Buffalo Bills

Patriots vs. Bills: Gameday Notes for Week 8 Showdown

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Patriots have an opportunity to put a stranglehold on the AFC East with a win against the Buffalo Bills today.

With a victory on Sunday, the Patriots can all but put away the division at the halfway mark of the season. With that in mind, let’s look at some other notes of interest about today’s game.

-The Patriots have an 11-5 record against Rex Ryan coached teams (Jets, Bills) over the past 8 seasons.

-A win sends the Patriots into the bye week with a 7-1 record and a three-game cushion over the rest of the division.

-Tom Brady boasts a career 25-3 record against Buffalo. With a victory, he can tie Brett Favre for the most wins against a single team since the merger. Favre racked up 26 career wins against the Detroit Lions.

-A victory would give Brady 198 on his career, moving him just two behind Peyton Manning (200) and one behind Brett Favre (199) on the all-time wins list.

-The Patriots have not been swept by a division rival during the Brady/Belichick era. During that time period, New England has lost the first game of the year against a division rival six times. The have gone on to win each rematch by an average of 28 points.

-Wide receiver Chris Hogan makes his return to Buffalo for the first time since leaving the Bills to sign with the Patriots during the offseason. With 15 catches for 300 yards through 7 games in 2016, Hogan is on pace to shatter his previous career high numbers — 36 catches for 450 yards in 2015.

-Buffalo is giving up 125 yards rushing per game, while New England is averaging 122.7 rushing yards per game. Will that perhaps translate into another big day for LeGarrette Blount?

Kickoff for the Patriots vs. Bills set for 1 p.m. at New Era Field. Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts and Evan Washburn (sideline) will be the broadcast team for CBS.