Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR) - The Buffalo Bills are no longer undefeated to start the 2026 season after falling to the New England Patriots, 29-26, on Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
The Bills elected to receive the opening kick once again, but were not on the field for long as they went three-and-out.
New England took advantage and scored right away, as quarterback Drake Maye reverted back to form from last season and drove right down the field, connecting with wide receiver Romeo Doubs for a touchdown.
The Bills responded with a drive that bled into the second quarter, but resulted in a touchdown to tie the game. Bills quarterback Josh Allen was a perfect 8-for-8 in the air on the drive which helped set up an 8-yard touchdown run from running back James Cook.
The Bills defense came up with a turnover on the next New England drive, as the defensive line got to Maye and forced a fumble that was recovered by defensive tackle Greg Gaines.
Despite getting the ball back, the offense sputtered to another three-and-out, and punted the ball right back to the Patriots.
New England re-gained its lead right after with a six-play drive spanning 63 yards, set up by a 26-yard scramble from Maye and finished with a 1-yard rushing touchdown from running back Rhamondre Stevenson.
The next Bills drive saw a bit of a spark, as Allen connected with wide receiver Khalil Shakir for 51 yards to the Patriots' 6-yard line. Then after a series of penalties eventually got the Bills to a 3rd-and-goal from the 2-yard line, it was Allen rushing up the middle for a touchdown to tie the score with exactly one minute remaining in the half.
The rushing score for Allen set another franchise record, this time for total touchdowns scored from the line of scrimmage. Allen's 88th touchdown (86 rushing and two receiving) allowed him to surpass Hall-of-Famers Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed, each with 87 scrimmage touchdowns.
Then It was a cardiac end to the first half between the two teams.
After forcing a quick three-and-out of the Patriots, the Bills get the ball back with a chance to tack on some additional points heading into halftime. However, a 30-yard pass from Allen to Shakir eventually ended up in a fumble and a turnover after the ball got punched out as the veteran wide receiver fought for extra yardage.
Then on the very next play, Maye threw a low pass to Doubs that was bobbled and intercepted by Bills cornerback Dee Alford, who returned the ball inside the Patriots' 10-yard line with five seconds to go in the half.
The Bills did not waste any time sending kicker Tyler Bass and the field goal unit out, as he booted a 27-yard field goal just before halftime to give Buffalo a 17-14 lead heading into the locker room.
The Patriots received the opening kickoff of the second half and took back the lead with a 14-play drive. After a costly penalty by the Bills inside the 5-yard line, Maye was able to connect with Doubs again, this time from two yards out for another touchdown.
Following a series of punts from both the Bills and Patriots, it was Buffalo closing the gap early in the fourth quarter thanks to a 38-yard field goal from Bass to make it a 21-20 New England lead.
After the Buffalo defense forced another New England punt with 6:45 to go, Allen went to work through the air and connected with wide receiver Keon Coleman for a pair of big plays.
First on a 3rd-and-4 at the Bills' 42-yard line, Allen tossed up a ball that Coleman was able to come down with for 24 yards to move the chins. The on the very next play, Allen went to the third-year wideout again, this time with a 34-yard strike to give the Bills their first lead of the game.
The Bills then elected to try for a two-point conversion to make the game a seven-point affair, but failed after a pass in the end zone intended for Joshua Palmer was off the mark.
The Patriots were able to answer with time ticking down in the game, as Maye found wide receiver Efton Chism III for a spectacular one-handed grab in the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown and the lead. New England then attempted their own two-point conversion and were successful, making it a three-point game, 29-26, with 1:50 to go.
With the Bills needing a field goal to tie the game and a touchdown to re-gain the lead, Allen decided to take a deep shot to get Buffalo into scoring range, but cost his team dearly. After evading a sack, Allen tossed a long pass intended for Palmer that was intercepted by Patriots safety Craig Woodson at the New England 19-yard line.
The Patriots were then able to seal the game with a first down pass from Maye to tight end Hunter Henry on a 3rd-and-10, and then kill the rest of the clock to secure the road victory.
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SCORING RECAP
First Quarter:
- 7-0 NEW ENGLAND: Patriots Touchdown (7:01) - Drake Maye connects with Romeo Doubs for a 14-yard touchdown pass. (Andy Borregales' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 12 plays, 97 yards, 6:28
Second Quarter:
- 7-7 TIE: Bills Touchdown (14:21) - James Cook finds a hole to the right for an 8-yard touchdown tun. (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 13 plays, 62 yards, 7:46
Drive info: 6 plays, 63 yards, 2:43
- 14-14 TIE: Bills Touchdown (1:02) - Josh Allen rushes up the middle for a 2-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 67 yards, 4:38
Drive info: 1 play, 0 yards, 0:03
Third Quarter:
- 21-17 NEW ENGLAND: Patriots Touchdown (8:18) - Drake Maye tosses a touchdown strike to Romeo Doubs from 2 yards out. (Andy Borregales' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 14 plays, 73 yards, 6:45
Fourth Quarter:
- 21-20 NEW ENGLAND: Bills Field Goal (11:11) - Tyler Bass’ 38-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 10 plays, 60 yards, 4:40
- 26-21 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (4:27): Josh Allen fires a deep strike to Keon Coleman for a 34-yard touchdown. (Buffalo's two-point conversion attempt is unsuccessful)
Drive info: 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:09
- 29-26 NEW ENGLAND: Patriots Touchdown (1:50) - Drake Maye tosses a 23-yard touchdown pass to Efton Chism III. (New England's two-point conversion attempt is successful)
Drive info: 8 plays, 73 yards, 2:37
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Level Financial Advisors Stats of the Game:
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What's next:
The Bills head back on the road for a pair of games out West. It starts on Monday, Oct. 12 when they take on the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium under the lights of prime-time on "Monday Night Football". Kickoff is slated for 8:15 p.m.
