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The best regular season
in team history has the New England Patriots ready for the playoffs.
One more victory will improve their chances to make another Super Bowl run.
The Patriots, winners of a franchise-record 11 straight, will try to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs when they face former teammates Drew Bledsoe, Lawyer Milloy and the Buffalo Bills.
Already assured of at least one home playoff game and a first-round bye, the Patriots can clinch the top seed in the AFC and the league's best record with a victory. New England can also secure home-field throughout the AFC playoffs if Kansas City loses at home to Chicago on Sunday.
The Patriots have
won a franchise-record 11 straight games since a 20-17 loss at Washington on
Sept. 28, and are 13-2 for the first time in team history. For all that success,
New England knows a loss at home to Buffalo in the regular season finale would
be a major disappointment to a team that has much bigger plans.
``We had a bad start to the year, but that doesn't matter,'' defensive lineman
Richard Seymour said. ``It's how you finish. We've been able to string some
wins together and we're playing well. But until we get to our ultimate goal
-- to Houston (for the Super Bowl) -- we're not satisfied.''
Playing at home has proven to be a huge advantage for the Patriots, who are 7-0 at Gillette Stadium this season and 12-3 there all-time. New England has outscored opponents 77-22 in its last five home games.
Another outstanding performance from the Patriots' defense was the catalyst in a 21-16 victory over the New York Jets on Saturday. New England intercepted a season-high five passes and Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes to David Givens.
The Patriots lead the NFL with six defensive touchdowns.
``It speaks of the individuals on this defense,'' safety Rodney Harrison said. ``You really have to give it to these guys, they're making plays. As a defense, we thrive on interceptions and sacks and we got enough of them.''
Easily New England's most disappointing performance was a season-opening 31-0 loss at Buffalo.
That game took place just five days after Bills safety Milloy was released for salary cap reasons by New England. The victory was also particularly sweet for Bledsoe, who lost his first two games against the Patriots last season after spending his first nine years in New England.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick doesn't believe this game has any added significance.
``I just look at it as it is the next game,'' said Belichick, echoing the weekly approach he's drilled into his players. ``It is not about when the last one was played or what the date was or where it was on the schedule.''
While this game is still very important for New England, Buffalo will miss the playoffs for the third straight season and is just playing out the schedule.
It could also mark the final game for Bills coach Greg Williams, who is in the final year of his contract and has been second-guessed for his play-calling and game decisions.
Bills owner Ralph Wilson didn't exactly give Williams a vote of confidence when asked if his coach would be back next season.
``I have no gut instinct on the thing,'' Wilson said. ``The players like Gregg, and they've played hard for him. We'll have to sit down and see what we're going to do.''
Buffalo's biggest problems
this season have come on offense. That's a surprise for a unit that last year
set 10 franchise passing records while running back Travis Henry finished fifth
in the NFL with 1,438 yards rushing.