New England Patriots will be keeping an eye on Charles Clay

In Week 16, the New England Patriots will be facing the Buffalo Bills for the final time this season. Heading into the matchup, they are focused on Charles Clay.

Week 16 will be a big one for the New England Patriots, as they try to keep the inside track to home-field throughout the AFC Playoffs. While there is a scenario that they can accomplish that this week, it is a bit unlikely.

While the Patriots are looking for a win, so is their opponent in Week 16. The Buffalo Bills have certainly been a surprise to many this season, as despite looking toward the future, they have been able to win games this season.

If the season ended today, the Bills would be in the playoffs as the sixth seed, with the tiebreaker over the Baltimore Ravens. With an 8-6 record, the Bills have proven to be a tough opponent for many teams this season. For the Patriots, they will be trying to focus on stopping their talented tight end, Charles Clay.

In a recent press conference, Bill Belichick talked about Clay. Here’s what he had to say via Patriots.com.

"“He’s always involved. Yeah, he’s always involved. I mean, he’s a really good player. He’s very good down the field. He’s got great speed and discipline in his routes. He’s a very good route runner and has an explosive speed to go with it, so he doesn’t need much, a step, a half a step.”"

While the Bills are a run-first team, Clay is their best option when they do throw the ball. This season, Clay leads the team with 457 receiving yards and is second on the team in receptions behind LeSean McCoy.

The Patriots certainly know what a talented tight end can do to a defense, as they have the best in the business in Rob Gronkowski. While the Bills’ offense is nothing like the Patriots’, Clay is certainly going to be the player that they focus on for passing downs.

Next: Week 15 Team Grades vs. Steelers

While McCoy will certainly be the top threat for New England, they will also likely keep a safety on Clay. Since this game means a lot for both teams, expect to see a good divisional battle in New England this weekend.