Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills wrapped up their 2022 regular season schedule on Sunday with a meaningful matchup against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium.
With safety Damar Hamlin heavy on the minds of many in Buffalo, the Bills were able to come away victorious with a 35-23 win over their AFC East rival. Not only did it help Buffalo end the season with a 13-3 overall record and a 7-1 record at home, it also eliminated the Patriots from playoff contention.
The emotional roller coaster got started right off the bat in Orchard Park, and Buffalo received the opening kickoff. Returner Nyheim Hines sent the fans at Highmark Stadium into a frenzy when he returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.
Related
The two teams punted on their next drives, which gave the Patriots the ball back starting on their own 26-yard line.
Patriots quarterback Mac Jones got his offense moving on this drive, where he completed two big passes to wide receiver's Jakobi Meyers and Devante Parker. Jones finished off the drive with a short pass to Meyers for the team's first touchdown of the day to tie the game at 7-7.
The Bills kept their offense rolling on the next drive, with Bills quarterback Josh Allen finding wide receiver Stefon Diggs twice for a total of 32 yards. Allen also threw an 18-yard pass to wide receiver Gabe Davis to get the Bills down into the red zone.
Allen capped off the drive with some patience in the pocket before firing a four-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dawson Knox.
After another two punts, the Patriots started with the football, once again, at their own 26-yard line. This drive was primarily led by running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who had 35 total yards to get New England back in scoring position.
Jones finished off the drive with a short two-yard touchdown pass to DeVante Parker that evened the score at 14-14.
The Bills were comfortably moving the ball down the field once again on their next drive as the first half drew to a close. Allen got the offense into the red zone, but was then picked off by Devin McCourty on a pass intended for Davis.
The Patriots were unable to get anything going with less than 30 seconds remaining in the half, and elected to run out the remainder of the clock and head to the locker room for halftime.
The Patriots received the second half kickoff and started driving down the field once again. However, a pass that sailed on Jones ended up in the hands of Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White, who came up with his first interception since November of last season.
Buffalo's first drive of the second half didn't last long, though, as Bills running back Devin Singletary fumbled the ball on the Bills' 11-yard line with it being recovered by McCourty.
The Patriots were in excellent field position to take a seven-point lead on Buffalo, but thanks to three big stops from the Bills defense, New England was only able to kick a field goal. Kicker Nick Folk made a 24-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 17-14 advantage.
On the ensuing kickoff, Hines swung the momentum back in Buffalo's facor, as he returned his second kick return for a touchdown of the day, this time from 101 yards out. The touchdown gave the Bills a 21-17 lead in the third quarter, and it was a lead Buffalo wouldn't vanquish again.
The Buffalo defense stood tall again, holding the Patriots to a punt on their next drive to allow Allen and the offense to get right back to work on their own 19-yard line.
The Bills looked somewhat stagnate on this drive until Allen found wide receiver Khalil Shakir with a 28-yard toss. Only two plays later, Allen unleashed a 42-yard bomb to veteran wide receiver John Brown for his first receiving touchdown since 2020, which lengthened the Bills' lead to 28-17.
Jones and the Patriots got right back to work on their first drive of the fourth quarter, traveling 85 yards in just eight plays and about five minutes. Stevenson and fellow running back Damien Harris were a big help in getting their team down the field.
New England cut the Buffalo lead to 28-23 with Jones connecting again with Parker for a touchdown, this time from 26 yards out. New England attempted a two-point conversion to trim the deficit even more, but were unsuccessful.
The offense kept coming for the Bills on their next drive.
Allen started the drive with a few short passing plays to get the team to the New England 49-yard line. Allen then unleashed a perfectly-placed dime to Diggs, who reeled it in to give the Bills a 35-23 lead in the fourth quarter.
Following Buffalo's touchdown, the Patriots were, once again, forced to punt, but the ball ended up being touched by special teamer Taiwan Jones and was recovered by Patriots lineback Ja'Whaun Bentley.
Despite the lucky break for the Patriots, their drive ended with Jones trying to connect with tight end Hunter Henry in the end zone, only to be picked off by linebacker Matt Milano.
After another Bills punt, it gave the Patriots one more chance to close the gap and stay alive. However, Jones threw another interception just three plays into that drive when linebacker Tremaine Edmunds came up with a pick that was tipped.
The Bills were able to eventually kneel out the remainder of the clock to seal the win, while also eliminating the Patriots from postseason contention.
-----------
GAME SUMMARY
First Quarter:
- 7-0 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (14:46) - Nyheim Hines returns the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good.)
- 7-7 TIE: Patriots touchdown (5:45) - Mac Jones tosses a two-yard touchdown pass to Jakobi Meyers. (Nick Folk's extra point attempt is good.)
Drive info: 9 plays, 74 yards, 4:44
Second Quarter:
-14-7 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (14:15) - Josh Allen throws a four-yard laser to Dawson Knox for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good.)
Drive info: 13 plays, 75 yards, 6:30
-14-14 TIE: Patriots touchdown (3:45) - Mac Jones throws a two-yard touchdown pass to DeVante Parker. (Nick Folk's extra point attempt is good.)
Drive info: 9 plays, 74 yards, 5:31
Third Quarter:
- 17-14 NEW ENGLAND: Patriots field goal (7:06) - Nick Folk's 24-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 4 plays, 5 yards, 1:28
- 21-17 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (6:53) - Nyheim Hines returns a 101-yard kickoff for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
-28-17 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (1:35) - Josh Allen finds John Brown for a 42-yard touchdown pass. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good.)
Drive info: 7 plays, 81 yards, 3:02
Fourth Quarter:
- 28-23 BUFFALO: Patriots touchdown (11:37) - Mac Jones connects on a 26-yard touchdown pass to DeVante Parker. (New England's two-point conversion attempt is unsuccessful)
Drive info: 8 plays, 85 yards, 4:58
- 35-23 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (8:51) - Josh Allen hurls a 49-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good.)
Drive info: 4 plays, 60 yards, 2:46
-----------
SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME
----------
What's next:
With their win, the Bills clinched the 2-seed in the AFC Playoffs.
With an 11-6 win over the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon, the Miami Dolphins officially clinch a playoff berth and will hold the 7-seed in the AFC Playoffs.
That sets up for a matchup of AFC East rivals in the AFC Wild Card Round at Highmark Stadium. Kickoff in Orchard Park is set for Sunday, Jan. 15 at 1 p.m. EST on the radio home of the Buffalo Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.
Related
