When the Buffalo Bills have come to Gillette Stadium this late in the season in years past, the AFC East was surely all locked up by the New England Patriots. On Saturday afternoon, however, when the rivals meet in Foxborough for a Week 16 battle, the division crown will be on the line. This Bills team is something that Buffalo hasn’t seen in decades: a surprising contender in the AFC.

Nick Wojton, managing editor of Bills Wire, told us what makes this Buffalo squad dominant, what the feelings are on second-year quarterback Josh Allen, and he gives his prediction on Saturday’s tilt.

New England defeated Buffalo, 16-10, in Week 4. The Bills have strung together their best season in decades, having already clinched a berth in the playoffs. What has made this Buffalo team a team knocking on the Patriots’ door?

First and foremost, as you acknowledge the Bills’ strengths, I have to acknowledge another reality: Tom Brady and the Pats offense isn’t what we’re used to. That’s certainly a big help. But in regard to the Bills, Sean McDermott really brought things together for this team when he was hired in 2017. His big mistake was really anything involving Nathan Peterman, but aside from that, he’s brought in the right type of players to make this thing work. Comparing it to Bill Belichick, from the outside looking in, with the Patriots’ history, it’s more of a “our way or the highway”-type of thing. That’s why the Pats tryout guys like Antonio Brown and Josh Gordon. They have the exact opposite style as the Bills, who will take particular players who will buy into a “Buffalo vs. everybody” mentality, and it’s worked.

Quarterback Josh Allen has looked poised and not afraid of the bright lights with wins on Thanksgiving in Dallas and last week in Pittsburgh. How are Buffalo fans feeling about Allen in his second season?

There’s still skeptics, but as a whole, the fan base sees that Allen has improved from his rookie year. Really, he’s improved since the first time the Bills played the Pats. That game, Allen was all over the place and had a bunch of interceptions. Since then, he’s been much safer with the ball, but he’s still making plays. The one thing everyone agrees on is that Allen is a gamer in the fourth quarter, something we missed in Bills-Pats Round 1 this year.

The Bills really don’t possess any elite offensive players, as in name recognition. New England has had a hard time containing dual-threat quarterbacks, losing to Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes. Allen deserves to belong in their company with 450-plus rushing yards and nine rushing scores. How is Buffalo planning to approach the Patriots’ elite defense?

I think the Bills have to use the run game in a big way to help setup maybe a passing knockout. Rookie rusher Devin Singletary had two fumbles last week but was still productive with 87 yards rushing. He’s been their No. 1 over Frank Gore, and the Bills cannot be afraid to feed him in this one. But as you mentioned, the Bills will, and should, use Allen’s legs with designed plays with him, too. It’s the safest way to attack the Patriots defense. Anything through the air I expect to be near Cole Beasley in the slot and away from Stephen Gilmore, who’s likely near John Brown.

Tom Brady and the New England offense showed some glimpses of hope that they are rebounding in last week’s win in Cincinnati. But that was a Cincinnati defense that ranks the worst in the league. Buffalo gave the Patriots trouble in Week 4. What makes this Bills defense click?

Certainly their secondary. Tre’Davious White earned his front Pro Bowl nod this week, but safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer are among the best tandems in the league, too. What’s been an even better sight is the Bills pass rush as of late, and a lot of this is coming from the inside of Buffalo’s defensive line via Poyer and Ed Oliver.

In years past when Buffalo and New England meet this late in the season, there really hasn’t been all too much at stake. This year is different with the Bills just one game behind the Patriots. What is your prediction for Saturday?

There’s even some national pundits picking the Bills in this one, but Brady and Belichick at Gillette gives me nightmares. But I think the Bills do play well in a relatively low-scoring game again. Patriots 20, Bills 17

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