The 2025 season wasn't supposed to go the way it has for the Patriots, as most predicted they would (maybe) double their previous season's win record on their way to rebuilding the culture and the roster. So the fact that they are currently in the driver's seat of the division and nearly the top of the AFC is a big deal for the Mike Vrabel-led team, especially with the rise of Drake Maye.
It has put a lot of unexpected pressure on the reigning divisional champions going into their Week 15 rematch on Sunday, and the Bills are not overlooking this game the way they might have back in October.
That added motivation, plus some analysts already giving the divisional crown to New England, has some of their players more fired up than usual, including Pro Bowl offensive lineman Connor McGovern.
The veteran shared some insight into how the players are feeling in the days leading up to the matchup, and it's clear he was sending a message to the Patriots about what is fueling their quest to seek revenge, which the home team will want to put a stop to.
The Patriots have a chance to inflict more pain on the Bills and make their road to the playoffs a lot bumpier
Although they want to portray themselves as a confident group, McGovern didn't gloss over the fact that the Bills are feeling counted out, which is an unusual feeling for them considering how successful they have been over the last five years.
That appears to be giving them some extra juice before they head to Foxboro on Sunday, and McGovern let the Patriots know that they are taking their "sliver of a chance" to still win the division very seriously and will be playing hard this weekend.
“When people start to count us out and we feel like we have nothing to lose, I feel like we’re one of the scariest teams in the NFL. The AFC is so open right now that these last four, five games are like playoff games. It helps us tremendously that we’ve been in this situation before.
I know a lot of these teams haven’t really been through adversity like that, so maybe they fold, maybe they don’t, we don’t know yet. But I know the guys in this locker room will never give up. So anytime there’s still a sliver of a chance to get something done, we’ll do it.”
While there is still a path for the Bills to win the division, it's looking less like a sliver and more like something visible only under a microscope. They'd have to beat the Patriots, for starters, and hope that they don't win many of their remaining games against the Ravens, Dolphins, and Jets.
And then they'll have to win most, if not all, of their final games, too, and hope that's enough to secure the division. If not, they're looking at a close battle for a wild-card spot.
Regardless, it's clear the Bills are going to be extra motivated to get the job done and steal a win on the road on Sunday, and the Patriots need to do all that they can to make sure that doesn't happen.
Fortunately for them, however, they are not in the same boat as the Bills if they don't win the game. They are still the No. 2 seed in the conference and can afford to lose to the Bills yet eventually still win the division. So there's no sweat off their back if they are unable to come out the victors.
Of course, it would be a lot sweeter if they could, and the Bills would have to accept the new reality of the division moving forward.