Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - In their first matchup of the 2024 season in Week 16, it was the Buffalo Bills coming away with an uglier victory on Sunday over the New England Patriots, 24-21, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
The Patriots opened the game with the football and made a statement offensively against the Buffalo defense.
The Bills could not get off the field on third down, as New England converted on two opportunities to continue their opening drive. Eventually, rookie quarterback Drake Maye was able to connect with wide receiver Kayshon Boutte on a deep shot for a 28-yard touchdown to give the Patriots the first score of the game.
Buffalo's offense could not get anything going on their opening drive of the game, as the Bills punted the ball after a short drive that only spanned 11 yards.
Despite pinning the Patriots deep inside their own end, New England was able to take the football 91 yards down the field and find the end zone once again. This time, it was the run game capping off the drive for the Patriots, as running back Rhamondre Stevenson found the end zone from 14 yards out.
The Bills responded in quick succession, cutting the deficit to just seven following a 46-yard touchdown run from running back James Cook. The drive saw Buffalo finding the end zone for the first time in just four plays.
After forcing a New England punt, the Bills had a chance to even the score in the dying moments of the first half, but came out of their drive empty-handed.
On a third-and-long pass to the end zone, Bills quarterback Josh Allen ended up being picked off by Patriots safety Marte Mapu in the end zone. However, instead of staying in the end zone for a touchback, Mapu elected to run the ball out of the end zone, and was promptly tackled at the Bills' one-yard line.
Despite giving up a fake punt on New England's next drive, the Buffalo defense forced another Patriots punt to get one last chance to add some points on the board before halftime.
However, neither the Bills nor Patriots were able to add more points to the scoreboard before halftime, with New England leading 14-7 through 30 minutes of play.
To start the second half, the Bills needed a face lift from the offense to even the score, and got just that after struggling quite a bit to generate momentum in the opening half of football.
After going nine plays to open the third quarter, the Bills finally found a rhythm and capped the drive off with Allen connecting with Cook for a four-yard touchdown pass.
Just two plays into New England's first drive of the second half, Stevenson ended up fumbling a run play at the Patriots' 39-yard line. Greg Rousseau was able to punch out the football, while linebacker Dorian Williams recovered the loose change.
The Bills offense was only able to manage 10 yards on their next drive, resulting in a 50-yard field goal from kicker Tyler Bass to finally put the Bills in the lead, 17-14, with 6:02 to play in the quarter.
It was back-to-back drives with a forced turnover for Buffalo after New England reached as far as the Bills' 16-yard line. This time, defensive back Cam Lewis was able to pick off a Maye pass intended for tight end Austin Hooper.
After another Buffalo punt pinning the Patriots deep in their own territory, it helped set up the scoring play that ended up being the difference for the Bills in the end.
On a 2nd-and-8 at the Patriots' 12-yard line, Maye attempted to make a screen pass to his right to Stevenson, who was unable to come up with the football. However, the ball was a backwards pass, resulting in a fumble that was recovered in the end zone by nickel cornerback Taron Johnson for a touchdown.
Following an exchange of punts with the clock now bleeding deeper into fht fourth quarter, the Patriots tacked on another score in the final two minutes, as Maye connected with veteran tight end Hunter Henry for a nine-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 24-21.
After a failed onside kick attempt from the Patriots, the Bills were able to force New England to burn its remaining timeouts, and eventually run down the clock to 0:00 and solidify another win in the AFC.
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SCORING RECAP
First Quarter:
- 7-0 NEW ENGLAND: Patriots touchdown (12:06) - Drake Maye passes deep to Kayshon Boutte for a 28-yard touchdown. (Joey Slye's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 7 plays, 58 yards, 2:51
Second Quarter:
- 14-0 NEW ENGLAND: Patriots touchdown (14:21) - Rhamondre Stevenson rushes for a 14-yard touchdown run. (Joey Slye's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 20 plays, 91 yards, 9:57
- 14-7 NEW ENGLAND: Bills touchdown (11:56) - James Cook breaks free for a 46-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 4 plays, 70 yards, 2:20
Third Quarter:
- 14-14 TIE: Bills touchdown (9:41) - Josh Allen lobs a pass short to James Cook for a 4-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 68 yards, 0:32
- 17-14 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (6:07) - Tyler Bass' 50-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 6 plays, 10 yards, 2:57
Fourth Quarter:
- 24-14 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (10:10) - Drake Maye's screen pass is behind the line of scrimmage, resulting in a fumble that was recovered by Taron Johnson in the end zone for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
- 24-21 BUFFALO: Patriots touchdown (1:17) - Drake Maye connects with Hunter Henry for a 9-yard touchdown. (Joey Slye's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 18 plays, 75 yards, 3:16
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills will wrap their home portion of the regular season schedule next Sunday against the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium. Kickoff in Orchard Park is slated for 1 p.m. EST on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.