By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The bright lights of Monday Night Football will be shined down upon the Buffalo Bills in Week 8 as they host their division rivals, the New England Patriots.
The Pats are a familiar foe, but each and every meeting, even within the division, brings about a different look.
With that, here are four things to know about Week 8’s opponent, the Patriots:
Brady will play until…
Not something you want to hear as a Bills fans, but still true. Patriots (5-2) quarterback Tom Brady is still good at football. Brady currently has 1,876 passing yards, which is only good for 12th in the NFL. While nobody is western New York has any room to talk with the way Buffalo’s quarterback play has been in 2018, it’s still below where he was last season when he finished the year leading the NFL in passing yards with 4,557.
Brady is still fourth with 16 touchdown passes. He continues to be relied on heavily by his team and might be for sometime. During the epilogue of “Tom vs. Time,” Brady revealed he plans to play until he’s 45, as of now. He’s currently 41.
Josh Gordon, good again
On Sept. 18, the Patriots traded for Josh Gordon. The former troubled wide receiver with the Browns landed his former team a fifth-round pick from the Pats. New England essentially did with Gordon what the Bills wanted to do with their rookie quarterback, Josh Allen.
Upon joining the Pats, Gordon only played in 18 offensive snaps his first two games. Two weeks ago, Gordon had more than 18 before the end of the first quarter. Then last week, he broke out. After a five catch, 42-yard game two weeks ago, Gordon had a four catch, 100 yard game last week. The Bills secondary will be well aware of him.
Slow start turned around
The Pats have had a knack for throwing everybody off in recent years. New England was 2-2 following their first four games last season. Everyone wondered if it was over for the dynasty. Turns out, they had a Super Bowl visit left in them.
This season it’s lining up to be a similar situation, the Pats fell to the Jaguars and Lions in Week’s 2 and 3 after topping the Texans on opening day. Now New England is on a four-game losing streak. Wouldn’t count them out for another Super Bowl visit just yet.
Key injury updates
There’s some good and there’s some bad news. First, the good (for the Patriots, at least). Tight end Rob Gronkowksi, a Buffalo native who typically has a huge game against his hometown team, has back spasms acting up. During the Pats’ 38-31 win over the Bears last week, Gronk did not play after the injury occurred during practice on Friday. However, he’s expected to play against the Bills.
In the case of breakout rookie running back Sony Michel, he’s going to miss the game with an knee injury. He suffered the injury during the Bears game. In his last three full games play, Michel has 112, 98, and 106 rushing yards. A good complement to Brady that won’t be available.