Bills 24, Patriots 10
The Bills came into this game with some concerns about the flu circulating the locker room, but the way these teams played, it appeared as though the Patriots were the squad dealing with an illness. New England made numerous mistakes and couldn’t get off the field, even when it was apparent that the Bills were doing nothing but running the ball.
Buffalo, meanwhile, took advantage of New England’s incompetence. Josh Allen hit some big plays in the first half, while the team went into a protective shell in the second half. The Bills orchestrated a 9-minute scoring drive with mostly runs. Finally finding the end zone via a Devin Singletary run, the Bills went up 24-7. If that didn’t signal the end of the game, New England’s decision to punt on a fourth-and-7 near midfield on the ensuing drive certainly did.
Singletary scored the aforementioned touchdown and ran for 51 yards on 13 carries, but the big story is what James Cook was able to accomplish. Cook was a monster in this game, rushing for 64 yards on 14 carries, while also catching all six of his targets for 41 receiving yards. Cook made some mental mistakes in Detroit on Thanksgiving, but he was terrific in this game. Cook gives the Bills a dynamic threat in the backfield, which they haven’t had in recent years.
Allen went 22-of-33 for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Allen was robbed on some potential big plays, with a 41-yard Stefon Diggs touchdown being overturned by penalty, and a possible connection to Gabriel Davis being called pass interference. Allen wasn’t as big of a factor as a scrambler with 20 yards on eight runs. His only blunder was losing a fumble when a New England pass rusher easily blew by the backup left tackle, as Dion Dawkins was missed on that occasion.
Diggs, to no one’s surprise, was the leading receiver. He caught seven passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. As mentioned, he was robbed of a second touchdown. Allen’s other score went to Davis (2-15).
