It's been a long time since the Patriots played a game with significant meaning, even if it could be argued that the final game of the 2023 season ultimately determined which quarterback they would be able to take in the first round of the following draft.
Beyond that, though, this week's matchup with the Bills is what many around the league refer to as a hat-and-t-shirt game, meaning the Patriots can take the division from the reigning champions and become the newest AFC East champion on Sunday.
Considering the ramifications of the result, especially a loss, which could mean the division might not be decided until Week 18, there is a lot the Patriots need to prepare for. The Bills are going to be extra motivated to ensure they don't see them win on their watch, and based on how they've been playing recently, that will only make them more dangerous.
But a Bills writer just gave away the script of what Buffalo will try to do to slow New England down, and if they can mess up that plan, they could sweep the Bills for the first time in five years.
The Bills will hope to right their Week 5 wrongs against the Patriots this week
While discussing the three keys to the Bills accomplishing revenge this weekend, Richie Whitt of OnSI revealed the game plan they are likely to follow in hopes of ending the Patriots' win streak.
Most of it is unsurprising, but the Patriots now know what their opponents will focus on Sunday: protect the football, create turnovers, let James Cook run all over the defense, and don't allow any special-teams scores, especially if Marcus Jones is the returner.
Ball security is always a priority for every team, and the Patriots weren't very good at that at the start of the season. They seem to have gotten a handle on that, though, and if they can keep that going, they won't hand the Bills extra opportunities to score, the way Joe Burrow and the Bengals did last week.
That ultimately helped them secure the win, so the Patriots cannot give Josh Allen any help to beat them.
The defense will also have the tough task of slowing down Cook, which they did remarkably well in their last meeting. That was when the group had still not allowed any running back to record 50+ yards in a game, as Cook ended with 49 yards in Week 5.
But they have now allowed more than that each week, including 100+ yards in the game against the Bengals, so there is room to be concerned with a player like Cook on the opposing offense.
Lastly, the Patriots' special teams have been on fire this season, as we've seen from Jones, who might be headed to a Pro Bowl or even All-Pro season. It has been a common theme for the Patriots in games against their division over the last few years, and hopefully, this week won't be any different.
That puts a lot of pressure on the Bills, and that could be something that derails their efforts.
If the Patriots can stick to what they've been doing over the past month and remember what they did in their first game against the Bills, there's no reason they can't sweep them this season, and lock up the division while they're at it.
It would the the biggest sign ever that they're not a team to mess with, and they shouldn't be overlooked because of their "easy schedule."