Buckle up, football fans – the New England Patriots are gearing up for a high-stakes Sunday Night showdown against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY, and the latest injury updates for their defense could be the game-changer we've all been waiting for! But here's where it gets controversial: with key players returning from the sidelines, is New England ready to unleash their full potential, or are they risking it all on fragile health?
Let's dive into the Patriots' inactives and actives for this primetime clash. After being marked as questionable due to an ankle issue, defensive tackle Milton Williams is officially cleared to play. Cornerback Carlton Davis III, who was sidelined by illness, is also active. On the inactive list for New England are outside linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson (knee), defensive tackle Eric Gregory, guard Caedan Wallace, wide receiver Efton Chism III, and quarterback Tommy DeVito serving as the emergency third QB. For the Bills, their inactives include defensive tackle Ed Oliver (ankle), defensive tackle T.J. Sanders (knee), wide receiver Elijah Moore, cornerback Brandon Codrington, free safety Jordan Hancock, outside linebacker Dorian Williams, and offensive tackle Chase Lundt.
Starting with the active defenders, Williams is handling what appears to be a minor ankle sprain. He participated in limited practice sessions on Wednesday and Friday but skipped Thursday's workout. As a standout free-agent addition, he sits second among interior rushers in pass-rush win rate – that's a stat measuring how often a player successfully disrupts the quarterback – at 19.2%, boasting two sacks and 11 total pressures. Teaming up with defensive tackle Christian Barmore, Williams has been instrumental in a Patriots defense that's among the NFL's top-10 in both pass-rush and run-stop win rates. With MVP Lamar Jackson on the opposing side, having Williams fully engaged is a massive boost for New England's Sunday night strategy.
And this is the part most people miss: even though Williams is officially active, it's not clear if his playing time will be restricted due to that ankle. If he's not at 100%, the Patriots might rotate players to manage his load. For instance, third-year defensive end Keion White shone as a disruptive interior pass-rusher last season, topping all defenders with a 16.2% pressure rate while playing at tackle. Plus, nose tackle Khyiris Tonga and fourth-round rookie Joshua Farmer have delivered solid run defense, so they could see more action against a Bills offense leading the league in rush expected points added (EPA) – a metric that evaluates the quality of rushing plays.
Joining Williams in the active lineup is starting cornerback Carlton Davis III, back after overcoming an illness. In Week 4, the Patriots reunited their top cornerback duo, with All-Pro Christian Gonzalez and Davis dominating in a lopsided win over the Panthers. Per NextGen Stats, the defense allowed just 5.0 yards per pass attempt when Gonzalez was on the field, a huge leap from the 9.0 yards per attempt without him in Weeks 1-3 – which was the second-worst in the NFL.
When New England signed Davis during the offseason, the vision was for him and Gonzalez to form an unbeatable man-coverage tandem. Gonzalez's early-season injury, however, led to struggles in pass defense, particularly in man-to-man scenarios, derailing those initial plans. With both starters now fit, fans are hopeful the Patriots' offseason blueprint will finally shine against Buffalo. But here's where it gets controversial: some might argue that relying on two high-profile corners could expose weaknesses elsewhere – what do you think, should they mix in more zone coverage to balance things out?
The injury news for the Patriots defense has been largely encouraging with Davis and Williams set to go, but there's a setback: starting edge rusher K'Lavon Chaisson (knee) was ruled out en route to Buffalo on Saturday. Chaisson kicked off the season as the starter opposite captain Harold Landry, ranking second on the team with 13 total pressures. Managing a knee issue over the past couple of weeks, he won't suit up against the Bills, leaving a gap to fill.
From this angle, New England could cover Chaisson's role through a group effort. Buffalo's offense, led by Josh Allen and star running back James Cook, tops the NFL in rush EPA, with Cook adding a traditional ground-game element. Since Cook poses a tough matchup, it might be wise to emphasize edge-setter Anfernee Jennings against Buffalo's zone-heavy rushing schemes, while assigning pass-rush duties to Keion White. Blending Jennings' and White's strengths could strengthen run defense on early downs and apply heat on Allen in passing situations.
Another defender who might step into the edge rotation is linebacker Jahlani Tavai, recently activated from injured reserve after missing the first four games with a calf strain. Tavai excelled in a versatile hybrid role last year, shifting between on- and off-the-line linebacker to fill gaps in the front seven. With captain Robert Spillane as the main middle linebacker, Tavai could roam the front as he did in his standout 2023 season, while vying for snaps at weakside linebacker, where Christian Elliss and Jack Gibbens have had inconsistent starts.
Shifting to the offensive side, quarterback Drake Maye and his crew are fully healthy for what promises to be a potentially explosive matchup against the Bills' second-ranked scoring offense. With all regulars active, the focus shifts to how playing time will be distributed at spots like left guard and wide receiver.
On the offensive line, coach Mike Vrabel announced earlier this week that rookie Jared Wilson will start at left guard. Wilson sat out last week's game due to ankle and knee injuries but enters Week 5 without a designation. There was buzz about sticking with veteran guard Ben Brown, who performed admirably in Wilson's absence, but the Patriots are committing to the third-round pick to foster his growth.
'As the plan stands, we'll start Jared and keep building his development on the left side,' Vrabel shared on Friday. 'If Ben, Vederian Lowe, or Marcus Bryant are needed, they're prepared to jump in and deliver like Ben did last week.'
At wide receiver, undrafted rookie Efton Chism III remains a healthy inactive for the fifth straight game. In this view, Chism hasn't made the roster due to overlap with primary target Stefon Diggs and slot receiver DeMario Douglas. The team also aims to feature third-rounder Kyle Williams, while veterans Kashon Boutte and Mack Hollins have secured spots as base receivers.
Ultimately, there are limited opportunities at wide receiver. For example, Douglas saw just eight snaps, all in the slot, during last week's Panthers victory. His role has diminished since Week 2, evolving into more of a motion or gadget player rather than a full-time slot option. Chism, who simulated Bills receiver Khalil Shakir on the scout team this week, continues to be the one left out.
New England enters Sunday night as 7.5-point underdogs. Buffalo boasts 14 straight home wins, five consecutive AFC East crowns, and a 4-0 start. Though challenging, the Patriots are embracing the underdog mentality this week, recognizing the need to compete against elite teams like the Bills to advance under Vrabel.
The Patriots face the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium, with kickoff at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday night.
What are your predictions for this matchup? Do you agree with starting a rookie like Wilson over a proven vet like Brown, or should the Patriots prioritize short-term wins? And on the defense, is pushing Williams despite his injury a smart gamble, or too risky? Share your hot takes in the comments – let's debate!
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