wake-up name with that unimpressive win in opposition to Giants, and now Mac Jones faces a Payments protection that has allowed just one TD (complete!) throughout previous 4 video games.”

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports activities: Payments 31, Patriots 14. “The Patriots are a large number proper now, however the Payments didn’t look nice in beating the Giants on Sunday night time. That received’t matter right here. The Payments have owned the Patriots lately and this model of Invoice Belichick’s workforce is terrible. Search for Josh Allen and the offense to get again on observe right here. Blowout.”

CBS Sports activities employees: Payments (-8.5) throughout the board. 

Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Occasions: Payments 34, Patriots 10. “There’s no hiding it, the Patriots are horrible. In spite of everything these beatdowns through the years, the Payments are going to precise some revenge. The Payments narrowly beat the Giants, however this can be extra convincing.”

Michael Hurley, CBS Boston: Payments. “On the plus aspect, the Patriots can have a excessive draft decide and boatload of cap area subsequent yr, thus permitting them to navigate their means again to being aggressive in the event that they rent the suitable individuals and make the suitable strikes. That’s all a giant if, although.”

Jimmy Kempski, Philly Voice: Payments (-8.5). “I see perhaps 3 or 4 wins left on the Patriots’ schedule, if that. And you realize what? If issues go actually badly the remainder of the best way, I wouldn’t rule them out of the Caleb Williams sweepstakes. Trying again on the preseason speak in regards to the Pats, it’s humorous that there have been quite a lot of individuals who had been like, ‘Invoice O’Brien goes to return in and repair this offense.’ The one workforce they’ve outscored this season is the Giants, and solely by one level (72-71). And the Giants haven’t scored an offensive landing since Week 3.”

ESPN employees: Seth Wickersham picks the Patriots. Everyone else likes the Payments. 

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports activities: Patriots (+8.5). “The Payments have performed six video games. They’ve been nice in three and fairly dangerous in three. I believe the Payments are an excellent workforce however prime groups often don’t play poorly half the time. The Patriots actually usually are not good, however considered one of these weeks they’ll compete.” 

Sheil Kapadia, The Ringer: Payments (-8.5). “One of the best betting technique of the previous two years: Fade the Patriots as underdogs. After final week’s loss to the Raiders, the Patriots have now didn’t cowl as underdogs in 11 (!) straight video games with Mac Jones as their quarterback. There aren’t any extra disclaimers mandatory. That is only a flat-out horrible workforce.”

MMQB employees: Everyone loves Buffalo. 

SB Nation employees: Everyone loves the Payments. 

Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting Information: Payments 30, Patriots 20. “The Payments must be annoyed by being so near shedding to the Giants at dwelling on Monday night time, maybe taking the matchup vs. former offensive coordinator Brian Daboll too calmly. They may don’t have any bother making a street assertion to present the AFC East rival Patriots their knockout punch. The Patriots’ protection can’t cease a lot of what Josh Allen can do and the Payments maintain up OK in opposition to the run once more regardless of massive accidents.”

Invoice Bender, The Sporting Information: Payments 27, Patriots 17. “The Patriots can’t rating. They’ve simply 20 factors over the past three weeks, and Mac Jones’ time because the beginning quarterback is working quick. The Payments are 6-1 in opposition to New England since Tom Brady left, and the final 5 regular-season wins have been by double digits. Invoice Belichick will do his greatest to decelerate Buffalo, however search for a greater offensive efficiency from Josh Allen.” 

Mike Florio, Professional Soccer Speak: Payments 40, Patriots 14. “The Payments will take no pity in any respect on the overmatched Patriots.”

Chris Simms, Professional Soccer Speak: Payments 28, Patriots 17. 

It says right here: Payments 33, Patriots 17. Keep in mind the ’94 Patriots workforce that began 3-6 but made the playoffs by closing out the season with a seven-game successful streak? This isn’t that workforce.