5 early takeaways from the Buffalo Bills Week 17 showdown with the Patriots
![Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4664,h_2623,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/16/01hk0vz7407q64qrek6x.jpg)
I'm going to need the Buffalo Bills to start paying for my heart medication. All season, the Bills seem to play to the level of their opponent, which I guess is good for the playoffs, considering all the teams should be upper-echelon teams, right? Buffalo pulled this one out, but it wasn't pretty. The offense struggled and the special teams gave up an opening kick return for a touchdown. Fortunately, the Bills defense forced five turnovers in the first half.
Dalton Kincaid made an appearance as well, delivering a huge 51-yard reception to open the second half that led to a Josh Allen rushing touchdown. Buffalo's offense was better in the second half, but the Bills were just never able to simply put the Patriots away, winning with a final score of 27 - 21.
It's a win regardless and the Bills will now prepare to face the Miami Dolphins next weekend in a massive game that will decide the AFC East and the number two seed in the AFC playoffs. For the record, I said a few weeks ago the season was not over and pointed to the late-season pushes the Bills have gotten pretty good at, finishing the regular seasons with no less than four straight wins. Here we are now, four in a row and battling the Dolphins for the division.