Bills Outlast Patriots 41–31 in AFC East Clash at Gillette

FOXBOROUGH, MA - Josh Allen delivered one of his most efficient performances of the season as the Buffalo Bills pulled away late to defeat the New England Patriots, 41-31, in a pivotal Week 15 AFC East matchup at Gillette Stadium.

Coming off a loss the previous week, Buffalo entered the game at 8-4-1 needing a response - and they got it behind a near-flawless afternoon from their franchise quarterback. New England, playing its first game after the bye, fell to 6-8 in Mike Vrabel's debut season as head coach.

Fast Start Sets the Tone

Buffalo wasted little time taking control. Allen capped the opening quarter with two touchdown passes, first finding James Cook III on a short strike before hitting Khalil Shakir for a 45-yard score as time expired in the quarter. The Bills jumped out to a 14-0 lead and immediately put pressure on a Patriots offense still shaking off rust from the bye week.

New England responded in the second quarter with a methodical drive finished by a short touchdown run, followed by a field goal to briefly cut the deficit. Buffalo answered with points of its own before halftime, maintaining a 17-10 edge at the break.

Trading Blows in the Middle Quarters

The third quarter saw both teams lean on the ground game. Rhamondre Stevenson powered in a touchdown for New England, while Ray Davis answered with a scoring run for Buffalo. The back-and-forth continued into the fourth, keeping the Patriots within striking distance.

Antonio Gibson provided a spark for New England with a 22-yard rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but every time the Patriots gained momentum, Allen had an answer.

Allen Takes Over Late

With the game tightening, Allen delivered the knockout sequence. He connected with Cook again on a short touchdown pass, then found Elijah Moore for a score moments later to swing the game firmly back in Buffalo's favor. Tyler Bass added a late field goal to seal it, finishing off a five-touchdown performance from the Bills' offense.

Allen finished the day completing 22 of 25 passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns, posting a 153.5 passer rating. Cook added a strong all-around performance with two receiving touchdowns, while Shakir and Moore each delivered explosive plays through the air.

Patriots Show Fight in Vrabel's First Season

Despite the loss, New England showed resilience. Drake Maye was sharp, completing 24 of 29 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown, while Stevenson eclipsed the century mark on the ground. Defensively, Robert Spillane recorded a forced fumble and recovery, and Keion White added two sacks.

Still, Buffalo's efficiency - converting seven of nine third downs and scoring touchdowns on four of seven red-zone trips - proved too much to overcome.

Up Next

The Bills will stay on the road in Week 16 as they travel to Cleveland to face the Browns, looking to build on a statement divisional win and strengthen their position in the AFC playoff race.

The Patriots will also head out of Foxborough next week, traveling to Baltimore for a tough matchup against the Ravens as Mike Vrabel's first season continues with another high-level test.