Patriots expert reveals close secrets ahead of must-win game for Bills

It’s rivalry week for the Buffalo Bills as they will be taking on the New England Patriots this Sunday for a 1PM battle.

The Bills are looking to avoid recent history against the Patriots. Just last season, the Patriots came to Orchard Park and ended the Bills' undefeated streak in Week 5. Buffalo heads into this matchup at 3-0 while the Patriots are coming off a bad 35-6 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and falling to 1-2.

Whether you want to admit it or not, this is a trap game for the Bills. New England has had a rough start, Drake Maye looks horrendous, and the Patriots are trying to stay near relevancy. They are going to be hungry to make a statement, and there is no better time to do it than against a rival.

As Sunday approaches, we had the chance to talk with Sara Marshall, who is the Site Expert at Musket Fire (covering the Patriots) and Marshall was able to provide some insights about the Patriots that Bills fans won't want to miss out on.

Week 4 insights from Patriots expert ahead of AFC East showdown

1.) It's no secret that Drake Maye hasn't been playing like the MVP runner-up from last season. Were there any common themes you noticed with him in the last three games that contributed to his struggles?

"The easiest criticism of Drake Maye’s performance thus far is his turnovers. He has now thrown six interceptions and lost a fumble, when he recorded just 8 interceptions during the 2025 season. Most of that seems to stem from a lack of confidence and trying to force a play where there isn’t one, but he also doesn’t have much help from his receivers. They’re not gaining separation, so Maye has nobody open most of the time, and for some reason, he’s not utilizing his mobility more."

"The offense also has problems across the offensive line. They already lost starting right guard Mike Onwenu to an ankle injury, and as of this week, they also lost his backup. They’ll now be starting someone else in that spot, and they could be looking for a Morgan Moses replacement, who also appeared injured last week. The offense as a whole is a mess."

2.) Who would consider the most overlooked player on the Patriots that could cause some trouble for the Bills and why?

"Linebacker Christian Elliss doesn’t seem to be on anyone’s mind when they face the Patriots, but he's been a hard-hitter over the last few years. His hit on Aaron Rodgers in Week 2 became a meme, and who could forget his big hit on Jaxson Dart last season?"

"He has brought out the violence on defense that Mike Vrabel loves, and if he can keep the momentum going, he is certainly one for the Bills to watch on Sunday."

3.) What would you consider New England's biggest strength heading into Week 4?

"Their secondary appears to be their strongest group. Christian Gonzalez leads the way, coming off a massive extension that made him the league's highest-paid cornerback, along with Carlton Davis and Kevin Byard at safety."

"Marcus Jones is also standing out, nabbing an interception in last week’s game against the Jaguars. So far, they’ve shut down Jaxon Smith-Njigba (mostly thanks to Gonzalez) and D.K. Metcalf, and they’ll definitely need that kind of luck against a high-powered offense in Buffalo this week."

4.) Outside of Drake Maye's performance, what is one major concern you have about the Patriots and why?

"Because the offense is problematic overall, the biggest issue on the other side of the ball is the pass rush. The Patriots are without Harold Landry, who led the team in sacks last year, and they didn’t re-sign K’Lavon Chaisson in free agency, who had the second-most sacks in 2025."

"They brought in Dre’Mont Jones, who has performed better than expected, but he missed last week’s game vs. the Jaguars, putting more pressure on the young defenders who stepped up in his absence: rookie Gabe Jacas and Elijah Ponder."

"Both have had their moments, with Ponder recovering a fumble for a touchdown against the Steelers. However, they are still developing into the kind of pass rushers the team needs, so they’re not as consistent as the Patriots would like just yet. That could be a huge factor on Sunday that benefits the Bills, particularly Josh Allen, who is already good at running all over opposing defenses."

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