This past Sunday night, the 4-0 Buffalo Bills hosted the 2-2 New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium in a highly anticipated game that did not disappoint. For Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, this was his return to Buffalo, where he spent his 2020-2023 seasons. Diggs made it count, showing off with 10 catches for 146 yards, his best this season.
Buffalo was favored, gliding off of their undefeated streak. Patriots fans, however, were feeling optimistic coming off of a dominant 42-13 win over the Carolina Panthers the week prior. Despite their record, Bills fans may have been a little too confident, as they played sloppy football: 3 turnovers, 11 penalties, and a weak secondary allowed New England to seal the win.
The 1st quarter was quiet, with both defenses holding their own. However, New England struck first with a 30 yard field goal by rookie Andy Borregales with less than a minute left, making it 3-0.
Buffalo responded with a 31 yard field goal by veteran Matt Prater early in the quarter to tie it at 3. Late in the quarter, the Patriots offense marched up the field, ending in another Borregales field goal, this time from 19 yards, giving New England a 6-3 lead at halftime.
The Bills came out hot after halftime. Bills quarterback Josh Allen connected with Curtis Samuel for a 6 yard touchdown, giving Buffalo a 10-6 lead. The Patriots soon answered, as running back Rhamondre Stevenson punched it in from 4 yards out to give the Patriots the lead, 13-10. Buffalo would then fire back with a 45 yard Prater field goal to tie it up before the quarter ended.
The fourth quarter is where it really picked up. The Patriots widened the lead, with Rhamondre Stevenson scoring a 7 yard touchdown, thanks to a 32 yard Stefon Diggs catch and run. The Bills then answered, as Allen found wide receiver Keon Coleman to close the gap, making it 20-17. Buffalo then tied it at 20 with another Prater field goal, with a little more than two minutes left. The Patriots received the ball at their own 29 yard line, and, with a Kayshon Boutte reception, put them in field goal position. With 15 seconds left, Andy Borregales drilled a 52 yard field goal, giving the Patriots a 20-23 win.
“It was crazy,” said Sophomore Tristan Campbell, a lifelong Patriots fan. “I didn’t think Borregales would hit that from 52, especially after his disappointing start this season.”
Not everyone shared that same excitement. Sam Ferrara, a Bills fan, said, “We just gave that one away. The penalties were ridiculous, and the defense’s performance was a joke. We really should have won.”
Now the Patriots ride this momentum into next week, facing a 1-4 New Orleans Saints. Meanwhile, Buffalo has to regroup and refocus before their Thursday Night matchup against the Falcons. Cleaning up penalties, avoiding turnovers, and tightening up their secondary. If Sunday’s game gave us any hints, we are not done seeing surprising wins and devastating losses this 2025-2026 football season.
