Highlights: Patriots face Bills in Buffalo
Follow along here at 985TheSportsHub.com for live updates during Patriots vs Bills in a huge AFC East matchup. Check below for instant analysis and highlights throughout the game.
Recap: Patriots vs Bills
— FINAL: Bills 24, Patriots 21. Welp. Cam Newton and the Patriots offense went 59 minutes and 31 seconds without turning the ball over. But Newton fumbled the ball away at the worst possible time, and the Bills recover to ice a big win and a devastating defeat for New England. The Pats fall to 2-5 on the season, while the Bills improve to 6-2 and they are now firmly in the driver’s seat in the AFC East.
— Q4, 4:06: It’s winning time for the Patriots offense. The Bills threatened in the red zone again, but Gabriel Davis can’t haul in Josh Allen’s third-and-goal attempt. The Bills settle for a field goal and take the lead back, but the Patriots have a chance for a potential game-winning drive coming up. Bills lead 24-21.
— Q4, 9:36: A big-boy answer drive for the Patriots offense, which is suddenly humming. Damien Harris gashes the Bills on both inside and outside runs to set up Cam Newton’s first touchdown run of the day. Patriots tie it back up, 21-21.
— Q4, 13:12: The Bills take advantage of the great field position afforded to them by the failed onside kick attempt by the Patriots. Josh Allen keeps it and rumbles his way into the end zone for another touchdown. That decision to kick the onside attempt will certainly be talked about. Bills up 21-14.
JOSH ALLEN RUSHING TD! @buffalobills
— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2020
📺: #NEvsBUF on CBS
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— End quarter 3: Patriots 14, Bills 14. The Patriots attempt a surprise onside kick and it looks to go a little too high and far, as the Bills recover easily. Jakob Johnson was in the area and it looked like the play was for him to recover the fluttering ball, but there was a little too much on it. A questionable, risky play call backfires for Bill Belichick. And now, after continuing to gash the Patriots in the run game, the Bills are threatening to capitalize on the great field position.
— Q3, 3:03: Finally, a big play for the Patriots. Damien Harris slips to the second level and makes a guy miss, allowing himself to scamper to the end zone for a touchdown. They go for two, and Cam Newton hits Jakobi Meyers in the end zone. Suddenly, we’re tied 14-14.
Damien Harris 22-yard TD run for the @Patriots! @DHx34
— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2020
📺: #NEvsBUF on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/J6oAb5WnGm pic.twitter.com/t8qCfPtCHK
— Q3, 6:50: Again, the Patriots defense rebounds from a rough start to the second half. They hold Zack Moss to just two yards on first down, it’s incomplete on second down, and Josh Uche makes a nice open-field tackle on a scrambling Josh Allen to force the punt.
— Q3, 7:47: Well, at least they chewed some clock. The Patriots offense sputters on its first drive of the third quarter, despite a few positive plays. Cam Newton takes a sack on first down after Ryan Izzo can’t block Jerry Hughes (nor should anyone expect him to). Then he throws it to nowhere on second down, and a third-down screen to Isaiah Zuber is short of the first down. Patriots punt again and the Bills have a chance to put them in real trouble.
— Q3, 12:09: The Bills’ scripted drives went extremely well in this game. Coming out of the half, the Bills run plays of six, six, 18, 41, and four yards, capped with a touchdown run by Zack Moss. The Bills’ offensive line pushed Moss forward to bully the Patriots up front on the TD. Bills up 14-6 in a hurry.
Whole squad in for the TD‼️
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) November 1, 2020
📺 #NEvsBUF on CBS pic.twitter.com/3v8biyx7GC
— HALFTIME: Bills 7, Patriots 6. Between the handoffs and keepers on third down, and kicking a FG on third down, the Patriots don’t seem terribly confident in Cam Newton throwing the ball in key situations today. BUT! No turnovers for the Pats offense in the first half, a positive step. Winning the battle 1-0.
Plus, the defense has settled down after a sloppy first drive and giving the Patriots a chance to get back in the game. It’s anyone’s contest heading into the second half.
— Q2, 0:08: Patriots cash in on the J.C. Jackson interception. Unfortunately it’s just a field goal. But it’s good. Patriots trail Bills 7-6 heading into the half.
— Q2, 1:54: Potentially a huge turnover for the Patriots defense. Josh Allen sails a throw intended for Stefon Diggs on third down, and it lands right in the hands of J.C. Jackson, who returns it 25 yards. Patriots have a chance to take the lead late in the half and make a nice swing on the scoreboard.
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1322981207315984384
— Q2, 5:30: Patriots offense sputters yet again. They are 0-for-4 on third down after James White can’t pick it up on third-and-2. A jet sweep by Gunner Olszewski put the Pats in decent position to convert, but they couldn’t do anything with it. Patriots punt again.
— Q2, 7:56: The Patriots defense has rebounded after a tough first drive. Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley and defensive lineman Tashawn Bower’s pursuit of Josh Allen forces the quarterback out of bounds five yards behind the line, setting up third-and-9. Jason McCourty breaks up the pass attempt for John Brown on third down, and so the Bills have to punt again. Patriots have a chance to take the lead.
— Q2, 10:50: Facing a third-and-8, the Patriots keep the ball in Cam Newton’s hands. He’s not close to the first down on the keeper, though, so they settle for a Nick Folk field goal. Patriots now trail the Bills 7-3.
— Q1, 0:05: Patriots defense gets a much-needed stop. A false start penalty sets the Bills back and the Pats get pressure with Chase Winovich and the debuting Josh Uche against Josh Allen on third-and-17. Other than a big 20-yard catch by Stefon Diggs, the Patriots defense does a good job limiting the Bills offense this time.
— Q1, 1:30: Patriots drive stalls out again. Given a reprieve with a Bills penalty on third down, the Patriots get a fresh series. But a short run by Damien Harris, a drop by Ryan Izzo, and a sack of Cam Newton forces the Patriots to punt. Bills get the ball back with a chance to go up multiple scores and really put the Patriots in a precarious spot.
— Q1, 5:29: Bills are on the board first. A third-down conversion by Cole Beasley and a big 19-yard scramble by Josh Allen put the Bills well into Patriots territory, then a pair of big runs by Zack Moss finished off the drive. Pats got no push up front against the run, which was also a big issue against the 49ers. Bills up 7-0.
ZACK MOSS! It's a @buffalobills TD! @PresMoss2
— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2020
📺: #NEvsBUF on CBS
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/VpbDsNEjOj pic.twitter.com/mg15cjE4g7
Shake and bake.
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) November 1, 2020
📺 #NEvsBUF on CBS pic.twitter.com/Fv1p0rnWjs
https://twitter.com/mattdolloff/status/1322964889535733766
— Q1, 10:59: The Patriots looked solid for the first handful of plays on the opening drive of the game. Unfortunately, a delay of game penalty derailed the whole thing. On third-and-12, the Patriots decide to hand it off on a draw play to Rex Burkhead with Cam Newton in the shotgun. Two defenders burst right through and bring him down for a loss of yardage. So the Patriots have to punt after a drive that started well enough but sputtered out quickly.
— The Patriots’ inactives are out. Half of them we already knew. Among the surprises are both rookie tight ends, Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene. Asiasi did not travel with the team due to personal reasons, while Keene popped up late on the injury report with a knee issue.
#Patriots inactives. pic.twitter.com/xpG7CiUzIK
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 1, 2020
Here are the Bills’ inactives:
Bills inactives. pic.twitter.com/wWdnQqXuu7
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 1, 2020
Patriots News
— The Patriots brought in veteran wide receiver Donte Moncrief, plus two others. They came in for COVID-19 testing with the intention of eventually working them out.
— Julian Edelman and rookie tackle Justin Herron were both placed on injured reserve.
Live Blog By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff or send him a nasty email at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.