AP Photo/Adrian Kraus
The Patriots stunned the previously unbeaten Buffalo Bills, 23-20 on Sunday Night Football. The game got off to a slow start with turnovers and penalties defining the first half. The two teams settled for field goals and the Patriots took a 6-3 lead into halftime.
The second half was a different story however as both offenses woke up and the game came down to the wire with rookie kicker Andres Borregales kicking the game winning 52 yard field goal with 20 seconds left.
It was an incredible game and an incredible night for the Patriots.
Here are seven points from the game.
1. Statement win: Beating the Bills in Buffalo was a statement win. They were the last undefeated team left in the NFL and the Patriots knocked them off. Drake Maye played well and Stefon Diggs was motivated and was lights out in a 10 catch, 146 yard performance. It was the Patriots biggest win in four years.
2. Diggs revenge: Diggs said all the right things leading up to the game but when the lights came, he rose to the occasion and turned into the number one receiver the Patriots have lacked the last few years. When the Patriots needed a big play in a key spot, Diggs made the catch that moved the chains and kept drives going.
3. Maye rises to the occasion: Drake Maye has franchise quarterback potential and last night he took a meaningful step towards becoming one. The moxie that Maye showed in big moments in the game was impressive. He was unflappable on the drive the drive that led to the game winning field goal. He staved off Daquon Jones to hit Diggs for a first down and then threw a laser to Kayshon Boutte for 19 yards and a first down to set up the kick. Maye’s toughness and physical skills showed up when it mattered most. He was unbelievable.
4. Stevenson fumbles again: Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled again and he was quasi-benched but after Antonio Gibson got hurt (He also fumbled on the play but it was recovered by the Patriots), Stevenson had to play again and scored two rushing touchdowns. I know people are clamoring for the Patriots to move on from Stevenson, but you can’t. Mike Vrabel said it. The Patriots are going to need him. Last night was proof of that.
5. Defense bends but doesn’t break: The defense bent but did not break. When they needed to come up with a big stop and force a field goal, they did. It wasn’t their best performance collectively but they still got pressure on Allen and Marcus Jones came up with a big interception. Defending the Buffalo offense is not easy. Holding them to 20 points was a win for the Patriots.
6. Still too many penalties: The Patriots need to clean up the penalties. Undisciplined play is still a problem. 8 penalties for 93 yards is too many! It could have cost them the game. Ironically enough. Buffalo had 11 penalties for 90 yards so they were not much better. Nonetheless, playing disciplined football matters and if the Patriots don’t clean things up in this area, it will come back to bite them in the ass later on in the season.
7. A path to playoffs is possible: After a big win like this, it is ok to start thinking about the Patriots as a playoff team. Sure, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves but outside of Buffalo and Kansas City, the AFC is wide open. Baltimore and Cincinnati are a mess right now without their quarterbacks and the Patriots are certainly good enough to live in the same neighborhood as Denver, the Chargers and the Colts. With an easy schedule coming up, the Patriots are well positioned to not only make a playoff run, but stay in the division hunt as well.