{"id":34537,"date":"2017-11-30T21:57:56","date_gmt":"2017-12-01T02:57:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=34537"},"modified":"2017-11-30T21:57:56","modified_gmt":"2017-12-01T02:57:56","slug":"week-13-new-england-patriots-keys-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2017\/11\/30\/week-13-new-england-patriots-keys-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Week 13 New England Patriots Keys to Victory"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New England Patriots<\/a> go on the road in week 13 to take on the Buffalo Bills<\/a>. The Bills have lost three of their last four, but only have one loss at home this season. The Patriots have yet to lose on the road this season and are looking to extend their active winning streak to eight. This will be the first meeting of the divisional rivals in the 2017 season. Here are the week 13 New England Patriots Keys to Victory.<\/p>\n

Week 13 New England Patriots Keys to Victory<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Shadow Shady<\/h2>\n

LeSean McCoy<\/a><\/strong> is the best football player on the Bills roster. This season, he has proved to be the Bills’ most prolific weapon on offense. He ranks in the top ten in the league for total rushing yards this season at 748. Not only is he one of the most prolific rushers in the NFL, he has caught the ball 46 times for almost 300 yards this season. That\u2019s number two in receiving yards and tops in receptions for the Bills.<\/p>\n

Kelvin Benjamin<\/a><\/strong> was expected to wind up being the top receiver after being traded to Buffalo by the Carolina Panthers<\/a>. Benjamin\u2019s health has been a major issue since the move, and there haven\u2019t been many stand-out options in terms of receivers. With Benjamin unlikely to play, Tyrod Taylor<\/a><\/strong> will rely on his most popular options: Zay Jones<\/a><\/strong> and McCoy. Keeping eyes on McCoy will be vital to keeping the Bills offense off the field.<\/p>\n

Beware the Buffalo Secondary<\/h2>\n

TreDavious White<\/a><\/strong> has a legitimate shot at claiming Defensive Rookie of the Year. In Sports Illustrated\u2019s midseason poll, the rookie cornerback ranked second behind Marshon Lattimore<\/a><\/strong>. White has played lights out this season with 14 passes defended. That puts him at number three in the league. His 63-yard interception return is the third-longest in the league.<\/p>\n

Micah Hyde<\/a><\/strong> is also a major threat in the secondary. The fifth-year safety out of Iowa has five interceptions this season. His nine passes defended also ranks in the top 25 in the league. Tom Brady<\/a><\/strong> has been incredibly careful with the ball this season, only throwing three interceptions on 408 attempts. But the Patriots only have three true pass-catchers taller than Hyde and White, and they\u2019re all tight ends.<\/p>\n

Establish Offensive Line Chemistry Early<\/h2>\n

The offensive line has been the football version of a pick and mix this season. Decimated by injury, the Patriots have had to piece together an offensive line from back-ups and all-purpose linemen. Ted Karras<\/a><\/strong> hasn\u2019t done a terrible job at center in David Andrews<\/a><\/strong>\u2019 absence, but his early snap last week cost the Patriots a fumble recovered by Miami for a touchdown.<\/p>\n

Marcus Cannon<\/a><\/strong> did not participate in walk-through on Thursday, which means he very likely will miss Sunday\u2019s game in Buffalo. LaAdrian Waddle<\/a><\/strong>, who had replaced Cannon in the starting lineup, was limited in Thursday\u2019s practice and is also unlikely to play Sunday. Waddle was injured in last week’s game against Miami<\/a>. That means that the Patriots will be putting third-string Cameron Fleming<\/a><\/strong> in at right tackle to face the Bills defense.<\/p>\n

The Bills defense has registered only 17 sacks this season, ranked 31st\u00a0in the league. But Lorenzo Alexander<\/a><\/strong> and Shaq Lawson<\/a><\/strong> are household names in the football world for a reason. Even though Brady has been optimistic about his Achilles injury, mobility is always an issue for the 40-year-old quarterback. The Patriots offensive line will need to establish its chemistry in practice this week before heading to Buffalo if they hope to keep Brady upright for the next few weeks.<\/p>\n

The Patriots and the Bills kick off at 1:00 PM Eastern on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>