The Buffalo Bills were the last of the NFL’s undefeated teams heading into their Sunday Night Football clash vs. the New England Patriots, but following a sloppy effort on offense, an erratic performance on defense and plenty of penalties, the Bills (4-1) took their first loss of the season.
Today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks examines what went wrong in Buffalo’s 23-20 home loss to the New England Patriots (3-2).
What happened in the Bills loss to Patriots?
The Buffalo Bills not only suffered their first loss of the season, they saw their 14-game
home winning streak come to an end at the hand of the New England Patriots. Buffalo came out flat from the get-go, scoring only three points in the first half while losing two fumbles in the opening half. Buffalo’s three turnovers led to 10 New England points, as the Bills continuously shot themselves in the foot (11 penalties sure didn’t help).
Among the other reasons the Bills fell to the Patriots: Buffalo’s offensive line failed to open up many holes for James Cook and the rushing attack; the Bills wide receivers struggled to create any separation against a solid Patriots secondary; wide receiver Stefon Diggs torched Buffalo’s secondary in his first trip back to Orchard Park since being dealt away at the end of the 2023 NFL season; and when it mattered most, New England quarterback Drake Maye showed poise in picking apart Buffalo’s defense.
- Observations: The Bills’ home winning streak is over, thanks to a sloppy loss to the Patriots – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Disjointed Bills can’t get back on script en route to surprising loss – The Athletic (subscription required)
- Why the Bills’ cornerback situation has become their biggest nightmare after Sunday’s loss (encouraged/worried) – newyorkupstate.com
- Bills last unbeaten to fall: ‘We just played sloppy’ – ESPN.com Buffalo Bills blog
- Comeback falls short as Patriots stun Bills with late field goal – WGRZ
- OPINION: Sloppy night results in bad Bills loss – WGR 550
- 7 things we learned from Bills’ Week 5 loss vs. Patriots – Democrat & Chronicle
- Eric Wood: Unpacking the Bills 23-20 Loss To The Patriots – BuffaloBills.com
- Upon Further Review: Wide receiver separation not where it needed to be against Patriots – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Top 3 things we learned from Bills vs. Patriots | Week 5 – BuffaloBills.com
- Stefon Diggs dominates Bills as Patriots hand Buffalo first loss (Observations) – newyorkupstate.com
- Dalton Kincaid’s production leads to a question: Why isn’t he playing more? – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Bills notebook: Shaq Thompson in line for more playing time as Matt Milano hurt again – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Three questions after the Buffalo Bills fall to the New England Patriots – Buffalo News (subscription required)
Report cards, positional grades from Week 5
Find out which players saw their stock improve and who endured poor performances during Buffalo’s Week 5 home loss to New England and relive the plays that shaped the outcome of the game.
- Report Card: Pass defense flunks in second half of loss to Patriots – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- OPINION: Arrow Up/Arrow Down: Patriots at Bills – WGR 550
- Bills report card: Drake Maye outduels Josh Allen to end Buffalo’s unbeaten streak – Democrat & Chronicle
- Plays that shaped the game: How Drake Maye escaped to make his big throw to Stefon Diggs vs. Bills – Buffalo News (subscription required)
Reactions to loss to New England
Hear what head coach Sean McDermott, quarterback Josh Allen and the rest of the Bills had to say following their first loss of the season.
- Bills coach Sean McDermott talks about the loss to the Patriots – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- McDermott: ‘Not the performance we were looking for’ – WGR 550
- Sean McDermott: “It’s A Good Reminder For Us” | Buffalo Bills – BuffaloBills.com
- Bills QB Josh Allen talks about the loss to the Patriots – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Allen: Patriots knew what to do to beat Bills on Sunday – WGR 550
- Josh Allen’s brutal assessment of Bills offense after Patriots pull off upset win – newyorkupstate.com
- Joe Brady: “Continue To Find Ways To Get Better” | Buffalo Bills – BuffaloBills.com
- ‘You got to take care of the ball’ | Sean McDermott, Josh Allen and Bills players reflect on missed chances during defeat to Patriots – BuffaloBills.com
- Bobby Babich: “The Pride & Resiliency Of That Group Will Step Forward” – BuffaloBills.com
Even more Bills news
Learn what happened postgame when former Bill Stefon Diggs met with his ex-quarterback, Josh Allen; plus, grading how Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth fared calling Sunday night’s game; the moment that went viral involving a Bills fan catching an errant pass from Allen; and more!
- Stefon Diggs and Josh Allen share heartfelt ‘I love you’ after Patriots beat Bills – Democrat & Chronicle
- Alan Pergament: Tirico, Collinsworth get good grades as Bills and fans get a scientific lesson in humility – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Syracuse alum Mike Tirico’s play-by-play of this Bills fan’s great escape with Josh Allen’s football has everyone in stitches – newyorkupstate.com
- Bills fan in Matt Milano jersey runs away with Josh Allen pass at Highmark Stadium – Democrat & Chronicle
- Josh Allen’s throwaway turns into hilarious fan moment on Sunday night – WGRZ
- Plans for transportation hub at new Bills stadium would make it easier to get to and from the game – Buffalo News (subscription required)
Buffalo Bills articles recently featured on Buffalo Rumblings
- Bills sloppy, mostly awful in Week 5 loss to Patriots – Buffalo Rumblings
- Bills’ DT rotation was blown up by injuries to Ed Oliver, T.J. Sanders – Buffalo Rumblings
- The Bills aren’t on top of the AFC anymore – Buffalo Rumblings
- Buffalo Bills highlights: Sloppy Bills no longer undefeated after dropping one to Patriots, 23-20 – Buffalo Rumblings
