Is there something different about the New England Patriots the last few weeks?

It sure seems that way.

Is it enough to save Bill Belichick’s job?

We don’t think so, but you never know.

But hopefully soon we’ll know. We’ll have quite a week of speculation after today’s game in Buffalo, the site of some interestng Patriot/Belichick moments, beginning with the Lawyer Milloy Game in 2003, to the Monday Night windstorm game in November of 2021, to the abysmal playoff beatdown handed by the Bills a couple of months later in mid-January of 2022.

That was a defensive issue, but that’s not the problem now with New England. They seem like a different team with Bailey Zappe taking snaps, as he was confident and put together a great second half last week and seems to have better pocket presence than Mac Jones. The one thing that has happened, to Belichick’s credit, the locker room hasn’t fragmented despit the 4-11 record. The Patriot players have experessed a strong sense of together. Unusual.

“It’s team building,” Belichick said. “Kind of what we’ve always done. We’re all– coaches, staff, players – we’re all here together working towards a common goal, and try to respec ad work with each other.”

BILLS 27, PATRIOTS 17

They’ll be competitive. But this isn’t Denver. The Bills won’t have too many three-and-outs, and the Patriots are hurting, and could use a player like Jabrill Peppers to give Josh Allen fits but he’s been ruled out.

RAVENS 30, DOLPHINS 17

Miami finally beat a good team last week when it got past Dallas. But that was in sunny Florida. That won’t happen in Blah Baltimore, where the Ravens are suddenly looking like a Super Bowl team and Lamar Jackson look like an MVP.

CHIEFS 23, BENGALS 20

OK, enough is enough. The Chiefs need to stop the nonsense and get moving. They didn’t look good when they beat the Patriots, looked abysmal vs. the Raiders, but if Patrick Mahomes can’t outduel Jake Browning, something is wrong.

BUCS 24, SAINTS 16

We always thought Baker Mayfield got a raw deal in Cleveland, and he’s probably saved coach Todd Bowles’ job. Meanwhile, he’ll have a good day and that will probably cost Atlanta coach Arthur Smith his. Let’s face it, the Falcons as a franchise have never recovered from 28-3.

PACKERS 17, VIKINGS 14

Road upset on New Year’s Eve Night. The Vikings can’t seem to get out of their own way, as they really miss Kirk Cousins. Meanwhile, this is a chance for Jordan Love to come through for Green Bay in a tough atmosphere.

SEAHAWKS 30, STEELERS 13

Blowout. Seattle got new life two weeks ago on a Monday night, and they’re not turning back until the NFL says “playoffs”. The only reason the Steelers pulled it out last week was because it was Christmas and they had a QB named Rudolph.

PANTHERS 17, JAGUARS 10

No Trevor Lawrence for the Jaguars, and all of a sudden the Doug Pederson accolades are disappearing as they’ve been in free fall. The fall doesn’t stop here, either, as the Panthers pull out the upset in Florida.

LAST WEEK: 4-3.

SEASON: 70-42

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on X (@Telegraph_TomK).

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