He joined running back Terrell Jennings, who is dealing with a concussion, as the only two non-participants at practice. It's a key injury to monitor ahead of Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots will need all of the help they can get on the edge if they have any hopes of slowing down Bills' star quarterback Josh Allen.

For the week of December 1 through December 7, the Fox late afternoon game (primarily featuring Bears-Packers) averaged 27.943 million viewers. Sunday Night Football between the Texans and Chiefs finished second, with 21.762 million.

Buffalo Bills right tackle Spencer Brown has provided an injury update on himself once again. Brown did not play last week in Buffalo's 39-34 win against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 14 because of a shoulder injury.

Patriots-Ravens was picked as the flex in a week that has a number of other big games. Significant matchups around the league that week also include the Packers at the Bears, Jaguars at the Broncos, and Buccaneers at the Panthers (there's also a Rams-Seahawks matchup, but that is already in primetime as Thursday Night Football).

The Patriots, who can clinch the AFC East by completing the sweep of the Bills, are 1.5-point underdogs against Buffalo. Coach Mike Vrabel undoubtedly will find a way to use that to poke and prod his players — even if the Bills had nothing to do with the setting of the line.

The New England Patriots won 11 straight AFC East titles from 2009 to 2019. They haven't won the division since, but they can end that drought with a victory Sunday over the Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford was seen wearing a walking boot ahead of the team's game against the New England Patriots.

The Ravens-Patriots game in Week 16 has flexed from 1 p.m. to 8:20 p.m. on "Sunday Night Football," the NFL announced Monday. The matchup at M&T Bank Stadium will replace the Bengals-Dolphins game, which has been moved to the 1 p.m. slate.

Benford and the Bills’ defensive backs have their hands full with New England’s collection of weapons in the passing game. Former Buffalo receiver Stefon Diggs caught 10 passes for 146 yards in the first game these two teams played back in October.

The Bills will play the Patriots this weekend in the biggest game between the rivals in almost four years, and quarterback Josh Allen knows he'll need to protect the ball for Buffalo to leave Foxborough with a win.

How will the Patriots handle Christian Gonzalez's next contract? Phil Perry tackles that question and more in a post-bye Mailbag.