Bills Rally From 21‑Point Deficit to Edge Patriots 35‑31, Keeping AFC East Title Out of Reach

With the sun barely visible behind a blanket of light snow, the Buffalo Bills staged a dramatic comeback, overturning a 21‑point deficit to defeat the New England Patriots 35‑31 on Sunday.

A Dramatic Turnaround

The game began with New England taking a commanding 24‑7 lead by halftime, thanks to an early 30‑yard pass to Kayshon Boutte that set up a touchdown run by Drake Maye. The Patriots’ offense moved the ball at ease, scoring on four of its first five possessions. By the start of the third quarter, the Bills were down 21‑0.

But Buffalo answered with a 58‑yard kickoff return by Ray Davis, followed by a 20‑yard run from Josh Allen. That drive culminated in a 4‑yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox, cutting the lead to 24‑10.

Key Performances

Josh Allen finished 19 of 28 for 193 yards and a touchdown, while James Cook carried the ball 22 times for 107 yards and added a 3‑yard touchdown run. Knox, who caught two touchdown passes, reached a career total of 26, breaking the Bills’ tight‑end record previously held by Pete Metzelaars.

Drake Maye, the Patriots’ rookie quarterback, had a pair of rushing touchdowns and finished the game with 148 yards on 14 carries. TreVeyon Henderson contributed a 65‑yard touchdown run and totaled 148 yards on 14 carries, adding a 52‑yard run earlier in the game.

Game Highlights

The Bills’ comeback hinged on a series of clutch plays. After a three‑and‑out by New England, Buffalo drove 70 yards in just over five minutes, capped by Cook’s 3‑yard touchdown run. A fourth‑down conversion on the Patriots’ 45 yard line saw Allen complete a 37‑yard pass to Dalton Kincaid, then a 14‑yard touchdown to Knox, giving Buffalo a 27‑24 lead.

The lead was short‑lived, as Henderson’s 65‑yard run gave the Patriots a 31‑27 edge. Buffalo responded with a seven‑play, 65‑yard drive, ending with Cook’s 11‑yard touchdown run, making the score 35‑31 with 6:48 remaining. A third‑down pass‑interference call on New England’s Carlton Davis III helped preserve the Bills’ advantage.

The Patriots’ final drive ended with a fourth‑and‑5 on their own 22. Maye was flushed out of the pocket and had a pass batted down by Joey Bosa, allowing the Bills to run out the clock.

Impact on Standings

Buffalo’s win keeps the Bills at 10‑4, moving them within one game of the Patriots’ 11‑3 record and keeping the AFC East title out of reach for New England. The victory also marks the first time the Bills have avoided being swept by a division opponent since 2019, and it extends the franchise’s streak of 10‑win seasons to seven.

Looking Ahead

The Bills head to Cleveland next Sunday, while the Patriots will travel to Baltimore the following week. Both teams remain playoff contenders, and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel noted, “That’s how this game goes. A few small plays make the difference.”

White, the Patriots’ cornerback, said, “Both of us are playoff teams. So in order to win the Super Bowl, we’ll see them again.” He is preparing for a potential third meeting with the Bills this season.

Key Takeaways

• Buffalo overcame a 21‑point deficit to win 35‑31, keeping the AFC East title out of New England’s hands.
• Josh Allen’s 193 yards and a touchdown, James Cook’s 107 yards and two touchdowns, and Dawson Knox’s franchise‑record 26 career touchdown catches were pivotal.
• The Patriots’ 11‑3 record now sits just one game ahead of Buffalo’s 10‑4, setting up a tight race for the division crown.

The game’s dramatic turnaround, combined with the Bills’ continued success and the Patriots’ late‑season struggles, underscores the unpredictable nature of the NFL’s most competitive division.