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En route to leading the AFC East, the New England Patriots have won six-straight games. The Buffalo Bills will hope to snap that streak during Week 13’s Monday Night Football matchup in Orchard Park.
That’s much easier said than done.
A big reason for the Patriots’ recent successes is rookie quarterback Mac Jones.
It’s not that the QB has set the world on fire. Rather, it’s a case that he’s just playing pretty good. Typically a first-year quarterback struggles mightily so in terms of the Year 1 QB scale, Jones is playing excellent.
The Bills (7-4) were well aware of that this week.
“Mac is off to a phenomenal start and he’s as good as advertised. There’s a lot of talk out there about him and he does a great job executing their offense. So it’ll be a big challenge for us,” McDermott said via video conference. “Tell me another quarterback, especially a young quarterback that’s as hot as Mac Jones right now. So, the record speaks for itself.”
McDermott has gotten that message through to his players as well.
“He’s doing his thing,” defensive end Mario Addison said via video conference. “You can’t take him lightly because he’s a rookie. Like I said if he’s there then he belongs there.”
“He’s grown throughout the year,” safety Jordan Poyer added. “His turnovers have kind of slimmed down the past six games. I think he’s kind of found a bit of a rhythm.”
But while Jones is certainly someone the Bills defense can’t take lightly, their hands will be full with the whole package the Patriots offer.
As well as Jones is playing, the Pats (8-4) offense thrives on a strong rushing attack. Buffalo has to shut down both.
“They’re physical. The move people and beat people up at the line of scrimmage and then that sets up their pass game. So they’ve got a really good thing going,” McDermott said.
“They got good players. Good offensive line, blocking well. Three good running backs that are running extremely hard, breaking tackles,” Poyer added.
The top name to watch out for out of New England’s backfield is running back Damien Harris.
The Bills will have to contain him, that is, if they can get there by beating a talent Bills offensive line.
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