BOSTON (CBS) — The Patriots and the Payments will sq. off for the third time this season on Saturday evening, as the 2 groups battle on Tremendous Wild Card Weekend. The groups cut up their common season conferences, every profitable on the opposite’s house subject.
So who will win this large rubber match? Buffalo is using a four-game profitable streak, whereas New England limped into the playoffs. The Patriots dropped three of their remaining 4 video games following an enormous win in Buffalo on Monday Evening Soccer. Saturday evening might be one other chilly one at Highmark Stadium, which may assist the run-centric Patriots, however there might be no 50 mph winds this time round.
Who will advance to the divisional spherical, and who will head house? The WBZ-TV and CBS Boston sports activities workforce makes their picks for Saturday evening’s Patriots-Payments Wild Card conflict!
Steve Burton, WBZ-TV Sports activities
The Payments are four-point favorites this weekend, however you’ll be able to throw that out the window. They have been three-point favorites when the Patriots beat them the primary time in Buffalo.
The Pats are coming off a brutal loss in Miami, however it might simply be what they should ignite this workforce. The Patriots ought to bounce again and beat the Payments on Saturday evening.
Patriots 27, Payments 24
Dan Roche, WBZ-TV Sports activities
Every thing favors the Payments on this one. They’re taking part in effectively. They’ve lastly began working the ball. They’ve an MVP-caliber QB in Josh Allen. They’ve a high-flying protection. And so they’re wholesome.
The Payments have additionally gained three of the final 4 towards the Patriots, and that one loss was a wild, windy, weird evening in Buffalo.
The Patriots struggled down the stretch, they’re banged up on each side of the ball, they usually have a rookie QB making his playoff debut. They haven’t performed Invoice Belichick-style soccer down the stretch, making too many psychological and bodily errors.
Can the Patriots win? Sure. However will they? I don’t really feel nice about it.
Payments 27, Patriots 17
Levan Reid, WBZ-TV Sports activities
Welcome to the match and for the Patriots to advance, a few issues have to occur. They want quick begins on offense and protection they usually want particular groups to be sound.
Additionally they have to play from forward. I believe that’s the most important level and yet one more factor. Kyle Dugger must play. What he provides the Pats so far as defensive versatility can’t be overstated. He can spy on Josh Allen, make performs on the backs on the line and defend the tight finish place. Dugger must play for the Patriots to have an opportunity.
I additionally assume it’s higher that the Pats play the Payments in Buffalo than in the event that they have been to play right here in Foxboro. Buffalo, for some purpose, doesn’t play their finest at house, whereas New England went 6-2 on the highway this season. So I’m going with the upset.
(But when Kyle Dugger is a late scratch, scrap all I mentioned… lol. It’s powerful when groups play thrice in a single season.)
Patriots 17, Payments 10
Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
I’ll by no means rely the Patriots out, however I don’t like them this weekend. The Patriots form of proved they’re not an higher class AFC workforce with the best way they completed the yr, a four-week stretch that included a loss to those Payments. Now take away no less than one however possibly two starters from their secondary, and it’s a tall process to count on them to win this one.
Wanting some bizarre issues occurring as a result of climate and/or a repeat of the bulldozing efficiency from the Patriots’ working sport, I believe the Payments transfer on and the Patriots head into the offseason.
Payments 27, Patriots 17
Matthew Geagan, CBS Boston
The Patriots haven’t seemed so sizzling since their bye week, with their solely win coming towards the Jaguars. Their points from early within the season — gradual begins, turnovers, dangerous penalties — have returned and the Pats have proven no indicators of having the ability to repair these in current weeks.
The chilly ought to assist New England run wild once more, but when the Patriots can’t take an early lead, working the ball gained’t imply a lot. The opposite key for New England is turnovers. If Mac retains throwing the ball to the opposite workforce, the Pats are toast.
Nobody can be stunned if the Payments do some Payments issues and lose this one, however they’re a greater workforce than the Patriots they usually’re more healthy heading into Saturday.
Payments 24, Patriots 20
Tune in to Saturday evening’s Patriots-Payments Wild Card sport on WBZ-TV! Pregame protection begins at 6:30pm with Patriots GameDay, the Pats and the Payments kick off round 8:15pm, and after the sport stick round for full response and evaluation on Patriots fifth Quarter!
