Mac Jones and Patriots tear through Bills’ defense in 29-25 victory
New England Patriots’ quarterback Mac Jones and tight ends Mike Gesicki and Hunter Henry celebrate in the endzone after their last-minute touchdown against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Oct. 22 (Courtesy of M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
After week six of the National Football League (NFL) season, the Bills were sitting at 4-2. Following their win against the New York Giants, they set their sights on the New England Patriots.
Their division rivals came into week seven of the season at 1-5 and were reeling as longtime head coach Bill Belichick had never started a year on such a low note. Buffalo came in as heavy favorites and expected their road matchup against the Patriots on Sunday, Oct. 22, to be a breeze. They couldn’t have been more wrong.
New England received the opening kickoff and put together nine plays to set up a successful 30-yard field goal. Their 3-0 lead was their first in multiple weeks and energized the entire squad who had been struggling all season.
The team’s defense made this eerily apparent as the Bills’ offense came out for their first drive and immediately turned the ball over. Quarterback Josh Allen dropped back and looked downfield for tight end Dawson Knox for what could have been a 22-yard gain. Instead, Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers intervened and picked off the ball and set New England up with great field position at Buffalo’s 45-yard line.
The Patriots were able to march right down the field and set up within the five-yard line within six plays. Running back Ezekiel Elliott drove the ball in for a two-yard touchdown and put the team up by 10 on the next snap.
Down by double digits, the Bills put together their first successful drive of the day as they wasted over seven minutes of playtime and took the game into the second quarter. After working their way to New England’s 18-yard line, progression halted, and Buffalo was forced to settle for a 36-yard field goal.
Later in the second quarter, the Patriots and quarterback Mac Jones quickly made their way downfield after a deep pass and multiple short runs. A successful 24-yard field goal extended their advantage back up to 10 points with seven minutes left before halftime.
Buffalo, looking to lessen their deficit before the half, put together a series of 12 plays that brought them down to New England’s 24 yard-line. Attempting to settle for another three points, Bills kicker Tyler Bass missed his third field goal in two weeks, as the team couldn’t gain any ground on the scoreboard.
With the teams coming out of the break, the Bills were able to put together their first of three scoring drives of the second half right off the bat. A combination of passes to receiver Stefon Diggs and tight ends Knox and Dalton Kincaid, along with timely rushes by running back James Cook, put the team in position to possibly score their first touchdown of the day. From the eight-yard line, Allen was able to find Cook for a passing score to bring Buffalo back to within three points.
That slim lead didn’t last long, though, as Jones found receivers for short gains all across the field to put the Patriots back within scoring distance quickly. Another successful field goal gave them a six-point lead late in the third quarter.
After a 13-play drive by the Bills led to a turnover on downs, New England regained possession and drove 66 yards downfield with the help of some defensive penalties called on Buffalo. Jones found a receiver for a four-yard touchdown pass before the team attempted, and failed, to extend their lead even further on a two-point conversion.
Down by 12, Buffalo’s offense ran back on the field and put together a quick two-minute drive that brought them 75 yards downfield for a touchdown. Allen found Diggs deep in the middle of the field as the star receiver worked some magic to get himself around the defenders and into the endzone.
With just over five minutes remaining in the game, the Patriots, holding a five-point lead, took over on offense but quickly lost the ball. Bills safety Jordan Poyer punched the ball loose to give the ball back to Allen and the rest of Buffalo’s offensive squad.
The offense put together one more quick drive that culminated in Allen scoring a one-yard rushing touchdown before finding Knox for a successful two-point conversion to give the Bills their first lead of the game.
With just under two minutes left, the Patriots stormed back on the field and tore through Buffalo’s defense to retake the lead on a one-yard pass from Jones to tight end Mike Gesicki.
The lead remained as the Bills offense had too little time to respond, as New England came away with the huge 29-25 divisional victory.