OPINION: Arrow Up/Arrow Down: Patriots at Bills

The Bills drop their first game of season to fall to 4-1

Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills lost for the first time in the 2025 season, 23-20, to the New England Patriots on Sunday night at Highmark Stadium. Buffalo is now 4-1 after failing to maintain its short stance as the only unbeaten team left in the NFL.

Here are my Arrows Up and Down from the contest, starting Down for the first time this season after the loss:

Stefon Diggs
Photo credit Timothy T. Ludwig - Getty Images

ARROW DOWN:

Allowing Stefon Diggs' big game

Diggs was terrific all game long, catching 10 passes for 146 yards. It seemed like every time the Patriots needed a play, he was the one they went to, and he made it.

The Bills had no answer for him.

Penalties

This was an incredibly undisciplined game by the Bills. Sure, there were several questionable calls, but no excuse for 11 penalties totaling 90 yards, several of which took away important plays.

CB - Tre’Davious White

White was, too often, the defensive back victimized by Diggs.

Turnovers

For the first time in 26 games, the Bills lost the turnover battle, giving it away three different times, including two fumbles and an interception thrown by quarterback Josh Allen.

Handoff to Dawson Knox

The first fumble came on the team's very first possession when offensive coordinator Joe Brady called a jet sweep to tight end Dawson Knox, who didn’t grab the ball cleanly and put it on the ground.

Three points in the first half

Due to the turnovers, penalties, and little details that added up, the Bills offense scored only three points in the first half. That’s not enough no matter who they’re playing.

Zero pass breakups by defensive backs

The Bills were not credited for a single pass breakup by one of their defensive backs.

The only official pass breakup was credited to defensive end A.J. Epenesa when he tipped a ball at the line of scrimmage that fell incomplete.

DE - Joey Bosa

Despite the Bills having four sacks and eight quarterback hurries, Joey Bosa was not in on any one of those. He finished the game with just one solo tackle.

Field position differential

Largely due to the turnovers in their own end, the Patriots' average drive start was their own 34-yard line, while the Bills were at their own 23-yard line.

Dalton Kincaid
Photo credit Timothy T. Ludwig - Getty Images

ARROW UP:

TE - Dalton Kincaid

Kincaid had his best day as a pro, catching all six of his targets for 108 yards. He ran excellent routes, got open, made catches, and was very good running after the catch.

Pass rush

The Bills did a good job to put pressure on Drake Maye, but the young Patriots quarterback made like Houdini to get out of a couple plays. Even with him doing that, Buffalo’s defense sacked him four times and were credited with eight quarterback hurries on top of that.

Third-down defense

The Patriots only converted 3-of-9 third down opportunities (33.3%) and punted the ball back to the Bills four times.

Third-down offense

The Bills converted an excellent 55.6% of their third down chances, going 5-of-9 overall.

DE - Greg Rousseau

The Bills have needed more out of Rousseau and they certainly got it Sunday night. He filled up the stat sheet with six total tackles, including two for a loss, a sack, and three quarterback hurries.

DE - A.J. Epenesa

Epenesa also had a strong game. He was credited with a half of a sack, a quarterback hurry, and a pass break up after he tipped a ball at the line of scrimmage.

LB - Shaq Thompson

Thompson came in for an injured Matt Milano, who reaggravated his pectoral ailment, and came up with a huge sack when he chased Maye out of bounds short of the line of scrimmage late in the game.

That went along with five tackles, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble.

Coverage units

The Patriots have a very good return game, including the top punt returner in the league in Marcus Jones. But he had only one return for zero yards, and they only averaged 22.4 yards per-kick return overall.

K - Matt Prater

Prater was perfect on the night, nailing both extra points and both field goals he attempted, including a 45-yarder to tie the game with 2:17 remaining.

Run defense

The Patriots ran for just 71 yards on 22 carries, averaging only 3.2 yards per-attempt.

Photo credit Outlet Liquor
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