Tom Brady and the New England Patriots have been a thorn in the Buffalo Bills’ side for years. Having been defeated by his former team in heartbreaking fashion last time out, the Bills are now tasked with facing his current employer as they visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Sunday afternoon showdown. Tampa comes in on a three-game winning streak and can effectively lock up the division title with a win over reeling Buffalo.

Tampa is a 3.5-point favourite to win on the NFL odds, with a total of 53.5.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Bucs are on the wrong end of the hook here at -3.5, and that could be why they have the support of just 54 per cent of Sports Interaction bettors despite being one of the top teams in the NFL through 13 weeks. Tampa Bay has gone an impressive 4-1 against the spread at home this season, but the Bills have asserted themselves well on the road with a 4-2 mark ATS. That record improves to 8-3 overall in Buffalo’s past 11 away from upstate New York.

This game carries one of the higher totals of the week at 53.5, and still nearly 60 per cent of the Sports Interaction public is siding with the Over at -110. This despite the fact that the Bucs are just 6-6 O/U (including a 3-2 mark at home), while the Bills are 5-7 (3-3 on the road). And both teams have trended more heavily toward the Under in recent weeks, with Buffalo going below the total in four of its past six and Tampa Bay going 5-2 to the Under in its last seven.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills have seen their red-hot start erased with losses in three of five games – and a stale offence was the primary culprit, with Buffalo averaging just 11.3 points in those defeats. Buffalo is still a top-5 team on offence (28.0) and defence (16.3), but has slipped to just above the league average in rushing yards per game (116.7). And while they average 4.5 YPC, that mark will be put to the test against a Tampa team allowing the fewest yards on the ground.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There’s saying that age is just a number – and then there’s proving it. And that’s exactly what Tom Brady has done through the first 13 weeks of the NFL season. The 44-year-old legend has not only put the Buccaneers in prime position to repeat as Super Bowl champions, but he has become the heavy NFL MVP front-runner on every major sports betting site, well ahead of runners-up Aaron Rodgers, Kyler Murray and Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

NFL Prediction: Who Will Win Bills vs. Buccaneers?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Bills Team Leaders

BUF

Touchdowns	Stefon Diggs 10
Rushing	Devin Singletary 870
Passing	Josh Allen 4407
Receiving	Stefon Diggs 103
Sacks	Mario Addison 7
Interceptions	Jordan Poyer 5

TB

Touchdowns	Mike Evans 14
Rushing	Leonard Fournette 812
Passing	Tom Brady 5316
Receiving	Chris Godwin 98
Sacks	Shaquil Barrett 10
Interceptions	Mike Edwards 3

BUF

Touchdowns	Gabriel Davis 5
Rushing	Josh Allen 134
Passing	Josh Allen 637
Receiving	Gabriel Davis 10
Sacks	Taron Johnson 1
Interceptions	Micah Hyde 1

TB

Touchdowns	Mike Evans 2
Rushing	Ke'Shawn Vaughn 53
Passing	Tom Brady 600
Receiving	Mike Evans 17
Sacks	Steve McLendon 1
Interceptions	Shaquil Barrett 1

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Buccaneers Team Leaders

BUF

Touchdowns	Stefon Diggs 10
Rushing	Devin Singletary 870
Passing	Josh Allen 4407
Receiving	Stefon Diggs 103
Sacks	Mario Addison 7
Interceptions	Jordan Poyer 5

TB

Touchdowns	Mike Evans 14
Rushing	Leonard Fournette 812
Passing	Tom Brady 5316
Receiving	Chris Godwin 98
Sacks	Shaquil Barrett 10
Interceptions	Mike Edwards 3

BUF

Touchdowns	Gabriel Davis 5
Rushing	Josh Allen 134
Passing	Josh Allen 637
Receiving	Gabriel Davis 10
Sacks	Taron Johnson 1
Interceptions	Micah Hyde 1

TB

Touchdowns	Mike Evans 2
Rushing	Ke'Shawn Vaughn 53
Passing	Tom Brady 600
Receiving	Mike Evans 17
Sacks	Steve McLendon 1
Interceptions	Shaquil Barrett 1

Weather

temp	81
condition	cloudy
wind	West 6mph

Injuries

Buffalo

Mario Addison (DE)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 16 / 01 / 22

Ed Oliver (DT)

Prob Sun Ankle - 05 / 01 / 22

Efe Obada (DE)

Ques Sun Ankle - 05 / 01 / 22

Ryan Bates (OL)

Prob Sun Knee - 03 / 01 / 22

Taiwan Jones (RB)

Ques Sun Knee - 30 / 12 / 21

Vernon Butler (DT)

Ques Sun Illness - 29 / 12 / 21

Micah Hyde (S)

Prob Sun Forearm - 29 / 12 / 21

Jaquan Johnson (S)

Prob Sun Illness - 29 / 12 / 21

Ed Oliver (DT)

Ques Sun Ankle - 29 / 12 / 21

Jordan Poyer (S)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 29 / 12 / 21

Tampa Bay

Lavonte David (LB)

Ques Sun Foot - 19 / 01 / 22

Mike Edwards (S)

Prob Sun Elbow - 19 / 01 / 22

Jason Pierre-Paul (LB)

Ques Sun Personal - 19 / 01 / 22

Josh Wells (T)

Ques Sun Quadricep - 19 / 01 / 22

Giovani Bernard (RB)

Prob Sun Hip - 19 / 01 / 22

Breshad Perriman (WR)

Out Sun Abdominal - 19 / 01 / 22

Carlton Davis (CB)

Prob Sun Back - 14 / 01 / 22

Jamel Dean (CB)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 12 / 01 / 22

Mike Edwards (S)

Ques Sun Hamstring - 12 / 01 / 22

Mike Evans (WR)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 12 / 01 / 22

Injuries

Buffalo

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Mario Addison (DE)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 16 / 01 / 22	2-0	1-1	+ -
Addison is hampered by a shoulder injury, but it is expected that he will be available to battle the Chiefs in the AFC divisional round.
Ed Oliver (DT)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 05 / 01 / 22	2-0	1-2	+ -
Oliver is hobbled by an ankle injury, but it is not expected to affect his status for Sunday's showdown against the Jets.
Efe Obada (DE)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 05 / 01 / 22	2-0	1-2	+ -
Obada is nursing an ankle injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up for the AFC divisional round versus the Chiefs.
Ryan Bates (OL)	Prob Sun	Knee - 03 / 01 / 22	2-0	1-2	+ -
Bates is nursing a knee injury, but it is anticipated that he will suit up Sunday against the Jets.
Taiwan Jones (RB)	Ques Sun	Knee - 30 / 12 / 21	3-0	2-2	+ -
Jones is battling a knee injury, and it is unknown if he will take on the Falcons on Sunday.
Vernon Butler (DT)	Ques Sun	Illness - 29 / 12 / 21	3-0	2-2	+ -
Butler sat out the previous match ailing from an illness, and it has yet to be established if he will partake in Sunday's tilt with the Jets.
Micah Hyde (S)	Prob Sun	Forearm - 29 / 12 / 21	3-0	2-2	+ -
Hyde is expected to line up against the Falcons on Sunday despite a forearm injury.
Jaquan Johnson (S)	Prob Sun	Illness - 29 / 12 / 21	3-0	2-2	+ -
Johnson is managing an illness, but it is likely that he will take on the Falcons on Sunday.
Ed Oliver (DT)	Ques Sun	Ankle - 29 / 12 / 21	3-0	2-2	+ -
Oliver has an ankle issue, leaving his status for Sunday's matchup with the Falcons clouded.
Jordan Poyer (S)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 29 / 12 / 21	3-0	2-2	+ -
Poyer is projected to be available against the Falcons on Sunday despite a shoulder injury.

Tampa Bay

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Lavonte David (LB)	Ques Sun	Foot - 19 / 01 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
David is nursing a foot injury, and it is undecided if he will partake in the NFC divisional round versus the Rams.
Mike Edwards (S)	Prob Sun	Elbow - 19 / 01 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Edwards is projected to participate in the NFC divisional round against the Rams despite an elbow injury.
Jason Pierre-Paul (LB)	Ques Sun	Personal - 19 / 01 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Pierre-Paul is tending to a personal matter, and it has yet to be established if he will line up for the NFC divisional round versus the Rams.
Josh Wells (T)	Ques Sun	Quadricep - 19 / 01 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Wells is managing a quad issue, and it remains to be seen if he will take the field against the Rams in the NFC divisional round.
Giovani Bernard (RB)	Prob Sun	Hip - 19 / 01 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Bernard has injuries to his hip and knee, but it is anticipated that he will line up for the NFC divisional round versus the Rams.
Breshad Perriman (WR)	Out Sun	Abdominal - 19 / 01 / 22	1-0	0-1	+ -
Perriman has injuries to his abdomen and hip, and it will affect his status for the NFC divisional round versus the Rams.
Carlton Davis (CB)	Prob Sun	Back - 14 / 01 / 22	2-0	1-1	+ -
Davis is battling a back injury, but it is projected that he will partake in the NFC wild-card game versus the Eagles.
Jamel Dean (CB)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 12 / 01 / 22	2-0	1-1	+ -
Dean has a hamstring injury, but it is not expected to affect his availability against the Eagles in the NFC wild-card game.
Mike Edwards (S)	Ques Sun	Hamstring - 12 / 01 / 22	2-0	1-1	+ -
Edwards is nursing a hamstring injury, and it is undetermined if he will face the Eagles in the NFC wild-card game.
Mike Evans (WR)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 12 / 01 / 22	2-0	1-1	+ -
Edwards is nursing a hamstring injury, but it is anticipated that he will face the Eagles in the NFC wild-card game.