Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - In the final home game of the 2023 regular season, the Buffalo Bills leaned heavily on their defense with four first half turnovers in a 27-21 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday at Highmark Stadium.
The Patriots received the opening kickoff and got straight to work. Jalen Reagor returned the kick 98 yards for the opening score of the game just 12 seconds into the game.
On Buffalo's opening offensive drive, the unit failed to move the ball and immediately went three-and-out.
During the first offensive drive for New England, quarterback Bailey Zappe's first pass attempt of the game was batted up in the air and picked off by defensive tackle Ed Oliver.
With the ball in great field position, the Bills offense still couldn't get rolling and had to settle for a 35-yard field goal from kicker Tyler Bass.
The Bills defense came up with another big play a couple drives later, as Rasul Douglas picked off Zappe for the second turnover of the opening quarter.
With the drive starting at the Patriots' 14-yard line, Buffalo did not fall short this time around. Quarterback Josh Allen finished the drive off with a one-yard touchdown on a "Tush Push" to gave the Bills their first lead of the day, 7-3.
On the second play of New England's next drive, the Buffalo defense came up with, yet, another turnover as cornerback Christian Benford forced a fumble of Patriots tight end Pharaoh Brown, recovered the loose change himself.
Allen and the Bills offense, once again, began their drive inside New England territory, but fell short of the end zone once more, and turned to Bass to nail a 24-yard field goal.
Less than three minutes into the second quarter, Zappe threw his third pick of the day, once again to Douglas, who returned the football 40 yards for a defensive touchdown.
The Patriots offense was finally able to get the ball moving on their next drive, as Zappe got a huge gain from running back Kevin Harris for a 48-yard catch-and-run to the Bills' 17-yard line. On the very next play, Zappe took off and ran 17 yards for his first career rushing touchdown.
With a chance to add some more points before halftime, Allen went deep for a pass intended for tight end Dalton Kincaid, but was picked off by former Bills draft pick this past year, Alex Austin.
The Patriots were able to move the ball into scoring position with less than two minutes remaining in the first half, but kicker Chad Ryland ended up missing a 47-yard field goal wide to the left.
The Bills failed to do much with one more possession before halftime, and the Patriots ended up kneeling the clock to head into the locker room with the score still 20-14.
Off the opening kick off in the second half, the Bills were able to show off their passing prowess right away. Allen aired out a 51-yard pass to Kincaid, who put the Bills at the Patriots' 13-yard line.
Allen later finished off the drive with his second rushing touchdown of the day from one yard out.
After an uneventful third quarter, the Patriots were able to close the gap in the early stages of the fourth quarter.
It all started with Zappe connecting with Reagor on a 39-yard pass. Three plays later, running back Ezekiel Elliott was able to make it a 27-20 game with a six-yard rushing score.
After a three-and-out from the Buffalo offense, the Bills defense came up with one more successful stop, forcing a three-and-out for the Patriots deep inside their own territory.
With 5:02 remaining in the game, the Bills offense then did their job to not just get into field goal range, but kill out the clock and kneel out the remainder of the game.
The win helped the Bills earn their 10th victory of the season, their fourth win in-a-row, and inch that much closer to a playoff berth in the AFC standings.
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GAME SUMMARY
First Quarter:
- 7-0 NEW ENGLAND: Patriots touchdown (14:48) - Jalen Reagor returns the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. (Chad Ryland's extra point attempt is good)
- 7-3 NEW ENGLAND: Bills field goal (12:07) - Tyler Bass' 35-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 4 plays, 4 yards, 0:53
- 10-7 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (6:33) - Josh Allen rushes one yard up the middle for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 4 plays, 14 yards, 1:57
- 13-7 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (2:16) - Tyler Bass' 24-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 7 plays, 24 yards, 3:35
Second Quarter:
- 20-7 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (12:36) - Rasul Douglas picks off Bailey Zappe on a pass intended for Jalen Reagor and returns it 40 yards for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
- 20-14 BUFFALO: Patriots touchdown (9:44) - Bailey Zappe rushes 17 yards for a touchdown. (Chad Ryland's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:52
Third Quarter:
-27-14 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (10:42) - Josh Allen rushes one yard up the middle for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:18
Fourth Quarter:
- 27-21 BUFFALO: Patriots touchdown (11:01) - Ezekiel Elliott punches a ball into the end zone from six yards out for a touchdown. (Chad Ryland's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 7 plays, 84 yards, 3:09
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills will head out on the road to finish the regular season in Miami against the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. With the Dolphins losing to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17, it sets up a winner-take-all scenario for the AFC East in Week 18.
Kickoff is slated for next Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. EST on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.