Bills fall 29-26 to Patriots as offense and defense struggle
Buffalo lost to New England 29-26, with quarterback Josh Allen and the defense facing criticism for poor performance, while the Patriots moved within a game of the AFC East lead.
Buffalo dropped a close 29-26 contest to the New England Patriots on Sunday night, leaving the Bills tied for second place in the AFC East and giving the Patriots a tiebreaker advantage. Quarterback Josh Allen said the loss was disappointing, noting that the team "hurt ourselves tonight" on offense, defense and special teams and that the division defeat felt like a two-game swing.
The Bills' passing attack was graded a C-, with Allen under pressure from the Patriots' blitz and four-rusher packages, culminating in a late interception. Wide receiver Keon Coleman recorded six catches for 116 yards and a go-ahead touchdown, while Khalil Shakir added seven receptions for 82 yards. Tight end Dalton Kincaid and backup receiver Josh Palmer were cited as underperforming.
Running back James Cook managed 75 yards on eight carries, most of them coming in the fourth quarter, as the Patriots' run defense limited Buffalo's ground game for much of the contest. Allen contributed five rushes for four yards and a quarterback-sneak touchdown, extending his career total to 88 yards from scrimmage.
Defensively, the Bills were assessed an F grade. The absence of cornerback Christian Benford left the secondary vulnerable, with opponents completing multiple passes and scoring three touchdowns. Safety Dee Alford secured an interception that set up a field goal, but overall pass rush pressure was limited to 24 pressures and a single sack.
The run defense received a C- grade, allowing 143 yards to Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and his backs. Injuries to defensive linemen Ed Oliver and Landon Jackson were noted as affecting performance.
Special teams were rated D after a missed coverage on a Bills kickoff that gave New England favorable field position and a punt that resulted in a 17-yard return. The Bills' return game produced modest yardage, and penalties on special teams contributed to the Patriots' scoring opportunities.
Head coach Joe Brady faced criticism for play-calling, particularly for ineffective wide-receiver screens, while defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard was urged to address the secondary's coverage issues.
The Bills will travel to Los Angeles next week for a Monday night game against the Rams, while the Patriots host the Raiders.