New England @ Buffalo preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 23, 2018 ) Buffalo 12, New England 24

The New England Patriots were expected to continue their dominance in the AFC East but they have company atop the division as the season approaches the quarter pole. The Patriots have stomped their first three opponents as they prepare for Sunday's visit to the surprising Buffalo Bills, who are tied atop the division following their first 3-0 start since the 2011 season.

The rivalry between the two teams has been in name only in this century -- three-time NFL Most Valuable Player Tom Brady is a staggering 30-3 versus the Bills in his career but is eager to play in Buffalo for reasons beyond his personal success. “I love playing up there,” Brady said. “It’s one of the great environments in NFL football. It’s an old stadium, but they get incredible support. ... It’s going to be a hell of a game.” The Bills haven't played exactly a murderer's row of competition, beating both New York teams on the road before outlasting Cincinnati in their home opener last week. “The Patriots are very well-coached and they got a guy over there that plays quarterback quite well, you know No. 12,” second-year QB Josh Allen said. “(Maybe) the greatest quarterback of all time. We understand it’s a tall task but at the same time we’re going to try and stick to what we do."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Patriots -7. O/U: 42.5

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (3-0): Offense has never been an issue with Brady at the controls, but New England has been sensational on the other side of the ball, having yet to allow an offensive touchdown. "It'll be a challenging week ahead," Buffalo offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said. "It's kind of unprecedented, what they're doing on defense right now." In the first game since the ill-fated Antonio Brown experiment, Brady overcame another sub-par performance from the ground game by throwing for 306 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 30-14 win over the Jets. The Patriots limited New York to six first downs and 105 yards of total offense, with the Jets' defense scored the two TDs.

ABOUT THE BILLS (3-0): Allen, the No. 7 overall pick out of Wyoming in the 2018 NFL Draft, has thrown for only three touchdowns versus three interceptions, but he rallied Buffalo from a 16-point deficit in the season opener versus the Jets before guiding the winning 73-yard touchdown drive last week. Wideout John Brown already has 18 receptions and provides a big-play threat while rookie Devin Singletary practiced on a limited basis Thursday and could rejoin ageless Frank Gore in the backfield after sitting out last week due to a hamstring injury. The Bills have been fairly stout on defense in their own right, ranking fifth in yards allowed (299.7) and yielding 15.7 points per game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. New England is the only team in the Super Bowl era to not allow a rushing or passing touchdown in its first three games.

2. Gore needs 88 yards Sunday to become the fourth player in league history to rush for 15,000.

3. Patriots WR Julian Edelman (chest) had seven catches for 62 yards and a TD last week but has been limited in practice.

PREDICTION: Patriots 26, Bills 13