Already dealing with a three-game losing streak that had them looking up at the Bills in the AFC East, the Patriots struggled at times on both sides of the ball in Sunday’s 24-21 loss in Buffalo.
Putting up a fight but still coming up short and losing what Cam Newton had called a “must win” game, New England fell to 2-5 on a season that is swiftly getting away from Bill Belichick and his players.
Newton’s fumble with less than a minute to play with the Patriots already in range for a game-tying field goal try ended the visitors' comeback chances.
Before turning the page to next week’s trip to New York to take on the bumbling rival Jets, here are the personnel highs and lows from a devastatingly disappointing day in Buffalo.
Thumbs up
Jakobi Meyers – The most experienced of the group of all undrafted receivers that the Patriots put on the field in Buffalo with N’Keal Harry and Julian Edelman out of the mix, Meyers caught Cam Newton’s first three completions of the day. This performance came a week after Meyers was one of the few bright spots in the blowout loss to the 49ers. Meyers is taking advantage of extra playing time and reps since Harry went down with injury. The second-year receiver had a team-high 10 targets with six catches for 58 yards, and had a couple other catches wiped out by penalty.
Damien Harris – After essentially red-shirting as a rookie a year ago and opening this season on IR, the second-year former third-round pick has proven in recent weeks that he brings plenty of potential to the Patriots ground game. Harris runs hard, makes decisive cuts and can hit the big play, as shown by his 22-yard touchdown run Sunday in Buffalo. Harris is taking over the lead job in the New England backfield, finishing with 16 carries for 102 yards and a score against the Bills.
Nick Folk – 43-yard FG second quarter that matched his longest of the season. The veteran kicker then closed out the first half scoring with a 33-yard field goal to pull within 7-6. After a tough start to his second season in New England, the veteran Folk has now hit 11 straight field goals as arguably one of the Patriots most consistent, productive players.
Thumbs down
Run defense – Missed tackles by defensive backs. Buffalo pushing the line of scrimmage forward. Zach Moss, Devin Singletary and Josh Allen making decisive cuts. It all added up to another ugly day for a New England run defense that has been pretty putrid all season. Coming in with the NFL’s 27th rush defense, the Patriots allowed Buffalo to churn out nearly 200 yards on the ground. Singletary and Moss both topped 80 yards on the ground, while Moss (2) and Allen found the end zone on the way to the win.
Devin Asiasi/Dalton Keene – The Patriots clearly expected to get some impact and production from their rookie tight ends when they doubled-dipped at the position in the third round of April’s draft. So far, that faith/expectation has not paid off. Asiasi did not make the trip to Buffalo due to personal reasons, inactive for the second straight week and yet to even notch a target with five games played in his NFL career. Keene was also inactive against the Bills as a late addition to the injury report with a knee issue, a week after making his NFL debut and notching his first career catch for 8 yards against San Francisco. The rookie tight ends continue to be a major disappointment, with veteran Ryan Izzo the only active player at the position in Buffalo.
Penalties – One of the few things the Patriots offense did consistently well through the first two months was play penalty-free football. That did not continue in Buffalo and it cost the visitors early. New England’s first drive was stunted by a delay of game penalty that led to a third-and-long and a punt. The second possession was also hurt when a 17-yard completion to Meyers was wiped out by a holding call on Joe Thuney. A third drive was made more difficult by a false start on Meyers, with Buffalo actually declining an illegal shift penalty. An illegal hands to the face call on Shaq Mason wiped out 14-yard gain to Meyers in the third quarter. The Patriots aren’t good enough offensively to overcome shooting themselves in the foot with penalties.
First-quarter offense – The Patriots have now played seven games in 2020 and have yet to score an offensive touchdown in the first quarter. New England’s only first-quarter touchdown this year was a Devin McCourty gift pick-six in Seattle in Week 2. A Patriots team that is seemingly more reliant than ever on playing games on its terms and playing from ahead can’t find the end zone early in games.
