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Patriots Hand Bills First Loss, Ending Unbeaten Streak in NFL

The New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 23-20 on October 8, 2024, marking the first loss for Buffalo and leaving the NFL without an unbeaten team just five weeks into the season. Rookie kicker Andy Borregales made a crucial 52-yard field goal with only 15 seconds remaining, capping a 37-yard drive led by quarterback Drake Maye.

This match was particularly notable for receiver Stefon Diggs, who recorded ten receptions for 146 yards in his first game back in Buffalo since being traded to the Houston Texans in April. In addition to Diggs’ contributions, Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for two touchdowns, with his second score set up by a 32-yard reception from Diggs.

Maye showcased his skills by completing 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards. His most impressive moment came when he evaded Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones to throw a 12-yard completion to Diggs during the final drive. This victory marked the Patriots’ second consecutive win, their first back-to-back wins since a three-game streak in the 2022 season. Under Mike Vrabel, in his first year as head coach, the Patriots achieved a winning record through five games for the first time since the start of the 2019 season.

The win tightened the race in the AFC East, bringing the Patriots (3-2) within one game of the defending division champions, the Bills, who now hold a record of 4-1. “Just a really gutty performance by Drake,” said Vrabel. “Being able to come back and execute in a critical situation, and take the clock down and win it on our terms—that’s how we practice.”

Prior to Borregales’ decisive kick, the Bills had an opportunity to take the lead after their drive stalled at the Patriots’ 28-yard line. Buffalo settled for a 45-yard field goal by Matt Prater to tie the game at 20 with 2:17 left on the clock. The Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles entered the day as the last unbeaten teams in the NFL, but the Eagles also suffered a loss to the Denver Broncos on the same day. As a result, it is the first time since 2014 and only the seventh time since the 1970 merger that no team has started the season 5-0.

The Bills struggled with turnovers, committing three in total, two of which were attributed to quarterback Josh Allen. Wide receiver Keon Coleman also lost a fumble at the Bills’ own 11-yard line. Allen, last season’s MVP, completed 22 of 31 passes for 253 yards and threw touchdown passes to Coleman and Curtis Samuel. However, a crucial interception by Marcus Jones at the Patriots’ 10-yard line shifted momentum, as the Patriots capitalized on the turnover to extend their lead to 20-10 with a seven-yard touchdown run from Stevenson with 12:10 remaining in the game.

Allen acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating, “We just played sloppy. Not going to win a football game turning the ball over three times. That’s just bad football. We just did not play good tonight.”

The loss also ended Buffalo’s regular-season home winning streak at 14 games, just one short of tying a franchise record. Their last home defeat came on November 13, 2023, against the Denver Broncos. Maye, selected as the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, performed exceptionally well in the second half, completing 13 of 14 passes for 184 yards. Meanwhile, Diggs demonstrated his recovery from a torn ACL, showing consistent performance with consecutive games exceeding 100 receiving yards, although he has yet to score a touchdown this season.

The Patriots’ defense effectively limited star running back James Cook to just 49 yards on 15 carries. This marked the first time this season Cook was held under 100 yards from scrimmage, ending his streak of eight consecutive games with a rushing touchdown.

As the NFL season progresses, the Patriots will look to build on this momentum, while the Bills will aim to rectify their mistakes and regain their footing in the competitive landscape of the league.

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