The New England Patriots entered their primetime matchup with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night as 8.5-point underdogs, but they still managed to upset their previously-undefeated AFC East rivals. An entertaining
game ended up with the visitors kicking a field goal late in the fourth period to secure a 23-20 victory.
Here is a Patriots-centric view at some of the key moments of the game.
Moment(s) No. 1: Fumble party
The Bills entered the game having scored four touchdowns on four opening drives this season. Against New England, they ended up with zero points: a Josh Allen handoff intended for James Cook went wrong, with Patriots fourth-round rookie Joshua Farmer falling onto the loose ball for a fumble recovery.
The team, however, failed to take advantage.
On the very next play after Farmer’s fumble recovery, the Patriots gave the ball right back. For the third time this season, Rhamondre Stevenson lost a fumble. Buffalo did not manage to capitalize on the turnover, however, and eventually punted the ball. The Patriots punted themselves on the very next possession, but ended up getting the ball right back thanks to yet another fumble:
Robert Spillane came flowing in making the tackle on wide receiver Keon Coleman, knocking the ball out. Christian Gonzalez had a shot at the recovery, but the ball eventually ended up in the arms of fellow Patriot Jaylinn Hawkins. Four plays later, Andy Borregales put the team up 3-0.
Moment No. 2: Maye-Henry connection
Both offenses started slowly, with nothing but a pair of field goals to show for by the late second quarter. The Patriots were able to add another one at the end of the first half, thanks to Drake Maye hitting Hunter Henry on a big play on 2nd-and-15.
The duo failed to connect on 1st-and-goal with 4 seconds to go in the half, but the big play earlier in the series still allowed New England to take a 6-0 lead into the half.
Moment No. 3: Big play Diggs, Pt. 1
The Patriots fell behind 10-6 early in the third quarter, but they answered the Bills’ touchdown in style: Drake Maye and company engineered a five-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to retake the lead. The series biggest play happened on a 2nd-and-9 from the Buffalo 36-yard line, when Maye hit wide receiver and ex-Bill Stefon Diggs for a gain of 32 — a play that not only showcased the quarterback’s ability to make plays out of structure, but also the connection he and the veteran receiver have developed during their time together.
On the very next play, Rhamondre Stevenson found the end zone from 4 yards out to put his team in front again.
Moment No. 4: Marcus Jones undercut
The Bills looked like they were about to answer the Patriots’ touchdown with a score of their own, driving into the New England red zone with relative ease on their next possession of the third period. However, Marcus Jones had other plans: the reigning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week undercut a Josh Allen pass for an interception, ending the series and stating his cases to also win the Defensive trophy this week.
Moment No. 5: Big play Diggs, Pt. 2
The Patriots followed a familiar script on their next drive after Marcus Jone’ interception. Get the ball to Stefon Diggs, and then score with Rhamondre Stevenson. New England’s 11-play, 90-yard drive saw Diggs catch four passes for 53 yards, including a 30-yard catch-and-run to set up the touchdown.
Moment No. 6: Maye magic
With the game tied at 20 with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Patriots had a chance to drive into field goal range to potentially score the game-winning points. Before doing so, however, Drake Maye delivered some more magic: escaping a would-be sack, he found Stefon Diggs to move the chains on a 1st-and-10.
Moment No. 7: Game-winner
With only 20 seconds on the clock, the Patriots trusted their rookie kicker to deliver the game-winner from 52 yards out. Andy Borregales did just that, with a massive kick that went straight down to split the uprights and give New England its first win in Buffalo since the 2021 season.
