Buffalo Bills Come Back To Stun New England Patriots In 35-31 Win To Stay In AFC East Title Race
The New England Patriots will have to wait a little bit longer to clinch the AFC East division as the Buffalo Bills storm back in the second half to snap the Patriots’ 10-game win streak.
Tale Of Two Halves For Both Teams
After getting off to a roaring start in the first half to take a commanding 24-7 lead heading into halftime, the Patriots had no answer on both sides of the ball to protect that lead. Meanwhile, for the Bills, it was the Josh Allen and James Cook show in the second half. The reigning league MVP threw for 158 yards in the second half and 3 touchdowns, while Cook added 107 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns in the comeback victory.
For the Patriots, this game will be a tough one to swallow, especially given a career performance from rookie Running Back TreVeyon Henderson. The former Buckeye was unstoppable throughout the game, rushing for a career-high 148 yards and 2 touchdowns, with the touchdowns coming off a 52-yard and 65-yard scamper.
Bills Spoil Patriots’ Chance At Clinching AFC East
The quest for the Bills to clinch a sixth-straight AFC East title is still alive and well heading into the final stretch of the season. The win gives the Bills one final chance at the title, while the loss puts the Patriots in a precarious spot as it pertains to their playoff position.
The Patriots came into the game with sole possession of the AFC’s top seed with only a handful of games to go in the season. The loss now gives the 11-2 Denver Broncos a shot at leapfrogging the Patriots for the No. 1 seed. On a positive note, the Patriots still maintain a 1-game lead in the division despite the loss, meaning that two more wins will all but seal the division for New England.
Tough Games Ahead For Patriots and Bills
The battle for the AFC East title could very well come down to the final game of the season, as both the Bills and Patriots have a couple of tough games to get through. The Patriots will face the scrappy Baltimore Ravens next Sunday, as the Ravens are currently fighting for their playoff lives over the next month.
As for the Bills, they’ll battle the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in two weeks, a game that will surely decide the Bills’ chances of winning the division. For Bills fans, praying to the football gods may be for Buffalo to take home the AFC East crown yet again.
