This past Sunday, the 11-2 New England Patriots hosted the 9-4 Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium in a highly anticipated Week 15 matchup that marked the second meeting between the division rivals this season. New England entered the game riding the wave of a 10-game winning streak and looking to clinch the top spot of AFC East, but Buffalo responded with a historic comeback to sneak away with a 35-31 victory.
In their first meeting on October 5, the Patriots escaped with a down-to-the-wire 23-20 win in Buffalo. This time, Buffalo had clearly learned from that loss and played a much more disciplined game, fixing many of the mistakes that cost them earlier in the season.
The Patriots struck first, with quarterback Drake Maye opening up the game with an 8 yard rushing touchdown and later tacked on another 7 yard rushing score. Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson broke free for a 52-yard touchdown run, giving New England a commanding 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Buffalo finally responded before halftime when quarterback Josh Allen connected with James Cook on a 5 yard touchdown pass. The Patriots soon answered with a 36-yard field goal by Andy Borregales, sending New England into halftime with a 24-7 lead.
However, the second half completely turned the tables. Buffalo scored touchdowns on five straight possessions, erasing the 21-point deficit and taking control of the game. Allen threw three second-half touchdown passes, including two to tight end Dawson Knox, and consistently picked up a few yards with his legs. Unlike the first matchup, the Bills steered clear of turnovers and penalties, allowing them to keep their offensive rhythm.
Statistically, the Patriots were outscored 28-7 in the second half despite finishing the game with 246 rushing yards, 148 of those from TreVeyon Henderson. Buffalo’s offensive adjustments and countless defensive stops proved to be the final nail in the coffin as they closed out the comeback late in the fourth quarter.
Students had strong reactions following the loss.
“It’s insane how fast the momentum changed,” said sophomore Jamie Franklin. “Being up by three touchdowns felt like the game was set in stone for us, but Buffalo just kept scoring.”
Sophomore Martin Seggev, a Philadelphia Eagles fan, saw the game differently. “This was huge for the Bills,” he said. “They got their get-back and tightened up the AFC East.”
Buffalo’s win keeps them alive in the AFC East race, while New England suffers its first loss since Week 3. Even with the setback, the Patriots still remain in control of their playoff chances as the regular season continues.
