The Week 16 NFL schedule brings us what has become a late December tradition: Saturday NFL football. There are three games on the Saturday NFL schedule today, including Patriots vs. Bills at 4:30 p.m. ET, and all three games are scheduled to be broadcast nationally on NFL Network.
All three Saturday NFL games have playoff picture implications even though both New England and Buffalo have clinched playoff spots. The Bills, in fact, are one of three teams (Packers, 49ers) that have made the playoffs after missing the postseason last season. From 1990-2018, a streak of 29 consecutive years, at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before.
Yet the Patriots remain the kings of the AFC East. With a win Saturday over Buffalo, New England would win the division for the 11th year in a row. The Patriots also would reach 12 wins in a season for the 13th time and match the 49ers for the most seasons of 12 or more wins since the 1970 merger. The Cowboys also have 12 seasons of at least 12 victories since 1970.
MORE: Watch Patriots vs. Bills live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
In both our picks against the spread and our straight-up predictions for Week 16, Sporting News projected a Patriots victory over the Bills on Saturday. Below are the explanations.
Pick against the spread: The Patriots wouldn't lose to the Bills at home and drop three out of four games, would they? (Of course they wouldn't.) New England survived the first matchup in Buffalo 16-10 and got well in Cincinnati last week — especially with the running game, defense and special teams — just in time for the rematch. Look for the Pats to stay grounded, as the backs have become the new focal points of the offense. The Bills have a tough pass defense, but the Patriots will get James White and Julian Edelman into the right matchups. Josh Allen's passing also hasn't been as strong against good defenses. Buffalo has won some big road games to get into the playoffs, but this won't be another one. New England will clinch another AFC East title. Pick: Patriots win 23-13 and cover the spread.
Straight-up prediction: This isn't exactly the defense Tom Brady and the Patriots' struggling offense wants to see as they fight for playoff positioning in the AFC. Likewise, Buffalo's offense is in for a struggle against the NFL's top scoring defense as it attempts to steal the division title from New England. In what's expected to be a close, low-scoring game, special teams and penalties will be factors. The Patriots have the edge in both areas. Pick: Patriots 20, Bills 14.
Below is everything you need to know to watch Patriots vs. Bills on Saturday, including the kickoff time, TV channel and a full Week 16 NFL schedule.
MORE: Week 16 NFL TV coverage map
What channel is Patriots vs. Bills on Saturday?
- TV channel (national): NFL Network
- TV channel (Boston): WBZ
- TV channel (Buffalo): WKBW
- Live stream: fuboTV (7-day free trial)
A special Saturday NFL game presentation on NFL Network calls for a special broadcast team. Mike Tirico and Kurt Warner, along with Peter Schrager on the sidelines, will call the Bills vs. Patriots game from Foxboro.
NFL Network's Saturday tripleheader will feature an exclusive Next Gen Stats second-screen experience for fans. "Next Gen Stats Live" will give fans access to live player tracking allowing users to follow real-time location and participation on the field in line with the broadcast. Additionally, fans will have access to unique player insights for passing, rushing, receiving and more.
You can also live stream Patriots vs. Bills by signing up for fuboTV, which offers a seven-day free trial.
MORE: Seeding scenarios for Patriots in AFC
Patriots vs. Bills: What time is kickoff Saturday?
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 21
- Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Saturday's 4:30 p.m. ET start time for Patriots vs. Bills on NFL Network marks New England's fifth national TV game of the season. The Patriots will close the year with an early Sunday afternoon home game against the Dolphins in Week 17.
As for the Bills, Saturday's game marks their third national TV game of the season after last week's Steelers game was flexed into the "Sunday Night Football" viewing window. Including its win in Dallas on Thanksgiving, Buffalo is 2-0 in national TV games this season.
NFL schedule Week 16
You can keep up with live scores and stats with SN's live scoreboard.
Saturday, Dec. 21
| Game | Time | TV |
| Texans at Buccaneers | 1 p.m. ET | NFL Network, fuboTV |
| Bills at Patriots | 4:30 p.m. ET | NFL Network, fuboTV |
| Rams at 49ers | 8:15 p.m. ET | NFL Network, fuboTV |
Sunday, Dec. 22
| Game | Time | Channel |
| Jaguars vs. Falcons | 1 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Ravens vs. Browns | 1 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Saints vs. Titans | 1 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Panthers vs. Colts | 1 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Bengals vs. Dolphins | 1 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Steelers vs. Jets | 1 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Giants vs. Redskins | 1 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Lions vs. Broncos | 4:05 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Raiders vs. Chargers | 4:05 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Cowboys vs. Eagles | 4:25 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Cardinals vs. Seahawks | 4:25 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Chiefs vs. Bears | 8:25 p.m. | NBC, fuboTV |
Monday, Dec. 23
| Game | Time | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Packers vs. Vikings | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
Patriots schedule 2019
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff time | TV |
| Week 1 | Sept. 8 | vs. Steelers | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| Week 2 | Sept. 15 | at Dolphins | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 3 | Sept. 22 | vs. Jets | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 4 | Sept. 29 | at Bills | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 5 | Oct. 6 | at Redskins | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 6 | Oct. 10 (Thursday) | vs. Giants | 8:20 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 7 | Oct. 21 (Monday) | at Jets | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Week 8 | Oct. 27 | vs. Browns | 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 9 | Nov. 3 | at Ravens | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| Week 10 | BYE | - | - | - |
| Week 11 | Nov. 17 | at Eagles | 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 12 | Nov. 24 | vs. Cowboys | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 13 | Dec. 1 | at Texans | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| Week 14 | Dec. 8 | vs. Chiefs | 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 15 | Dec. 15 | at Bengals | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 16 | Dec. 21 | vs. Bills | 4:30 p.m. ET | NFLN |
| Week 17 | Dec. 29 | vs. Dolphins | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
Bills schedule 2019
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff time | TV |
| Week 1 | Sep. 8 | at Jets | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Weel 2 | Sep. 15 | at Giants | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 3 | Sep. 22 | vs. Bengals | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 4 | Sep. 29 | vs. Patriots | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 5 | Oct. 6 | at Titans | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 6 | BYE | |||
| Week 7 | Oct. 20 | vs. Dolphins | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 8 | Oct. 27 | vs. Eagles | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 9 | Nov. 3 | vs. Redskins | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 10 | Nov. 10 | at Browns | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 11 | Nov. 17 | at Dolphins | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 12 | Nov. 24 | vs. Broncos | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 13 | Nov. 28 (Thursday) | at Cowboys | 4:30 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 14 | Dec. 8 | vs. Ravens | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 15 | Dec. 15 | at Steelers | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| Week 16 | Dec. 21 | at Patriots | 4:30 p.m. ET | NFLN |
| Week 17 | Dec. 29 | vs. Jets | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |