Bills end Patriots’ season
The Buffalo Bills routed the New England Patriots 47-17 during Wild Card Weekend and proved they are an AFC heavyweight.
Game Overview
No way around it. The Buffalo Bills decimated the Patriots’ Super Bowl hopes in Mac Jones’ first NFL season. With Josh Allen’s sparkling performance, the Patriots had no answer on defense and let up seven touchdown drives in eight possessions, with the lone possession a kneel at the end of the game. It’s incredibly shocking to see a Bill Belichick-coached defense let up 47 points in any game, much less one in a must-win game. Buffalo is a legitimate Super Bowl-caliber team in the same conversation as other top teams.
The Future is Buffalo
Josh Allen threw for 308 yards on 21/25 passing with five passing touchdowns. On the ground, Allen rushed for 66 yards on six carries. Buffalo’s franchise Quarterback singlehandedly took over this game, with some help from Dawson Knox, with two touchdowns and 89 yards on five receptions. Devin Singletary rushed for 81 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns. New England had no answers for Allen in the air and on the ground, with their linebackers playing slow and incapable of stopping any of Buffalo’s skill players. The Bills offense is a top-five NFL unit, with one of the NFL's best Quarterbacks at the helm.
End of the Line
On to New England. There were legitimate questions whether Mac Jones would be effective in single-digit weather after the Patriots rushed the ball 46 times and passed it thrice in Week 13’s similar temperatures and if Buffalo could stop New England’s potent rushing game in the cold. Jones wasn’t the reason the team lost the game, but a faster start would have changed the game's outcome. Mac threw 24/38 with 238 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks from Buffalo's phenomenal defense. Jones did look comfortable throwing the ball to Kendrick Bourne, who established himself as the Patriots' top receiver in this game, with seven catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns. Bourne, Jakobi Meyers, and Hunter Henry should only get better with more chemistry between them and Jones. The Patriots' offense was one dimensional in 2021-22, and the passing attack needs another reliable receiving option to amplify Jones’ development. Buffalo proved they could stop New England’s rushing attack early in the game and forced the Patriots defense to be one-dimensional.
On to Next Season
To put it mildly, it was not a masterful performance from the Patriots. It’s one game, which should never define any player or team. That said, the Bills played to their talent level in this game, while the Patriots played entirely from behind. The future of the AFC East will be one to watch for years to come, and the rivalry between the Patriots and the Bills will continue to grow, which should make for a better overall product.
Reference Page
Images Courtesy of GettyImages
Statistics Courtesy of Pro Football Reference and NFL.com