The Buffalo Bills are heading into October with an unbeaten record and a familiar warning sign attached: this is exactly the kind of game that can get messy in a hurry.
After surviving a wild one against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3, Buffalo comes home Sunday to open AFC East play against the New England Patriots. On paper, it’s a mismatch.
The Bills are 3-0. The Patriots are 1-2 after a brutal 35-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But the number in the standings only tells part of the story.
Buffalo just spent last Sunday reminding everyone that a favorite can look vulnerable and still escape. The Bills turned it over five times against the Chargers and still won by eight points. That kind of result doesn’t exactly scream smooth sailing, even if the defense did enough to pull it out.
Now comes another test that has all the makings of a trap game. Division games tend to ignore the script, and Buffalo has already seen that with New England quarterback Drake Maye. He was sharp enough in his last trip to Buffalo to lead the Patriots to a primetime 23-20 win that handed the Bills their first loss of the 2025 season.
This time, though, Maye arrives with plenty of problems. Through three games, he has one touchdown, six interceptions and nine sacks. The source material makes it clear just how rough the start has been for him, and Buffalo’s defense will be looking to make that uglier.
That’s what makes Sunday interesting. The Bills have already handled the Texans and Lions, and their defense carried the load in Week 3 when the offense was loose with the football. The Patriots, meanwhile, are trying to climb out of a hole and make a statement in a division race where Buffalo already has a cushion.
The expectation around the league is that the Bills and Patriots will be fighting for the AFC East for years to come. For now, Buffalo is the team in front, and New England is the team trying to catch up.
Sunday gives the Patriots a chance to announce themselves. It also gives the Bills a chance to send them back to Foxborough looking every bit as rough as they have through three weeks.
In Other News...
Philip Rivers Revealed An Unexpected Twist In Buffalo's Coaching Search
Philip Rivers name came up in a surprising place during Buffalos coaching search, and it turns out the former quarterback was much more than a casual candidate. He interviewed for the Bills head coaching job on short notice in Florida, and Josh Allen was there as part of the process, a reminder of how seriously the team involved its franchise quarterback in evaluating the next leader.
Rivers did not land the position, but he later described the experience as worthwhile and said he felt good about where Buffalo ended up. The Bills ultimately went with Joe Brady, and Rivers account adds another layer to a search that was already unusual for its mix of star power, urgency and quarterback input. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Defensive Line Might Be Getting Even More Dangerous For Week 4
Buffalos defensive front has already done enough in the first three games to make opposing quarterbacks feel the heat, with Greg Rousseau, Deone Walker and DeWayne Carter all helping set the tone up front. Even with injuries factored in, the Bills have managed to keep their rotation active and productive, and the groups early play has hinted at a line that can control games rather than simply chase them.
Now the unit could be on the verge of getting even deeper for Week 4. T.J. Sanders is trending toward a return after limited practice work, and practice squad option Phidarian Mathis is also part of the picture, giving Buffalo more possible bodies and more ways to keep the pressure coming as the season starts to settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Head Coach Search Took A Stranger Turn Than Fans Realized
Philip Rivers adding his voice to the Bills coaching search gave the process an unexpectedly public twist, especially for a franchise that usually keeps those conversations tightly under wraps. The former quarterback said Buffalo reached out through his agent to set up the interview, and he described a room that included key figures from the organization as well as Josh Allen, making it clear this was a serious look at a candidate whose rsum was built more on playing experience than sideline work.
Rivers, who has never coached in the NFL, said he leaned on his years as a longtime starting quarterback rather than a polished presentation or video-heavy pitch. Even so, he spoke with gratitude about getting the chance and with confidence that he could handle the job if called upon, which only added to the sense that Buffalos search touched some unconventional names before it moved on. [Read more 🡒]