Welcome to first and 10, a roundup of all the (mostly) Patriots-related news you need to start your Monday. Grab your coffee and let’s get to it.
--Two quick personnel notes that were unveiled Sunday: One, the Patriots downgraded running back Sony Michel (knee) to out on Sunday. New England also downgraded defensive lineman Geneo Grisson (ankle) and offensive tackle Marcus Cannon (concussion). That should make "guess the inactives" relatively easy, as that group joins Jacob Hollister, Eric Rowe and Brian Schwenke, all of whom were downgraded on Friday. And two, the Bills announced LeSean McCoy had progressed through the concussion protocol far enough to be given the green light for Monday night.
Now, let's get to the links...
1. It was a busy day around the league on Sunday. How did everything shake out from a Patriots' perspective? Mostly good, but it also gave us some food for thought for the next few weeks as the second half of the regular season looms.
2. Mike Rodak, who covers the Bills for ESPN, answered our questions about what to expect from a Buffalo perspective on Monday night.
3. Coach Cory Bailey also gave us his take on what to expect when it comes to Monday's matchup.
4. Free-agent defensive back Obi Melifonwu -- a Bay State native who attended UConn -- has drawn the interest of the Patriots.
5. My NFL Notebook took a snapshot of the Patriots as Tuesday's trade deadline looms.
6. I spent some quality time on Friday talking Patriots-Bills with the guys from 92.9 The Ticket.
7. Mike Reiss led his Sunday notebook with a few thoughts as the one-year anniversary of the Jimmy Garoppolo trade looms this week.
8. Here's a quick betting preview for the game. "For bettors worried that the two-touchdown spread is too much to cover, consider that New England is 9-1 against the spread when tabbed as a double-digit favorite over the past three seasons."
9. Pro Football Focus previews Patriots-Bills.
10. Will this week crack the list of the 10 most memorable Monday night games in Bills' history?
Extra Point: Nice moment Sunday for Adam Vinatieri. Jump ahead to 2:37 for Tom Brady's comments: "Hey Adam. congratulations on the NFL scoring record. What an incredible accomplishment. You deserve it. You made the biggest kicks in the biggest games and I loved playing with you. And I'm always cheering for you, except when you're playing against the Patriots. But I love you, man. Congrats."
Peyton Manning, @PatMcAfeeShow, @TonyDungy and more congratulate @AdamVinatieri on becoming the all-time leading scorer. ? pic.twitter.com/8LSqSLG964
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 28, 2018