Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills beat the New England Patriots, 24-21, on Sunday, improving to 12-3 on the 2024 season and remaining undefeated in division play.
Here are my Arrows Up and Arrows Down from the game, starting Up once again after another win:
ARROW UP:
RB - James Cook
Cook was the best offensive player on the field for the Bills, running for exactly 100 yards on just 11 carries, an average of a whopping 9.1 yards per-carry. He also scored a touchdown on the ground, and added three catches for 26 yards and a touchdown in the passing game
In all, Cook totaled 126 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.
S - Cam Lewis
Lewis collected his first career interception, and it was really needed with the Bills only leading by three points and the Patriots having the ball at the Buffalo 16-yard line.
He added four total tackles and a pass breakup in the win.
LB - Dorian Williams
Williams was only playing on third down early in the game, as he recovers from an elbow injury. He was later playing all three downs, and seemed to consistently be in the Patriots' backfield either applying pressure to quarterback Drake Maye or helping in the run game.
Even with limited snaps overall, Williams finished with eight total tackles. He also added a fumble recovery.
First drive of the second half
Trailing 14-7 at halftime, the Bills needed a good start to the second half and got one, coming out of the locker room and taking nine plays to go 68 yards, ultimately scoring a touchdown to tie it at 14-14.
K - Tyler Bass
Bass was a perfect 4-for-4 on kicks, including a big 50-yard field goal for three points, which ultimately served as the difference in the score.
ARROW DOWN:
First half defense
The Patriots controlled the entire first half, mainly with their offense staying on the field. New England had 239 yards of offense in the first half, and converted 5-of-8 third down chances.
RT - Spencer Brown
Brown was called for two pre-snap penalties that both really hurt the offense. One was for not lining up correctly, which wiped out a first down gain, and the other a false start that knocked the Bills out of field goal range.
CB - Kaiir Elam
Elam was beaten 1-on-1 for the first touchdown of the game over top of him, then was called for two pass interference penalties on the same drive, both occurring in the end zone, which led to the Patriots scoring a touchdown.
LB - Baylon Spector
Spector started at weakside linebacker, and the Patriots attacked him in the passing game very early and often, resulting in several completed passes his way.
WR - Khalil Shakir
Shakir was targeted six times, but only caught two balls. On one of them, he fumbled at the end of the play.
A rare off day for the Bills wideout.
Fake punt allowed/another special teams miscue
Facing a 4th-and-1 with just under 4:00 remaining before halftime, the Patriots lined up in punt formation, but snapped the ball to their up-man, who ran forward for two yards and a first down.
After the game, Bills head coach Sean McDermott said they did not have the right personnel on the field for that situation.
Another special teams gaffe.
Third down defense
The Patriots converted 7-of-12 third down chances (56.3%).
Penalties
The Bills had far too many penalties, called for 13 of them for 78 yards.
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