Foxborough, Mass. (WGR 550) - For the third week in-a-row, the Buffalo Bills struggled out of the gate, and this time, it came back to bite them in the end.
Despite taking a late lead with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, Buffalo's defense allowed the New England Patriots to drive the field and grab a late win, 29-25, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The Patriots received the opening kickoff and marched down the field with some big runs from running back Rhamondre Stevenson. However, the Bills defense was able to get a stop on their own 12-yard line and force the Patriots to a 30-yard field goal from kicker Chad Ryland.
The Bills only got one play into their first drive when quarterback Josh Allen threw an interception to Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers. This gave the Patriots the ball on Buffalo's 45-yard line.
New England's offense quickly moved down the field and scored on a two-yard rush from running back Ezekiel Elliott to take a 10-0 lead.
The Bills offense got moving on their second drive with some big plays from Allen and running back James Cook. The team slowly, but surely moved down the field and carried the drive over into the second quarter.
The offense couldn't break through on 3rd-and-long, and had to settle for a 36-yard field goal from kicker Tyler Bass to get the Bills on the board.
After a couple of punts traded back-and-forth, Patriots running back Tyquan Johnson returned a punt for 25-yards and put his team into great field position. They drove down to Buffalo's six-yard line before the Bills defense held tough and forced another field goal from Ryland, this time from 24 yards out.
Following that drive, the Bills offense had another opportunity to get some points on the board, but Bass missed a 42-yard field goal attempt towards the end of the half.
The Bills did get the ball back once more before halftime, but there wasn't enough time left on the clock and they headed to the locker room trailing by 10.
The Bills came out strong in the second half with offense on their minds.
Allen led the offense down the field with big passes to wide receiver Stefon Diggs and tight end Dalton Kincaid. Cook continued to shine in the second half with strong runs, and wrapped up the opening drive of the half with an eight-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
The Patriots got points on the board on their first drive of the second half. Patriots quarterback Mac Jones came up with multiple big passes to his receivers, but relied on Ryland again for his third field goal of the day.
After the Bills offense failed to convert on a fourth down on their next drive, Jones marched the Patriots back the other way again, resulting in a four-yard touchdown pass from Jones to wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. New England attempted to go for a two-point conversion to extend the lead to 24-10, but fell short.
Just two minutes of game time later, the Bills pressed down field at a pace that hadn't been seen all game. Allen eventually found Diggs on a 25-yard pass, where Diggs escaped three defenders and ran in for a touchdown.
Three plays into the next New England drive, Bills safety Jordan Poyer forced a fumble that linebacker Terrel Bernard came up at the New England 29-yard line.
Allen moved quickly once again, and capped the drive off himself with a one-yard touchdown run to give the Bills their first lead of the game. Buffalo also went for a two-point conversion and converted on a pass to tight end Dawson Knox for a 25-22 lead.
With just under two minutes left on the game clock, the Patriots moved quickly with a huge 34-yard reception for Stevenson. After that, the Patriots were able to effectively move the ball right down to the Bills' one-yard line with time dwindling away.
With 12 seconds remaining, Jones was able to find tight end Mike Gesicki for the go-ahead, and game-winning touchdown.
With minimal time to work with, Allen attempted a deep pass attempt to Diggs that fell incomplete, and then eventually fumbled on the final play of the game when he took off using his legs.
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GAME SUMMARY
First Quarter:
- 3-0 NEW ENGLAND: Patriots field goal (10:02) - Chad Ryland's 30-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 9 plays, 63 yards, 4:58
- 10-0 NEW ENGLAND: Patriots touchdown (6:58) - Ezekiel Elliott rushes two yards through the line for a touchdown. (Chad Ryland's field goal attempt is good)
Drive info: 7 plays, 45 yards, 2:49
Second Quarter:
- 10-3 NEW ENGLAND: Bills field goal (14:49) - Tyler Bass' 36-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 13 plays, 57 yards, 7:09
- 13-3 NEW ENGLAND: Patriots field goal (7:36) - Chad Ryland's 24-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 5 plays, 40 yards, 2:44
Third Quarter:
- 13-10 NEW ENGLAND: Bills touchdown (9:53) - Josh Allen tosses an eight-yard pass to running back James Cook, who scampers to the end zone for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' field goal attempt is good.)
Drive info: 10 plays, 81 yards, 5:07
- 16-10 NEW ENGLAND: Patriots field goal (4:30) - Chad Ryland's 49-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 9 plays, 44 yards, 5:23
Fourth Quarter:
- 22-10 NEW ENGLAND: Patriots touchdown (7:36) - Mac Jones fires a four-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Bourne. (New England's two-point conversion attempt is unsuccessful)
Drive info: 9 plays, 66 yards, 6:07
- 22-17 NEW ENGLAND: Bills touchdown (5:32) - Josh Allen tosses a 25-yard stirke to Stefon Diggs for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:04
- 25-22 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (1:53) - Josh Allen rushes up the middle for a one-yard touchdown. (Buffalo's two-point conversion attempt is successful)
Drive info: 8 plays, 29 yards, 2:58
- 29-25 NEW ENGLAND: Patriots touchdown (0:12) - Mac Jones fires a one-yard touchdown strike to Mike Gesicki. (Chad Ryland's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 8 plays, 75 yards, 1:46
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME
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What's next:
It's a short week for the Bills, as they now get set to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on "Thursday Night Football" at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.