The Buffalo Bills continue their 2026 NFL season with a matchup against the New England Patriots at home at Highmark Stadium in Week 4. It will be a 1 p.m. kickoff.
While game plans, coaching, and strategy will play a part, but sometimes a big emphasis will sit with some individual players. In terms of the Bills offense, who could those be?
Here are Bills Wire's three potential X-factors on the Bills (3-0) offense against the Patriots (1-2) in Week 4:
WR Khalil Shakir
It one is based solely on quarterback Josh Allen's comments this week.
Allen said that he and the offense needs to get Shakir involved more moving forward. Does that begin against the Patriots? That would make Shakir an X-factor.
RB James Cook
Cook is among one of the NFL leaders in rushing yards heading into Week
4. The Patriots defense has allowed 109.3 yards per game on the ground. If Cook surpasses that, it's hard to imagine the Pats stopping any part of Buffalo's offense.
QB Josh Allen
Usually if you see Allen's name in a list like this, it's about how talented he is and how Allen can walk on water across Niagara Falls. While that's partially true, this is about the opposite.
Buffalo had five turnovers in last week's win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Allen had three of them and nearly added one more fumble to that total.
That can't happen again.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 3 potential X-factors on the Bills offense vs. Patriots in Week 4
