After a bye week, the Patriots came out firing on all cylinders versus the Bills in the first half, only to see a resurgent Josh Allen lead the Bills on 5 straight touchdown drives to seal the 35-31 comeback win for the Bills. The Patriots are 11-3 and the Bills 10-4 with three games to go.
Coach Vrabel’s team had a strong start to the game, scoring touchdowns on 3 of four drives, going up 21-0, while holding the Bills to three straight punts to open the game. A 15-yard penalty on a 38-yard Ray Davis kickoff return gave the Bills great field position on their second possession of the second quarter. The Bills scored to cut the lead to 21-7, and the Patriots answered with a field goal before the half to go into the locker room up 24-7. It was all Bills in the second half.
Drake Maye had a good first half, with two rushing touchdowns, and a 9 for 11 start to the game. In the second half, Maye was 5-12 with a pick, and three key sacks. He had a spectacular block for TreVeyon Henderson’s 65-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter, but that was the last gasp of the Patriots offense for the day. The Bills came up big on defense, and despite some tough calls, the Pats QB just was not on target in the second half.
Josh McDaniels had a game plan that exploited the Bills’ terrible run defense. The Pats ran for 246 yards, and all four touchdowns came on the ground, with two from Maye and two from Henderson. Henderson continues to show elite speed with a 52-yard run to go along with the late 65-yarder. His Rookie of the Year campaign is heating up.
The defense got Josh Allen’d for five straight drives. Allen’s ability to extend plays, and make spectacular finishes out of nothing was on full display in the second half. For the first time all year, a quarterback truly picked the Patriots apart despite not having huge yardage numbers. The Bills got amazing field position from Ray Davis, who had 161 yards on kick returns and made the Patriots pay for it time and again.
The Pats pass rush continues to be the constant flaw in this year’s team. While they got to Allen twice, he consistently kept the rush that got near him at bay in the second half with timely throws and key runs to pick up first downs.
Stefon Diggs had another quiet game with 3 catches for 26 yards on only four targets after his huge game earlier this year against the Bills in Buffalo. I think that the Patriots offense will go as far as it can with Diggs in a primary position. Let’s hope the coaches agree and get him the ball more.
Old Grumbly Fan Predictions
The Patriots are 11-3 with their destiny in their hands. If they beat the struggling Ravens on Sunday Night Football, they clinch their first playoff game since Mac Jones’ rookie season. If they win out, they are the division champs as well. With the Dolphins and the Jets to end the year, this Ravens game is a must-win.
Lamar Jackson has struggled with injuries all year, and Baltimore has never quite found its stride. They beat the Bengals badly last week, 24-0, and are just behind the Steelers in the AFC North. The Ravens need this game just as much as the Patriots, and maybe more with their playoff lives on the line. The NFL flexed this game into prime-time, which shows you just how far the Patriots have come from their back to back 4-13 seasons.
Maye has not had many bad games to come back from this year, but here we are. All the elements are there for a big time game, with big time implications. The Ravens are favored at home and the Patriots defense is still riddled with key injuries. I see a shootout down in the Charm City. I think Maye bounces back and has a big game under those SNF lights.
Pats 38 – Ravens 35
