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2022 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 18

By Sayre Bedinger

NFL Picks; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates scoring a touchdown with tight end Tyler Davis (84) against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter of their game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports
NFL Picks; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) celebrates scoring a touchdown with tight end Tyler Davis (84) against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter of their game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers-USA TODAY Sports /
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NFL picks; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws the ball against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports /

New England Patriots (8-8) at Buffalo Bills (12-3)

Sunday, January 8, 1:00 PM ET

Editor’s note: This game preview was written before Monday night’s Bills-Bengals matchup in Cincinnati. It’s unknown at this point if or when this game will be played after what transpired on Monday night with Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Once again, this game — or any game, for that matter — means nothing in comparison to his life. Our prayers are with him and his family.

Perhaps it’s not just Tom Brady that’s inevitable when it comes to the NFL playoffs. Perhaps Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots are as well. The Patriots found a way to make it to the playoffs last season with Mac Jones earning a Pro Bowl nod in his rookie season.

Given the fact that this team just feels so bland on paper, especially offensively, expectations from the outside looking in were tempered, and I believe that was absolutely fair. Yet here the Patriots are once again. They are 8-8 and if the season were over right now, they’d be in the postseason. How about that?

Now, this team does deserve a ton of credit. They have a top-five scoring defense, they have forced 27 turnovers (2nd-best in the NFL this season), and they have won eight games despite playing Bailey Zappe for a stretch of the season (remember that?).

If they want to keep themselves in the playoffs, the Patriots are going to have to go into Buffalo and get the job done. The Bills have been one of the best teams all season in the NFL and they are still jockeying for positioning atop the AFC right now.

With a loss, the Patriots are in danger of giving up their playoff spot to a team like the Steelers or they could even give it back to the Dolphins, the team they just beat this past weekend.

For NFL picks, I just don’t have faith that the Patriots are going into Buffalo and getting a win against Josh Allen and the Bills, as strong as New England’s defense has been this season and as many turnovers as they have created.

Prediction: Bills win 26-20

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