It was a quiet Monday night just over a year ago, three days after Christmas.

A blah late December day and then a calm Monday night in Foxborough.

The most traffic on Route 1 was for a holiday light show across from Gillette Stadium. Otherwise, heading to the stadium was a breeze.

That’s because it was the Year Without Fans at Gillette thanks to the pandemic. Great for media who could head down to the game an hour before and not miss a beat; yours truly left Nashua just after 7 and got down there just before the National Anthem was to be aired on the big video board.

It was probably a good thing that there were no fans. The Patriots were never in the game against the Buffalo Bills, the bizarre atmosphere making it almost as much of a ho-hum affair as the final 38-9 score. Patriots fans hadn’t experienced something like that in a while, a game in which you know eventually the other team will just blow by you because they’re on another level.

ESPN ratings must have sunk. It was a mismatch of major prorportions as the Bills were establishing themselves, at 12-3, as one of the best teams in the NFL, certainly a team worthy of a trip to the AFC Championship Game.

The Patriots? It was just becoming more and more obvious that they, well, stunk. They were getting beaten up front and it was even more obvious that Cam Newton was not going to be in their long-term plans. Newton threw for – ready for this – a whopping 34 yards. Buffalo’s Josh Allen, by contrast, threw for 320 yards. There was a huge gap between the two teams. One was championship ready, the other was less than mediocre. Different worlds.

What an incredible difference a year makes. This time the Patriots and Bills will clash on Monday night in Buffalo, but so much has changed for New England. The Patriots have a quarterback who can play in the NFL, and rookie or not, they decided back in late August they would sink or swim with him rather than Newton.

That was the final major decision. The others had been made in March via free agency, and the result is a game this Monday night that will be worth watching. In fact, the Patriots are in a better place having won their last six than the Bills. Allen isn’t having the same type of season – his last few games he’s been sacked nine times and thrown seven interceptions. The Bills even lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 9-6, a few weeks ago – a clear sign something was wrong. It’s difficult for most teams in the NFL to repeat exellence; it’s much easier to repeat losing. The Patriots had no problem doing the former during their dynasty years and their fans thank goodness they’re not doing the latter.

If they lose Monday night, it will be because they beat themselvs. The rest of the AFC is falling apart. The Baltimore Ravens (8-3) are currently the top seed, but that’s by math only. Did you see them last Sunday night against a lousy Cleveland Browns team? Horrible.

The Chiefs, who play Denver on Sunday night, aren’t close to what they were, no matter how they’ve looked the last couple of weeks. Tennessee is good, but if they’re this banged up a month from now, no chance.

Of course, injuries are a key. The Patriots have had a few, but nothing that’s major. The Bills, though, lost their best defensive player in corner Tre’Davious White. See?

But Monday the Patriots will enter loud hostile territory, which the rookie Jones is certainly used to, given his experience in the SEC, and the way he’s played on the road in the NFL so far.

Just think about this: The Patriots have the best quarterback of the rookie class – at least the most pro ready — when the last time they faced the Bills on that blah, quiet Monday night in December of 2020 they had a washed up veteran who couldn’t get to 50 yards in the air.

Thanfully for the Patriots, looking at the last year, the NFL truly stands for Not For Long.

Tom King can be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter @Telegraph _TomK.

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