As the New England Patriots began their preparations in earnest for a Week 16 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens, a beloved visitor at Gillett

Even though the Patriots appear to be the superior team based on their record, Sunday's bout will likely be a close one. In fact, because of New England's banged up defense (five starters battling injuries),

New England also struggled to shed blocks or cause enough restriction at the point of attack to get a penalty flag thrown (like Buffalo’s coverage unit did on Marte Mapu) which all piled up to allow 41.0 yards per return.

What to watch for when the New England Patriots face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night, with a playoff spot on the line.

The Patriots' matchup with the Ravens on Sunday night will be big for narratives, but not that vital to their playoff positioning.

The Pats may yet dethrone the Bills as division kings but the cliché of having to "go through" someone or some team to win is accurate.

The suddenly-phenomenal Patriots are a huge test for the ravens, especially when New England's offense is on the field.

The Patriots receivers have been vastly improved from last year's unit, but they will need to step up even more as the playoffs approach.

The Jaguars announced they agreed to terms on a contract extension with Jakobi Meyers. While the terms were not disclosed by the team, multiple reports indicated it was a three-year, $60 million deal.

The New England Patriots suffered a stunning loss to the Buffalo Bills last week, and the team is looking to bounce back against the Baltimore Ravens. New England led 21-0 early in the game, but lost 35-31.