The New England Patriots will take on the Buffalo Bills tonight in a battle for the #1 seed in the AFC East, and potential top spot in the entire conference. Would you have believed me if I said that seven weeks ago?
Even after a six game winning streak where they’ve looked like the best team in baseball, it’s hard to believe that this is the spot that New England finds themselves in. This is the same team that started off 2-4. This also the same team that has still yet to have a bye week due to the NFL’s new scheduling format. It’s the same team that entered this season with a litany of newcomers that self admittedly had their reserves about playing in New England.
With all of those factors, the Patriots have still broken through as a contender, and with a win tonight over the AFC East’s preseason favorite, they can firmly plant themselves into the drivers seat in the AFC. This game will be a sloppy one, with two teams scratching and clawing for a top seed in some nasty weather. Who can put in a full 60-minute effort and eek out a victory? Follow along here to find out! Let’s dance!
December 6, 8:15p.m. ET | Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY | Broadcast information
Pregame
Inactives
Patriots Inactives: QB Jarrett Stidham, TE Devin Asiasi, OLB Ronnie Perkins, OL Yasir Durant, CB Shaun Wade, LB Jahlani Tavai
Bills Inactives: WR Marquez Stevenson, FB Reggie Gilliam, DE Efe Obada, WR Isaiah McKenzie, OL Jamil Douglas, DT Vernon Butler.
Though he doesn’t find himself on the inactive list, the most notable absence tonight will come in the form of Kyle Dugger, who landed on the COVID list this past Wednesday. Daniel Ekuale was elevated from New England’s practice squad as his COVID replacement, while CB Sean Davis was a standard elevation. Wade and Tavai were new additions to the list last week with the only player coming off being J.J. Taylor, who is on the COVID list with Dugger.
The Bills’ inactive list was full of healthy scratches as their only inactive players listed on this week’s injury report were Gilliam and Obada.
Coin Toss
In Buffalo, the Patriots called the coin toss. Of course Matthew Slater called heads and saw the coin land tails. Buffalo deferred their choice to the second half, meaning Mac Jones and the Patriots would start one offense.
First Quarter
N’Keal Harry (you read that right) was back to receive the opening kickoff, but Tyler Bass booted the ball 15 rows deep into the end zone seats. The 30+ mph winds will be a huge factor in this one. New England started on the ground, handing the ball of to Damien Harris three straight times, netting -1 yard in total. Jake Bailey came on to punt against the wind, and booted a line drive just 38 yards.
Buffalo took over at their own 48-yard line do to the poor punt. Buffalo followed a similar path as New England, keeping it on the ground on downs one and two. After gaining just three yards, Buffalo chose to pass on 3rd-and-7, where Josh Allen’s pass was dropped by Dawson Knox. Back-to-back punts to start in the wild weather. Matt Haack, with the wind to his back, saw the ball sail into the end zone for a touchback.
Back to the ground, Damien Harris picked up two yards on first down and four yards on second down. On third down, Brandon Bolden took a draw for -1 yard, forcing yet another Patriots punt. Zero pass attempt for Mac Jones through two drives. Jake Bailey came back on to punt, and kicked a rocket that the wind blew directly back towards him, netting just 15 yards, giving Buffalo even better field position on their second drive.
On their second drive, Buffalo took over at the Patriots 40-yard line. They came out throwing the ball, but J.C. Jackson introduced himself to Emmanuel Sanders rather rudely, dropping him for a three yard loss. A Devin Singletary run got the yardage back, and a neutral zone infraction on Matthew Judon set the Bills up with a more manageable 3rd-and-4. Buffalo would pick up a first down on the next play, a short Josh Allen pass to Matt Breida. One play later, Breida fumbled and Lawrence Guy scooped it up to kill the first momentous drive of the day.
Back for drive number three, the Patriots returned to the ground for a loss of one. This time the handoff went to Jonnu Smith instead of Harris. One play later, another handoff to a non-running back, Nelson Agholor took an end around for six yards to set up a 3rd-and-5. One play later, Harris got another carry and took it 64 yards for a touchdown. With Buffalo selling out on the run, he had to break one tackle to take it all the way. With the wind being such a factor, New England went for two and Brandon Bolden took a toss into the end zone for the conversion. [Patriots 8 : 0 Bills]
Buffalo returned on offense at their own 25-yard line following a Jake Bailey touchback, and came out throwing the ball. Allen hit Stefon Diggs for eight yards on first down, then allowed Devin Singletary to pick up two more on the ground for a first down. Buffalo picked up just three yards on their next two plays, forcing them into their first 3rd-and-long of the day. Allowed to pin their ears back, the Patriots pass rushers drew a hold and nullified a first down pass, pushing Buffalo back 10 more yards and eventually forcing a Josh Allen overthrow. Matt Haack came back on for his second punt of the day, still punting with the wind to his back. N’Keal Harry was back to field the punt, and had the ball touch his helmet, allowing Buffalo to recover and take back over in New England territory. At the Patriots 14-yard line, Allen delivered a strike to Gabriel Davis for a touchdown. Told you the wind would be a factor. Buffalo chose to take the extra point. [Patriots 8 : 7 Bills]
Back after a disastrous two play stretch, New England continued to tear up the Buffalo turf. Rhamondre Stevenson took a carry for 10 yards, before Jonnu Smith made a phenomenal catch to pick up 13 more on Mac Jones’ first pass attempt. Back to the ground, Stevenson picked up six before the Patriots allowed the clock to run out on the quarter and flip the field.
Second Quarter
With a flipped field, the Patriots now had the advantage of having the wind to their backs. They kept it on the ground anyway, running the ball five straight times, picking up 24 yards and a first down, before Bill Belichick decided to let Nick Folk attempt and drill one from 41-yards on 4th-and-2. [Patriots 11 : 7 Bills]
On their first drive into the wind, Buffalo took a page out of New England’s playbook by running the ball consistently. Their first two plays went on the ground for eight yards, before Allen hit Gabriel Davis again for 16 yards and a first down. Allen picked up five yards on the ground on their next play, before Matt Breida picked up three more yards to force another 3rd-and-2. Zach Moss picked up the first down on their next play, moving the Bills into Patriots territory. Buffalo was called for delay of game soon thereafter, before Daniel Ekuale sacked Josh Allen and forced them into a 3rd-and-19 from back near their own territory. On that third down, Josh Allen got to the edge and delivered a strike to Dawson Knox, before Adrian Phillips knocked it away and forced a punt into the wind.
Taking over at their own 16-yard line, the Patriots continued the trend of starting with terrible field position. They lost even more as Damien Harris was swallowed up for a two yard loss on first down. That wouldn’t deter them, as they continued to give Damien Harris the ball, and he continued to be met behind the line of scrimmage for lost yardage. On 3rd-and-16, Jones dropped back, and handed the ball off yet again for a gain of 10. It wasn’t enough for a first down, bringing Jake Bailey on to improve his net average a bit with a 46-yard punt.
Taking over with a little more than 3:00 left in the half, Buffalo quickly went three and out, taking just 1:06 off the clock. Punting into the wind, Matt Haack continued his good day with a punt backing the Patriots up to their own 25-yard line.
The Patriots stayed on the ground, with Damien Harris ripping off a 17 yard run on first down. The next two carries netted just three yards and forced Damien Harris to leave the field with a lower body injury. On another third-and-long, Rhamondre Stevenson could pick up just five yards, when the Bills called a timeout and forced New England to punt with 0:07 left. Jake Bailey unleashed a beauty, pinning it inside the Buffalo 5-yard line and taking us to halftime.