NFL Predictions Week 3: Buffalo Bills Will Put Up Valiant Fight vs. Patriots

To suggest anyone will put up a fight against the New England Patriots at this point is to suggest that you are crazy.

Well, folks, I guess I am suggesting I'm still crazy after all these years.

The Patriots head into Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday to face the 2-0 Buffalo Bills, and it's going to be a lot closer than most people think.

Even last season, when the Bills went 4-12, they only lost by a score of 38-30 in their Week 3 matchup with New England.

In that game, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was nearly perfect, as he's been this season, but the Bills still were able to make it close behind quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Bills quarterback is proving in 2011 that he may be the real deal.

This season, the Bills have a revamped defensive line, complete with star rookie Marcell Dareus. They've added a veteran presence in former Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett, still have Stevie Johnson and Fred Jackson, and have a new weapon at receiver in second-year pro David Nelson.

The Bills are also coming off an impressive home victory against the Oakland Raiders in Week 2. In that game, the Bills came back from a 21-3 deficit at the half, outscoring the Raiders 35-14 in the third and fourth quarters.

It's not like the Raiders have a bad secondary, either. Even with the loss of Asomugha, they've proven to be better than expected.

Make no mistake about it, the Bills are going to find themselves in a shootout with the Patriots come Sunday and they just may be up for the challenge. The Bills have already proven they aren't the same bottom-feeding team as last season.

By the way, the Bills are scoring the most points per game in the NFL thus far, ahead of the Patriots.