The Buffalo Bills overcame a challenging first half and a concerning injury to quarterback Josh Allen to secure a 24-21 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday. Cornerback Taron Johnson played a pivotal role in the win, recovering a loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown after a backward pass from Drake Maye went awry, helping Buffalo capitalize on defensive takeaways during the second half.
Running back James Cook also contributed significantly, scoring on a 46-yard rush and a 4-yard reception, which helped the Bills erase a 14-0 deficit.
Allen, a leading MVP candidate, briefly left the game after injuring his throwing arm on a 7-yard run early in the fourth quarter. He expressed relief upon returning, stating, “I lost some feeling in my hand. Just hit the funny bone nerve.” He acknowledged that he would have missed a drive had it not been for Johnson’s touchdown, which allowed him to return to the field. “It took a good five to ten minutes to get some blood flow back in there,” Allen said, noting the frigid temperatures did not help. “Just glad it’s gone now.”
With the win, the Bills improved to 12-3 and maintained slim hopes of catching the Kansas City Chiefs (14-1) for the top seed in the AFC playoffs. Buffalo extended its home winning streak to ten games but saw its record-tying run of scoring 30 or more points in eight consecutive games come to an end.
The Bills struggled in the first half, with the Patriots scoring on their first two possessions and holding a significant edge in time of possession. Buffalo was missing four defensive starters, including three in the secondary. “We didn’t start the way we wanted to, but we made some adjustments and were able to play more like ourselves down the stretch,” linebacker Terrel Bernard said.
The Patriots fell to 3-12, suffering their fifth consecutive loss and are at risk of finishing with their fewest wins since a 2-14 season in 1992. This season marks the first under head coach Jerod Mayo, who took over after Bill Belichick’s departure following a 4-13 finish last year.
Maye completed 22 of 36 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns, but his performance was marred by turnovers. “It’s very frustrating. We’re hurting ourselves, and the same mistakes keep repeating,” Maye said. His interception in the end zone and the fumble that led to Johnson’s touchdown were critical moments in the game.
Despite a 14-yard touchdown run from Rhamondre Stevenson, the Patriots struggled in the red zone, needing seven attempts to finally score a touchdown on a pass to Hunter Henry with just over a minute left in the game.
Allen finished 16 of 29 for 154 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He managed to complete two of three passes after his injury and helped seal the game with a crucial 2-yard gain on a fourth-and-1.
Looking ahead, the Patriots will conclude their season with two home games, starting with the Los Angeles Chargers next Saturday. The Bills will finish their home schedule against the New York Jets next Sunday.
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