The first loss of the season is here for the Buffalo Bills, and it happened to be against the team that fans didn’t want it to happen against. The New England Patriots, for the second consecutive season, walk into Orchard Park and beat the Bills by a score of 29-26.
The Bills end their three-game home stretch with a loss in the division, and now they will be on the road for the next two weeks out west. This loss should leave a sour taste for Buffalo, considering the fact that the Patriots were averaging just 12 points per game coming into this game.
Anyone that was hoping for an undefeated season for the Bills, the disappointment as arrived, and there are 9 instant reactions to focus on from this game.
Instant reactions from Bills vs. Patriots close division game
-History has repeated itself
Just like last season, the Bills walked into this matchup undefeated while the Patriots were looking lost, but they end up on the losing side. Last season, the loss happened in primetime where Drake Maye and Stefon Diggs thrived against Buffalo's defense.
This time, it was Maye utilizing his weapons around him, which was enough for him to hand Buffalo their first loss in the new Highmark Stadium.
-Injuries piled up for Bills
Injuries are always part of the game, whether we want them to be or not. The Bills didn't have Christian Benford as he is healing from a toe injury. As the game progressed, the Bills lost players like DJ Moore, Te'Cory Couch, Ed Oliver, and Dee Alford.
It's one thing to prepare without guys that you know will be out. It's another thing to have to adjust on the fly when they come up out of nowhere.
-Khalil Shakir was the go-to guy for Josh Allen
After being very quiet for the Bills' offense through the first three games, Khalil Shakir ended up being Josh Allen's go-to guy on the day. He led the team in targets (8), and he finished with 7 catches for 82 yards. His game can be so dangerous, but when Moore went down with his shoulder injury, all the focus could be put on Shakir.
However, he did almost have a fumble right before the end of the first half. Had it not been for Dee Alford's awareness on the next play to pick of Drake Maye, that fumble could have meant so much more.
-Maxwell Hairston was a major liability
It was an absolute nightmare for the second-year corner out of Kentucky. Lining up against Romeo Doubs for most of the game, Hairston had one of his more horrendous performances as a Bill. He had multiple penalties against him, and he gave up two touchdowns against Doubs.
For a receiver that was looking like a bust of a free agency signing for the Patriots, Hairston sure made him look an impactful player for New England's offense.
-T.J. Parker was more noticeable
It has been a very quiet start to the season for the Bills' first draft selection, but he was able to find himself near the ball on defense. He recorded his first-half sack with Ed Oliver on Drake Maye and he had 5 total tackles.
-Keon Coleman continues to grow his game
Compared to last season, you don't hear much about Keon Coleman which is a great thing right now. DJ Moore went down with a shoulder injury and he didn't return once again, in which that gave Coleman the chance take advantage of his opportunities. In the 4th quarter, he had one of the best catches you will ever see as it was tipped up in the air, and Coleman managed to jump over the defender and stay in bounds to pick up the first down.
-4th-down defense has improvements to make
New England was able to convert on 5 of their 12 third-down conversions, but the Patriots finished perfect on 4th downs. They went 2/2 which helped keep drives alive and keep the ball away from Allen.
Situational football for the Bills' defense has not always been their strong suit, and it showed here against the Patriots.
-Bills' defense still has major problems
Buffalo allowed New England's first touchdown to come off of a 97-yard drive that featured 12 plays and was finished off with a touchdown pass from Drake Maye to Romeo Doubs.
The defense only got to Maye 1 time for a sack, and they gave up 143 yards on the ground. Outside of last Sunday's performance against the Chargers, Jim Leonhard has not looked so solid as the defensive coordinator. Now, he will have to prepare for a Los Angeles Rams offense that is led by Sean McVay.
-The AFC East is still up for grabs
If the Bills had won this game, they would have had a commanding lead in the division. The Jets had lost to the Chicago Bears, and the Miami Dolphins are at the bottom of the division. Instead, the Patriots now hold the tiebreaker over the Bills and are just one game behind them.
This is a very similar setup just like last year. The Patriots had beaten the Bills to get right behind them in the division, and then when Buffalo lost the following week against the Atlanta Falcons, the AFC East went right to the Patriots and never came back to Buffalo. This division is well up for grabs.
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