Are the New England Patriots off the schneid? It certainly feels that way after their 29-26 upset win versus the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Even though the team did not deliver a complete performance, it still managed to find a way to beat one of the best teams in the NFL in its own stadium.
Here is a Patriots-centric view at some of those key moments from the game.
Moment No. 1: Crowd-silencer
Despite starting its first possession on the 3-yard line, the much-maligned Patriots offense managed to produce its best drive of the season
on its first possession against Buffalo. Before finding the end zone, however, it did need a conversion on a 4th-and-3 — which is exactly what Drake Maye and Romeo Doubs delivered.
Maye and Dobbs followed up their 15-yard pickup on fourth down with another big play one snap later: for the first time this season, the pair connected for a touchdown.
The 14-yard score gave the Patriots an early lead, and showed that they were ready to put up a fight after a lackluster outing the previous week.
Moment No. 2: Reverse of fortunes
It looked like the Patriots were in here-we-go-again mode midway through the second quarter. However, what looked like a Drake Maye fumble returned by the Bills defense for a touchdown was eventually overturned and gave way for a second New England touchdown drive.
Maye connected with Mack Hollins for a gain of 26 on the very next play after the non-turnover, followed by a 10-yard Rhamondre Stevenson run and a 26-yard scamper from Maye himself.
Setting up shop at the 1-yard line, Rhamondre Stevenson punched the ball in for six on the very next play.
Moment No. 3: Unlucky bounce
The two division rivals exchanged turnovers inside the final minute of the first half, and unfortunately for the Patriots their proved costly. An off-target Drake Maye pass to Romeo Doubs was popped up into the air by the wide receiver, only for Buffalo’s Dee Alford to find himself in perfrect position to scoop up the ball and return it to the New England 9-yard line.
On the very next play and with only 5 ticks left on the clock, the Bills scored a field goal to take a 17-14 lead into the locker room at the half — their first lead of the day.
Moment No. 4: Second life
Receiving the second-half kickoff and trailing 17-14, the Patriots marched back into Bills territory but seemingly were stopped on a 3rd-and-goal from the 2-yard line. However, a holding penalty against cornerback Maxwell Hairston negated a defensive would-be stop and gave New England’s offense second life.
It did not let the opportunity go to waste.
After already connecting twice previously on that very same drive, including on a 4th-and-2, Drake Maye and Romeo Doubs hooked up for their second touchdown of the day. The 2-yard score on a fade marked Doubs’ first multi-touchdown game in a Patriots uniform, and fifth in his career.
Moment No. 5: Favorable maths
Credit where credit is due: Josh Allen and the Bills showed no quit, and actually managed to take the lead on a 34-yard touchdown pass with 4:27 left in the game. However, that score was only half the story: the subsequent two-point conversion, which would have put Buffalo ahead by seven points felt incomplete when Allen and Joshua Palmer were unable to connect — a massive play because it set the stage for the Patriots to take the lead with a touchdown rather than having to go for the tie.
Moment No. 6: Efton Chism time
The Patriots lost Mack Hollins to an injury in the third quarter, but his spirit lived on in the fourth: Efton Chism, Hollins’ training body, took over on the game-winning touchdown drive. His first big play came on a 2nd-and-10, when he climbed the ladder for a pickup of 19 yards.
Two plays after their first connection, Drake Maye hit Chism again for another big play: the eventual game-winning touchdown. And it was a spectacular one, a one-handed grab despite being tightly covered.
The score and subsequent two-points play to Rhamondre Stevenson put New England up 29-26 inside the two-minute warning. All that was then needed was a big defensive play, and the unit delivered.
Moment No. 7: The Closer 2.0?
Former Patriots safety Duron Harmon was known for his ability to make big interceptions late in games, earning the nickname “The Closer” for his efforts. On Sunday, Craig Woodson looked a lot like he was deserving of that nickname too when he intercepted Josh Allen on Buffalo’s final possession.
The pick did not end the game, but it allowed the Patriots to run out the clock on its next drive.
