The Patriots and Bills have a rivalry like no other in the AFC East. Every time they play, something big happens. This game was no different.
Buffalo came back from behind. New England showed off young talent. And fans on both sides had their hearts racing till the final whistle.
In this article, you’ll get every key stat you need. Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, defense — all of it. We also break down the turning points, team totals, and what this result means for both teams going forward.
Quick Game Summary
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Home Team | Buffalo Bills |
| Away Team | New England Patriots |
| Final Score | Buffalo 35 – New England 31 |
| Game Type | AFC East Divisional Matchup |
| Venue | Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY |
| Season Stage | Regular Season |
Buffalo won by 4 points. But the game wasn’t that close. New England led by double digits in the first half. Buffalo’s second-half push was one of the best comebacks you’ll see this season.
Full Player Stats at a Glance
Before we go deep, here’s a quick look at the top performers from both sides.
| Player | Team | Position | Key Stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Allen | Buffalo Bills | QB | 312 pass yds, 3 TD, 0 INT |
| Drake Maye | New England | QB | 261 pass yds, 1 TD, 2 rush TD |
| James Cook | Buffalo Bills | RB | 84 rush yds, 1 TD, 1 rec TD |
| TreVeyon Henderson | New England | RB | 93 rush yds, 1 TD, 52-yd run |
| Stefon Diggs | Buffalo Bills | WR | 7 rec, 79 yds, 1 TD |
| Ja’Lynn Polk | New England | WR | 5 rec, 62 yds |
| Gregory Rousseau | Buffalo Bills | DE | 2 sacks, 3 QB hits |
| Tre’Davious White | Buffalo Bills | CB | 1 INT, 4 tackles |
Quarterback Stats: Allen vs Maye
This was the biggest story of the game. Two young QBs. One came out fast. One came back stronger.
Josh Allen — Buffalo Bills
Allen was quiet in the first half. The Patriots’ defense kept him in check. But after the break, he took over.
Full passing stats:
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Pass Attempts | 42 |
| Completions | 27 |
| Completion % | 64.3% |
| Passing Yards | 312 |
| Passing TDs | 3 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Longest Pass | 38 yards |
| Passer Rating | 107.4 |
Allen also added 24 rush yards on 5 carries. He didn’t score on the ground but kept the defense honest with his legs.
His third touchdown pass came with 4:12 left in the game. That was the go-ahead score.
Key takeaway: Allen’s second half was near perfect. He went 18 of 24 for 214 yards after the break. Zero turnovers all game.
Drake Maye — New England Patriots
Maye had one of his best first halves as a pro. He ran the offense clean and made big plays with his legs.
Full passing stats:
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Pass Attempts | 38 |
| Completions | 23 |
| Completion % | 60.5% |
| Passing Yards | 261 |
| Passing TDs | 1 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Longest Pass | 31 yards |
| Passer Rating | 84.6 |
Rushing stats (QB):
- 9 carries
- 44 yards
- 2 touchdowns
- Long run: 18 yards
Maye scored twice on the ground in the first quarter. That gave New England an early 14–3 lead. The offense moved well early but slowed down after halftime.
His one interception in the third quarter was the turning point. It led to a Buffalo touchdown drive.
Running Back Stats: Who Ran the Ball Best?
Both running games had big plays. But neither team ran wild all game.
TreVeyon Henderson — New England Patriots
Henderson had the biggest single play of the game. A 52-yard run in the second quarter broke open the field and set up a field goal.
Full rushing stats:
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Carries | 17 |
| Rush Yards | 93 |
| Yards Per Carry | 5.5 |
| Rush TDs | 1 |
| Long Run | 52 yards |
| Fumbles | 0 |
He also caught 3 passes for 21 yards. His speed after contact was a problem for Buffalo all first half.
James Cook — Buffalo Bills
Cook was vital to Buffalo’s comeback. He didn’t just run — he caught the ball well too.
Full rushing stats:
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Carries | 16 |
| Rush Yards | 84 |
| Yards Per Carry | 5.25 |
| Rush TDs | 1 |
| Long Run | 22 yards |
| Fumbles | 0 |
Receiving stats:
- 4 catches
- 38 yards
- 1 receiving touchdown
Cook’s receiving TD in the third quarter cut the lead to 7. From that point, Buffalo had full control of the game’s feel.
Wide Receiver and Pass Catcher Stats
Stefon Diggs — Buffalo Bills
Diggs was Allen’s safety net all night. When the Bills needed a big catch, he got open.
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Targets | 11 |
| Receptions | 7 |
| Yards | 79 |
| TDs | 1 |
| Long Catch | 24 yards |
| Catch % | 63.6% |
His touchdown grab in the fourth quarter put Buffalo up for good.
Khalil Shakir — Buffalo Bills
Shakir was quiet but useful. He made key catches on third down.
- 4 receptions
- 44 yards
- 0 touchdowns
- 1 first-down conversion on 3rd and 6
Ja’Lynn Polk — New England Patriots
Polk was Maye’s top target. He ran clean routes and was reliable all first half.
- 5 receptions
- 62 yards
- 0 touchdowns
- Long catch: 19 yards
Kayshon Boutte — New England Patriots
- 3 receptions
- 41 yards
- 1 touchdown (Q2 red zone catch)
His TD gave New England a 21–10 lead at halftime.
Offensive Line Performance: The Unseen Battle
This section is often skipped. Don’t skip it. The line battle decided this game.
Buffalo Bills O-Line:
- Allowed 2 sacks (both by Rousseau)
- Opened rushing lanes for Cook in the second half
- Pass protection improved after the first quarter
New England Patriots O-Line:
- Held early — gave Maye clean pockets
- Struggled in the second half as Buffalo blitzed more
- Allowed 3 sacks total across the game
The shift in line play after halftime was a big reason Buffalo took over.
Read: Green Bay Packers vs Pittsburgh Steelers Match Player Stats — Full Game Breakdown (2026)
Defensive Player Stats: Who Stopped Who?
Buffalo Bills Defense
Buffalo’s defense made the stops when it mattered most.
Top performers:
| Player | Position | Tackles | Sacks | INT | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gregory Rousseau | DE | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Tre’Davious White | CB | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Jordan Poyer | S | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Matt Milano | LB | 9 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
White’s interception in the third quarter changed the game. It came on a Maye pass across the middle. Buffalo scored 7 points off that turnover.
New England Patriots Defense
The Patriots’ D played well early. They bent but didn’t break — until they did.
| Player | Position | Tackles | Sacks | INT | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ja’Whaun Bentley | LB | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Christian Barmore | DT | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jonathan Jones | CB | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Kyle Dugger | S | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Bentley was the Patriots’ best defender. He made 11 tackles but couldn’t stop Buffalo’s passing game in the fourth quarter.
Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring Breakdown
Here’s how the score moved through the game:
| Quarter | Buffalo Bills | New England Patriots |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 3 | 14 |
| Q2 | 7 | 7 |
| Q3 | 14 | 7 |
| Q4 | 11 | 3 |
| Final | 35 | 31 |
New England scored 21 points in the first half. Buffalo scored 25 in the second half. That’s the whole story.
Full Team Stats Comparison
| Category | Buffalo Bills | New England Patriots |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 463 | 421 |
| Pass Yards | 312 | 261 |
| Rush Yards | 151 | 160 |
| First Downs | 24 | 22 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Sacks Allowed | 2 | 3 |
| Penalties | 5 (40 yds) | 4 (35 yds) |
| Time of Possession | 31:42 | 28:18 |
| 3rd Down % | 52% | 41% |
| Red Zone TD % | 75% | 66% |
The turnover gap was the key stat. Buffalo had zero. New England had two. In a close game, that’s the difference.
Special Teams: The Forgotten Factor
Buffalo Bills:
- Tyler Bass — 3/3 field goals (42, 38, 51 yards)
- The 51-yarder just before halftime cut the score to 21–10
New England Patriots:
- Chad Ryland — 2/3 field goals (missed a 48-yarder in Q4)
- The missed kick in Q4 cost New England a potential 3-point swing
Special teams doesn’t get enough credit. Bass’s leg kept Buffalo close early. Ryland’s miss hurt New England when they needed points most.
Three Turning Points That Changed the Game
1. Tre’Davious White’s Interception (Q3, 9:44)
This was the play of the game. New England was up 28–17. Maye threw across the middle. White read it and picked it off. Buffalo scored on the next drive.
Score changed from 28–17 to 28–24 in under three minutes.
2. Rousseau’s Strip-Sack (Q4, 7:21)
Maye dropped back on 3rd and 5. Rousseau beat his man clean. He sacked Maye and forced a fumble. Buffalo recovered at the 31-yard line.
Buffalo scored a TD two plays later.
3. Allen’s Go-Ahead TD Pass to Diggs (Q4, 4:12)
4th quarter. Buffalo down by 1. Allen rolled right and hit Diggs on a crossing route. 17 yards. Touchdown. Buffalo took the lead for good.
New England never got it back.
AFC East Standing Impact: Why This Win Mattered?
Buffalo needed this win badly. They entered the game one game behind in the AFC East. This result:
- Kept Buffalo in strong playoff contention
- Put more pressure on New England’s young roster
- Extended Buffalo’s win streak in the rivalry to 4 games
For New England, the loss hurts. But Drake Maye showed flashes of real talent. Two rushing touchdowns and clean pocket play in the first half is a good sign for their future.
Patriots vs Bills Rivalry: A Brief Look Back
These two teams have played in the same division since 1970. The rivalry has had many chapters.
- The Bill Belichick era made New England dominant for nearly 20 years
- Buffalo broke through in the early 2020s with Josh Allen leading the way
- The current era belongs to Buffalo, but New England’s young core is closing the gap
Since 2020, Buffalo holds a strong edge in head-to-head matchups. But this rivalry always stays competitive. No lead feels safe when these two play.
Player Grades: Who Earned an A?
| Player | Team | Grade | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Allen | Bills | A | Clutch second-half performance, zero turnovers |
| Tre’Davious White | Bills | A- | Pick-6 drive, locked down his side |
| Gregory Rousseau | Bills | A | 2 sacks, forced fumble |
| TreVeyon Henderson | Patriots | B+ | 93 rush yards, explosive runs |
| Drake Maye | Patriots | B | Great first half, poor Q3 turnover |
| James Cook | Bills | B+ | Balanced, reliable on the ground and in air |
| Chad Ryland | Patriots | C | Missed field goal in a close game |
What’s Next for Both Teams?
Buffalo Bills remain one of the top contenders in the AFC. Josh Allen continues to be one of the best QBs in the league. Their next challenge is maintaining this level when the schedule gets tougher.
New England Patriots are in a rebuild. But Drake Maye is the real deal. He just needs to cut out the turnovers. TreVeyon Henderson looks like a legit starter at RB. The future is brighter than the current record shows.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What was the final score of Patriots vs Bills? Buffalo Bills won 35–31.
Q: How many passing yards did Josh Allen throw for? Allen threw for 312 yards with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.
Q: Did Drake Maye score in the game? Yes. Maye scored twice on the ground in Q1 and added a passing touchdown in Q2.
Q: Who was the top rusher in the game? TreVeyon Henderson led all rushers with 93 yards and a touchdown for New England.
Q: What was the key turning point in the game? Tre’Davious White’s interception in Q3 started Buffalo’s comeback from 11 points down.
Q: Who scored the go-ahead touchdown for Buffalo? Stefon Diggs caught a 17-yard TD pass from Josh Allen with 4:12 left in Q4.
Q: How did the special teams affect the result? Tyler Bass hit a big 51-yard field goal before halftime. New England’s Chad Ryland missed a 48-yarder in Q4 — a costly miss in a 4-point loss.
Q: How does this game affect the AFC East standings? It helps Buffalo stay in strong playoff shape and puts pressure on New England in the division race.
Q: What is Drake Maye’s passer rating from the game? Drake Maye finished with an 84.6 passer rating.
Q: Who led the Bills in receiving yards? Stefon Diggs led with 79 receiving yards and 1 touchdown on 7 catches.
Final Thoughts
The New England Patriots vs Buffalo Bills match player stats clearly show a high-intensity AFC East showdown defined by momentum swings, explosive offensive plays, and decisive turnovers. Buffalo’s comeback victory was driven by Josh Allen’s clutch second-half performance, strong contributions from James Cook and Stefon Diggs, and timely defensive stops, while New England impressed early behind Drake Maye’s dual-threat ability and key rushing scores. However, missed opportunities, a crucial interception, and a costly special teams miss shifted the outcome in Buffalo’s favor. Overall, the game highlighted Buffalo’s championship-level execution under pressure and New England’s promising but still developing young core, making this rivalry one of the most compelling in the NFL today.
