Why Bills vs. Patriots Stayed in the Early Window-And Why It Still Packs Big-Time Stakes
**ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. ** - Despite the playoff implications and the potential for a major AFC East shakeup, Sunday’s clash between the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots is staying right where it started-1 p.m.
ET on CBS. No primetime lights.
No flex to Monday night. Just two rivals, battling for the division, in the early window.
And here’s the kicker: that low-key kickoff time doesn’t do anything to lessen the magnitude of what’s at stake.
If the Patriots win, they clinch the AFC East-snapping Buffalo’s five-year run atop the division and officially announcing their return to the top of the mountain. For the Bills, it’s simple: win, and the division race stays alive. Lose, and the crown goes back to Foxborough.
Asked about the early start, Bills head coach Sean McDermott shrugged it off with a smile. “We play them whenever they’re scheduled,” he said, joking that at least he’ll be back home before bedtime.
“We’ve been up there late at night quite a few times and playing some games up there, and they’ve come here and done the same. So I think it’s really just about two good football teams and you play when the schedule calls for you to play.”
Why No Flex?
There was plenty of chatter about a potential flex, especially with the division on the line and two teams boasting a combined 20-6 record. But the NFL held firm.
The national CBS game at 4:25 p.m. features AFC West-leading Denver hosting NFC North-leading Green Bay-a heavyweight matchup that’s tough to pass up. It’s also where Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will be calling the action.
As for Sunday Night Football? NBC’s got the Vikings visiting the Cowboys.
On paper, not as enticing. But when it comes to ratings, the Cowboys are still the league’s biggest draw, and they’re squarely in the NFC playoff picture.
That game was never going anywhere.
The Monday night option was the most realistic flex candidate. That game features the 6-7 Dolphins visiting the 7-6 Steelers.
Sure, Pittsburgh leads the AFC North, but Miami’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, and neither team brings the same heat as a Bills-Patriots showdown. Still, the league decided to leave things as-is.
History on the Line
Beyond the playoff race, there’s some serious history in play here:
- The Patriots are on the brink of a worst-to-first turnaround. In 19 of the last 22 seasons, at least one team has gone from last place to first in its division. New England is poised to join that club for the first time since 2019-back when Tom Brady and Bill Belichick were still the faces of the franchise.
- A win would also mark the Patriots’ third 11-game win streak in a single season. They ran the table in 2007 (16-0) and had a 12-game streak in 2003. This current team is chasing some rare air in franchise history.
- **For the Bills, a win keeps their hopes alive-and puts them in elite company. ** If Buffalo can notch its 10th win of the season, it would mark the seventh straight year they’ve hit double digits.
Only five other teams in NFL history have done that: the 2003-19 Patriots (17 seasons), 1983-98 49ers (16), 2015-24 Chiefs (10), 2002-10 Colts (9), and 1975-81 Cowboys (7). That’s a list of dynasties.
Game Info: How to Watch, Stream, and Listen
- Kickoff: Sunday, Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
- TV Broadcast: CBS
- Local stations: WROC (Rochester), WIVB (Buffalo), WTVH (Syracuse), WKTV (Utica), WENY (Elmira), WRGB (Albany), WBNG (Binghamton)
- Streaming Options:
- NFL.com and NFL mobile app
- NFL+ (mobile and tablet only)
- TV streaming platforms: Spectrum, DirecTV Choice, Fubo Sports, Sling, Vidgo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTubeTV + NFL Sunday Ticket, Paramount+
Broadcast Team:
- Play-by-play: Ian Eagle
- Analyst: JJ Watt
- Sideline: Evan Washburn
Radio Coverage:
- SiriusXM: Channel 385 (Bills), Channel 232 (Patriots)
- Bills Radio Network: Buffalo (WGR 550 AM) Rochester (WCMF 96.5 / WROC 950 AM) Syracuse (WKRL 100.9 / 106.5) Binghamton (WDRE 100.5 FM) Ithaca (WIII 99.9 / 100.3 FM) Bath (WVIN 98.3 FM) Newark (WACK 1420 AM) Dansville (WDNY 93.9 FM) Elmira (WNGZ 1490 AM) Auburn (WAUB 98.1 FM / 1590 AM) Geneva (WGVA 95.9 FM / 1240 AM) Broadcast team: Chris Brown (play-by-play), Eric Wood (analyst), Sal Capaccio (sideline)
Betting Lines (as of Thursday):
- Spread: Bills -1.5
- Over/Under: 49.5
- Moneyline: Bills -118, Patriots +100
So no, this game won’t be under the primetime spotlight. But don’t let the early window fool you-this one’s got the feel of a playoff game.
Division title on the line. Historic streaks in play.
Two teams with everything to gain and nothing to give.
Sunday at 1 p.m. might not be flashy. But it’s going to be fierce.