Why the New England Patriots Will Very Soon Overtake the Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills came into the 2011 season with very low expectations, while the New England Patriots were one of the AFC powerhouses. This has been the case the past decade.

But the season began with the Bills winning their first three games, including a shocking come-from-behind 34-31 win over the Patriots in Week 3.

Flash forward to the midway point of the season and the Patriots have been up and down, standing at 5-3, while the Bills have tailed off a little bit and are coming off a disappointing home loss to the Jets. Both are tied atop the division with those very Jets. 

A feel-good story often ends a bit prematurely in sports, and this has all the makings of a Cinderella ride that is about to end for the Bills. Their schedule is brutal in the second half of the season: five of their eight games are on the road, with trips to Dallas, the Jets, San Diego and New England all upcoming.

Also, they have ridden the outstanding play of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Fred Jackson to their hot start. I'm not suggesting those players are not as good as they've played, but they cannot possibly reach a higher level than what they have shown so far.

Buffalo also has been able to mask weaknesses, such as a below-average run defense and a very average at best pass defense. They have forced turnovers and created huge plays on offense to keep momentum on their side. 

Looking on the other hand, the Patriots have the Chiefs, Dolphins, Colts, Broncos and Redskins still on the schedule. A big plus for the Pats also lies in the fact that their offense has sputtered lately, meaning every defense knows its on the verge of exploding soon.

The return of Kevin Faulk will help their below average rushing attack, and provide another third down weapon for Tom Brady, as if his two favorite tight ends weren't enough. And while the defense has been much maligned, it is showing signs of life in the last three games, holding the Cowboys to 16 points, and holding the Giants without a touchdown for nearly three full quarters. 

The Patriots could easily finish the season at 12-4 or 11-5, while the Bills will struggle to get to eight or nine wins. Pats win the division. Jets finish second. Bills fade to the finish in third.