Bills vs. Patriots: Keys to a New England Victory in the NFL's Season Finale

One more win—one more win and the New England Patriots are guaranteed the top seed in the AFC with home-field advantage throughout the entire playoffs. In other words, the AFC goes through Foxborough. 

However, there's just one more challenge that stands in front of the 12-3 Patriots clinching the No. 1 seed, and it's the 6-9 Buffalo Bills. 

When these two teams met back on Sept. 25 in Week 3, the Bills were able to knock off the Patriots 34-31, which gave them their first victory over New England since the 2003 season opener. 

Since then, the Bills have gone downhill fast as they've turned into one of the worst teams in the NFL. The injury bug hit them severely this season—most notably, the team has been playing without running back Fred Jackson ever since he fractured his fibula back in late November. 

Sunday's season finale will feature two teams heading in completely different directions with the top seed in the AFC on the line—and here's how New England can finish 2011 with an impressive 13-3 record. 

Protect Tom Brady

It's certainly hard to believe but Tom Brady has been on New England's injury report for the first time all season as he's dealing with a non-football related injury to his left shoulder.

It was severe enough that he missed Wednesday's practice to have x-rays done on it, but he was able to return to the practice field Thursday, according to the team's injury report. 

All in all, even if Brady was not injured, the Patriots still would have to protect him, as it's no secret that if you put pressure on any quarterback, they will tend to struggle significantly. 

Score Points Early

New England's defense is the worst in the NFL, at least statistically, and they have to be playing with a lead—no matter how inferior their opponent may be. 

If the Patriots are able to get in sync early, which has been a problem as of late, then Buffalo will have a hard time keeping up with Brady and Co. 

Force Interceptions From Ryan Fitzpatrick

This ties into the previous one: If the Patriots get an early lead, then it will force Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills to throw early and often, which should result in a few interceptions.

In fact, Fitzpatrick leads the NFL in interceptions with a pitiful 19. New England's sub-par defense needs to take advantage of that. 

Give Stevan Ridley More Touches

I addressed this earlier this week in one of my articles, and I truly believe that Ridley is the key to a solid and respectable running game to complement Brady and their passing attack. 

Buffalo enters Week 17 ranking 28th overall in rush defense, so this is an area that the New England has to take advantage of. 

A solid running game will simply open the way for Brady to shred Buffalo's secondary.

Predicted score: New England 38, Buffalo 21

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