Patriots Shock the Bills: Pats Review Mondays

Zak Drapeau
Oct 6
6 min read

by Zak Drapeau 10/6/2025 Sportz Nation

Game Review

The Patriots earn their marquee win of the season on Sunday Night primetime by beating the Bills 23-20 on the road. The game was marred by turnovers and penalties but the job got done and put the Patriots within one game of the AFC East division.

First Half

From the very beginning of the game it was clear that defense was going to be the way of the day with 3 turnovers and only 3 points being scored in the 1st quarter. The 2nd quarter would be more of the same except it would be the Patriots who cleaned up first and had several drives that would lead to good punts and better field position.

At the very end of the 2nd quarter, Drake Maye would lead his team to their first red zone appearance to take a lead into halftime. With seconds left on the clock, Maye would throw a ball to Stefon Diggs in the end zone and get a PI call that would bring the ball to the goal line with 4 seconds left. After a ball breathtakingly went off the hands of Hunter Henry, the Pats trotted their field goal unit out and took a slim but strong 6-3 lead into halftime.

Second Half

The 3rd quarter would see a lot more action and both teams would trade touchdowns in their first drive. For Buffalo, they would build a long and tough drive through runs by James Cook and Josh Allen. After a 10-play, 71-yard drive, it would be capped by the game's first touchdown as Curtis Samuel caught a ball that gave the lead to Buffalo.

Immediately after that, the Patriots would storm down the field for their first touchdown as well. After another turnover in the 1st, Rhamondre Stevenson would make 3 touches in this drive and would make each electric. Along with Stevenson, this drive would be where we saw Stefon Diggs take over in his revenge game in Buffalo. The drive would end with a Stevenson-run.

Looking to answer again after another Patriots' lead change the Bills would get the ball back only to turn the ball over for a third time as Josh Allen threw a pick to Marcus Jones in the red zone.

Heading into the 4th quarter, the Patriots would have the ball up 13-10 in one of the best quarters the Pats have seen in a long time. Immediately taking that fumble and driving down the field for 90 yards in 11 plays, Diggs would be the catalyst with 3 catches for 51 yards on this drive alone, being capped off by another Stevenson touchdown.

Not to be outdone, the Bills would again take the ball down the field and bring the game to within one score at 20-17 with less than 8 minutes left.

After the Patriots first 3-and-out of the game, Josh Allen took the ball at home with 6 minutes left in a story we've all seen time after time. Luckily enough, the Patriots would hold the Bills to a field goal and get the ball back with just over 2 minutes and all 3 timeouts.

On this drive, the Pats would pound the run and make smart plays. This drive would show the highlight of the game and a play that could legitimately be included as Play of the Year; Right before the 2-minute warning, Drake Maye would take a snap from shotgun and immediately be pressured. He would stiff arm the Buffalo D-Tackle and as he was forced to the ground, threw a pass from a sideways angle to get the ball out and complete a p[ass to Diggs for a crazy first down that gave the Pats ALL THE MOMENTUM.

After that play, it was no shock when the Patriots took a field goal-lead with 15 seconds left that would end up being the final score as the Patriots danced off the field in Buffalo.

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The Good

Defense

The Bills averaged over 15 points in the first half for their first 4 games of the season and only scored 3 yesterday. They had also had only 1 turnover in their first 4 weeks and suffered 2 fumbles and an interception in this game. The bottom line is that the Patriots had their best defensive game of the seasons and ESPECIALLY in the first half.

They also gave up ZERO penalties in the first half. Christian Gonzalez and Jahlani Tavai returning to this team were absolutely crucial and showed that this defense is solid and still getting even better.

Stefon Diggs

"Stefon Diggs-revenge game" was built all week and boy was he ready for it. His statline of 10 receptions for 146 yards is not all-telling though and it was more of his leadership, his accountability and the way he set the tone for the entire team. Multiple times you could see Diggs screaming at teammates or hyping them up in crucial moments and that kind of leadership is what it takes to win.

Photo by Tina MacIntyre/ Democrat and Chronicle/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Drake Maye

If I were to tell you that Drake Maye was going to go into Buffalo and outplay reigning MVP-Josh Allen you'd have called me crazy but that's exactly what the 23-year old did. Maye wasn't perfect but he was efficient. He didn't throw any touchdowns but he didn't turn the ball over. Maye was exactly what he needed to be in this game and I have to mention his completion to Diggs before the 4th quarter 2-minute warning as not only one of the plays of the season but an instrumental play to give the Patriots the momentum they needed to close out the game.

Mike Vrabel

If it wasn't clear before, this team is completely Mike Vrabel's and he is a very good coach. The team's defense is so fiesty and intelligent and bringing Josh McDaniels back has made the offense look better and better every week.

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The Bad

Second half penalties

Cris Collinsworth said it best in the 4th quarter, 'If the Patriots end up losing this game it'll be because of their owen mistakes." After 0 penalties in the first half, the Patriots would get 8 for 93 yards including 2 critical in the Bills final possession. Luckily the Pats won it at the end but for a long period, it looked like the Patriots' mistakes were going to lead to them choking the game away at the end.

Fumbles

The Patriots now have the 2nd most fumbles of any team in the league at 5 and Rhamondre Stevenson is tied for the most fumbles by a single player. Luckily Drake Maye has only thrown 2 picks this season so the team only has a -1 turnover differential but the same thing that lost them the Steelers game could have cost them in Buffalo too.

Antonio Gibson injury

It hasn't come out specifically yet but the Patriots' depth running back and return man is feared to have suffered a potentially season-ending leg injury. Gibson has had his own troubles with fumbling but has also been an impactful off-speed running back and return man. Tre Henderson should be ready to firmly pick up the slack in both areas but Gibson's presence on the field will still be missed.

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Looking Ahead

After a road trip to Buffalo on Sunday Night Football, the Patriots will travel to New Orleans to face off with the 1-4 Saints next week.

On an impressive 2-game win streak, the Patriots will have so much momentum heading into this game that I'm surprised their only favored by 3.5 points.

The Patriots defense will need to play another great game when they face off with Spencer Rattler who has actually had a decent campaign so far surrounded by Kamara, Olave and Johnson.

As for offense, this looks like a game that could see them perform closer to the Panthers game where they score on multiple drives to start the game and never look back.

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