Game Preview: Bills vs. Patriots - Round 1

​The New England Patriots are off to a 3-0 start for the 10th time in team history and for the sixth time under Bill Belichick. The Patriots finished the month of September 3-0, marking their 22nd undefeated month since 2000 (not including January), the most in the NFL during that time frame. Indianapolis is second with 15 undefeated months.

The Patriots head into the new month with a 49-16 (.754) October record since 2000, the best record in the NFL. Additionally, they are 29-4 (.878) at home during the month of October.
​
The Patriots are 13-1 at Gillette Stadium against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots swept the series last season for the 24th time with a 40-32 win at Buffalo on Sept 20, 2015, and a 20-13 win at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 23, 2015.

SERIES HISTORY
​
Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick and Buffalo Bills Head Coach Rex Ryan. AP Photo.

The Patriots and Bills will meet for the 113th time and for the first of two 2016 meetings when they square off this week at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots will travel to Buffalo on Oct. 30. It is the first time the Patriots and Bills will play each of the two annual games in the same month since the 1998 season.

New England holds a 69-42-1 edge in the series. The Patriots swept the series last season for the 24th time with a 40-32 win at Buffalo on Sept 20, 2015, and a 20-13 win at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 23, 2015.

New England has swept the series 24 times and the Patriots have won 28 of the last 32 games between the clubs dating back to the 2000 season.

The Patriots are 36-20 all-time in home games against Buffalo, including 13-1 at Gillette Stadium.

The series between the AFC East rivals began in 1960. The Patriots' 69 wins over the Bills are their highest victory total over any opponent, 10 more than they own over the New York Jets (59).

After seven straight series sweeps and 15 straight Patriots wins, Buffalo ended the streak with a 34-31 victory at Ralph Wilson Stadium in the first meeting of the two teams in 2011 on Sept. 25. The 15-game win streak is the third longest winning streak over a single opponent in NFL history. The Patriots avenged that loss in the 2011 regular-season finale on Jan. 1, 2012, by overcoming a 21-0 first quarter deficit and scoring 49 unanswered points en route to a 49-21 victory.

The teams have had many memorable matchups over the years, including a five-game span from 1999 to 2001 where four of the five contests were decided in overtime.

PATRIOTS-BILLS QUICK HITS

• The Patriots have recorded 69 wins over the Bills, the most by the Patriots against any one opponent. The Jets are second with 59 wins.
• The Buffalo Bills snapped a streak of 13 straight home wins by the Patriots, including 12 straight wins by the Patriots at Gillette Stadium with their 17-9 win in the 2014 season-finale on Dec. 28, 2014.
• Bill Belichick has a 74-27 (.742) all-time regular season record against the AFC East as head coach of the Patriots.

SERIES BREAKDOWN

New England 69, Buffalo 42 (1 TIE)
Home Record, 36-20
Record in Foxborough, 30-15
Foxboro Stadium, 17-14
Gillette Stadium, 13-1
Record in Boston, 6-5

Away Record, 33-22-1
War Memorial Stadium, 7-6-1
Ralph Wilson/Rich Stadium, 26-16
Largest Margin of Victory, 46 points (2007)
Largest Margin of Defeat, 35 points (1970)
Longest Win Streak, 15 games (2003-2010)
Bill Belichick vs. Buffalo Bills, 28-5 (28-4 with N.E)
Rex Ryan vs. NE, 3-11 RS (1-0 in the PS)

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Television: This week's game will be broadcast by CBS and can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston. Ian Eagle will handle play-by-play duties with Dan Fouts as the color analyst. Evan Washburn will work the sidelines. The game will be produced by Mark Wolff and directed by Bob Fishman.

National Radio: This week's game will be broadcast to a national audience on Sports USA. Larry Kahn and Mark Carrier will call the game. Troy West will work the sideline.

Local Radio: 98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. Produced by Marc Cappello.

OCTOBER FEST

The Patriots are an NFL-best 49-16 in the month of October since the 2000 season. The Patriots are 29-4 (.878) at home during that time in October and 20-12 on the road.

---

Read More WBOB

• Worst Quotes From Both Awful Candidates
• "Vanished  Star" by Helen Money
• ​5 Can't-Miss TV Shows Debuting This Fall
• TV's 5 Weirdest Sidekicks