Who plays on Monday Night Football tonight in Week 16? The Buffalo Bills head to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots. The Bills look to sweep their first season series with the Patriots since 1999 and earn their first 12-win season since 1993.
Here is more information on where, when, and how you can watch tonight’s NFL game. We also provide a preview and prediction of the divisional showdown and a 2020 Monday Night Football Schedule breakdown.
Who plays on Monday Night Football tonight in Week 16?
- Game: Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots
- Location: Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium
How to watch tonight’s game | Start time, TV channel, and live stream
- Date: Monday, December 28th
- Time: 8:15 PM ET
- Channel: ESPN/ABC
- App: ESPN/ESPN App
Monday Night Football tonight Week 16 | What to expect from the Bills and Patriots
The Bills are the real deal this season. General manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott have built a strong contending team, and arguably one of the biggest threats to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC. The separation of former Patriots QB Tom Brady and HC Bill Belichick helped open the door for a new top dog in the AFC East for the first time since the Miami Dolphins in 2008.
Who plays Monday Night Football tonight? The Patriots’ odyssey in 2020
The uncertainty at the QB position throughout the offseason and the inability to add playmakers at receiver have plagued New England this season. While the running game has been working for the Patriots, earning 145.4 yards per game, their passing attack has been lacking, averaging just 185.4 yards per game, the third-lowest in the league. There isn’t enough balance on the Patriots’ offense at the moment, and opposing defenses know that.
Furthermore, New England’s defense was hit with a slew of opt outs and injuries throughout the season. While the unit hasn’t been awful, they are nowhere near what many have come to expect from a Belichick-led defense.
Specifically, against the run, the Patriots are surrendering 133 yards per game, the seventh-highest in the league. While the Bills haven’t found tons of success on the ground, QB Josh Allen has proven he can make a difference with his running ability. For a team struggling to cover the run, having to take into account the QB could mean a track meet on Monday night.
Can the Bills defense continue its surge?
The Buffalo Bills defense is hitting its stride at the right time. The Bills have held their opponent to under 20 points in three of their last four games and have forced eight turnovers in the same span. Furthermore, Buffalo’s defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher against any of those opponents as well.
If they can stop the Patriots rushing attack and force QB Cam Newton into long-distance passing situations, they should be able to wrap up a victory and maintain a hold of the No. 2 seed in the AFC.
A tale of two offenses
This offense led by Allen is electric, and few teams have truly slowed them down this season. However, two teams that come to mind could be future AFC playoff opponents from a rough two-game stretch from earlier in the season. The Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans got the best of the Bills, but Buffalo has grown since Week 6.
The chemistry between Allen and WR Stefon Diggs is strong, and the matchup of the Patriots secondary against Diggs should be thrilling. Buffalo is averaging just over 29 points per game this season.
Based on the way the Patriots offense has been trending the past few weeks, it seems highly unlikely for them to keep up with an offense of this magnitude. There’s too much on the line for Buffalo to take this game lightly. The Bills should be able to go into Foxborough tonight with a good chance at the season sweep.
Week 16 NFL Power Rankings
Make sure to check out some of our other NFL articles. Senior NFL Analyst Matt Williamson (former NFL Scout and ESPN Analyst) released his NFL Power Rankings Week 16 following Sunday’s action.
This week, Williamson has the Bills ranked second. Last week’s win against Denver in Week 15 was impressive, with Allen leading the charge yet again. Meanwhile, the Patriots are ranked 21st and saw their running defense get exposed last week against Miami. Will that come back to haunt them with Allen coming to town?
Monday Night Football September Schedule
Monday, September 14: Steelers at Giants
Final Score: Steelers 26, Giants 16
Monday, September 14: Titans at Broncos
Final Score: Titans 16, Broncos 14
Monday, September 21: Saints at Raiders
Final Score: Saints 24, Raiders 34
Monday, September 28: Chiefs at Ravens
Final Score: Chiefs 34, Ravens 20
Monday Night Football October Schedule
Monday, October 5: Falcons at Packers
Final Score: Falcons 16, Packers 30
Monday, October 12: Chargers at Saints
Final Score: Chargers 27, Saints 30
Monday, October 19: Cardinals at Cowboys
Final Score: Cardinals 38, Cowboys 10
Monday, October 26: Bears at Rams
Final Score: Bears 10, Rams 24
Monday Night Football November Schedule
Monday, November 2: Buccaneers at Giants
Final Score: Buccaneers 25, Giants 23
Monday, November 9: Patriots at Jets
Final Score: Patriots 30, Jets 27
Monday, November 16: Vikings at Bears
Final Score: Vikings 19, Bears 13
Monday, November 23: Rams at Buccaneers
Final Score: Rams 27, Buccaneers 24
Monday, November 30: Seahawks at Eagles
Final Score: Seahawks 23, Eagles 17
Monday Night Football December Schedule
Monday, December 7: Bills at 49ers
Final Score: Bills 34, 49ers 24
Monday, December 14: Ravens at Browns
Final Score: Ravens 47, Browns 42
Monday, December 21: Steelers at Bengals
Final Score: Steelers 27 Bengals 17
