The New England Patriots remain firmly in the AFC East race. They just won’t be celebrating a division title yet — thanks to a resilient Buffalo Bills comeback on Sunday.
Josh Allen threw three touchdown passes and James Cook delivered a dominant all-around performance as Buffalo erased a 21-point deficit to beat New England 35-31, spoiling the Patriots’ chance to clinch the AFC East and tightening the division race with three weeks remaining.
Buffalo (10-4) avoided being swept by a division opponent for the first time since 2019 and moved within one game of New England. The Bills also reached 10 wins for the seventh consecutive season, continuing a remarkable run of consistency under Allen.
With light snow falling and the temperature hovering at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the Patriots (11-3) wasted no time igniting the home crowd. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye capped an eight-play, 73-yard opening drive with an 8-yard touchdown run after a 30-yard strike to Kayshon Boutte. Maye later added a 7-yard scramble for another score as New England surged to a 14-0 lead.
TreVeyon Henderson made it worse for Buffalo’s injury-depleted defense. The explosive running back ripped off touchdown runs of 52 and 65 yards, helping the Patriots score on four of their first five possessions and carry a commanding 24-7 lead into halftime. Buffalo, meanwhile, punted on all but one of its first-half drives.
The tone changed immediately after halftime. Ray Davis opened the second half with a 58-yard kickoff return, and Allen followed with a 20-yard run to set up a 4-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox. After a quick New England three-and-out, the Bills methodically marched 70 yards in 11 plays, finishing with Cook’s 3-yard touchdown run to pull within 24-21.
Momentum fully swung on the Patriots’ next possession when Maye’s deep throw was intercepted by Tre’Davious White. Though Buffalo took over at its own 9-yard line, Allen kept the drive alive on fourth-and-long with a 37-yard strike to Dalton Kincaid. Two plays later, Allen found Knox for a 14-yard touchdown, giving the Bills their first lead at 27-24.
The lead lasted just 14 seconds. On the very next snap, Henderson sprinted down the sideline untouched for a 65-yard touchdown, his second long score of the afternoon, restoring New England’s advantage. Henderson finished with 14 carries for 148 yards and became just the second player in NFL history — joining Chris Johnson in 2009 — to have multiple games in a season with two rushing touchdowns of 50-plus yards.
Buffalo answered again. Allen guided a seven-play, 65-yard drive, aided by a third-down pass-interference penalty on Carlton Davis III. Cook punctuated it with an 11-yard touchdown run, making it 35-31 with 6:48 remaining.
New England had one last chance. Trailing by four with 2:43 left, the Patriots faced fourth-and-5 from their own 22-yard line. Maye escaped the pocket, but Joey Bosa — back after missing a game with hamstring and wrist injuries — batted down the pass to end the threat. Buffalo ran out the clock from there.
Allen finished 19 of 28 for 193 yards, continuing a season defined by late-game poise. Cook was the offensive star, rushing 22 times for 107 yards while adding a receiving touchdown to go with his two scores on the ground.
Knox made history with his two touchdown catches, giving him 26 for his career and surpassing Pete Metzelaars for the most by a tight end in Bills franchise history.
Buffalo overcame significant defensive absences — including linebacker Terrel Bernard (elbow) and top cornerback Christian Benford (toe) — and rallied from a double-digit deficit for the third time this season, following similar comebacks against Baltimore and Cincinnati.
The Patriots saw their 10-game winning streak snapped and suffered their first division loss of the season, extending their AFC East title drought to at least another week. New England will look to rebound next Sunday night at Baltimore.
The Bills head to Cleveland next Sunday, carrying momentum — and renewed belief — as the AFC East race suddenly feels very much alive again.
