New England Patriots (6-6) – Buffalo Bills (9-3): 10-24
For years, Bill Belichick and the Patriots reigned supreme over the division. That time seems light years away now. The dominance has changed sides and the new boss of this AFC East, Buffalo, no longer really has a problem beating New England. The proof again with this Thursday Night Football mastered from start to finish by the visitors.
Josh Allen and Sean McDermott win there a fifth victory in six games against the Patriots as well as a third consecutive victory in Foxborough. Something that hadn’t happened to Bills since the 90s. An impermeable defense, a quarterback who finds solutions as soon as it becomes necessary and an effective ground game, the ingredients are simple and directly inspired by what men do. of Bill Belichick for years.
9/15 on 3rd attempt
For this first meeting of week 13 of the NFL, Buffalo took shelter very quickly. It only takes three offensive series for the Bills to take off. During the first three drives, Buffalo scored a field goal and two touchdowns. Stefon Diggs (7 receptions, 92 yards and 1 TD) and Gabe Davis (2 receptions, 15 yards and 1 TD) are receiving passes from 8 yards from the pitcher and the defense is at bay. Jonathan Jones, for example, has a lot of trouble containing the former Viking. The pass-rush attempts to put pressure on Josh Allen, but the number 17 responds with admirable game-reading and adaptability. Finally, the ground game is gaining momentum as the meeting progresses (132 yards in total in the race for the Bills) and the Patriots no longer know where to turn.
Sean McDermott’s men also end the game with a nice 9/15 on 3rd attempt. Symbol of an attack that has found its stride. Opposite, the illusion of a hooked meeting lasts only one drive. The first. The one who brings the only touchdown of the game for the Patriots. On a 48-yard screen pass from Mac Jones (22/36, 195 yards and 1 TD), Marcus Jones found the end-zone at the very start of the game (7-3). It will be New England’s only attacking brilliance in this meeting.
A miracle… and then nothing
Again, the finding is alarming. After a good performance of this attack against the Vikings a week ago, the natural seems to have returned to a gallop. The game never finds the right fuel (60 yards only) and Mac Jones is constantly under pressure. Not helped by his line, the quarterback does not show much and if we remove this miracle to Jones, he will have launched only 147 yards throughout the game. Because after this touchdown, New England falls back into its ways.
The premises do not register any point until a final kick from Nick Folk from 39 yards. Meanwhile, Buffalo has added a new touchdown, on the ground this time and the mass is said (10-24). With this second consecutive defeat, Bill Belichick’s men are falling behind in qualifying for the Wild Card Round. And with a complicated schedule (@Cardinals, Raiders, vs. Bengals, vs. Dolphins and @Bills) the case seems complicated. Conversely, Buffalo continues its march forward and now puts pressure on Miami by taking over the lead of the AFC East from the Dolphins.
