The Buffalo Bills came into Sunday’s matchup against the New England Patriots with plenty on the line - and they knew it. With the AFC East race heating up, this game wasn’t just another tick on the schedule.
It was a shot to keep pace with a red-hot Patriots team and keep their own division title hopes alive. But early on, things went sideways fast for Buffalo.
The first blow came on the defensive side of the ball. Veteran defensive tackle Jordan Phillips exited the game with an ankle injury and was listed as questionable to return.
While Phillips hasn't been lighting up the stat sheet this season, his presence in the trenches is a big part of what makes Buffalo’s defensive front tick. He’s one of those glue guys - the kind that doesn’t always show up in the box score but makes life easier for everyone around him.
Losing him early certainly didn’t help.
Then came the second - and much bigger - blow: the scoreboard.
By the time the first half wrapped, Buffalo found itself in a 21-0 hole. And it wasn’t just the score that told the story - it was how it happened.
New England absolutely owned the line of scrimmage, gashing the Bills for over 150 rushing yards in the first two quarters alone. It was a physical, downhill, old-school brand of football that the Patriots executed to perfection.
Buffalo’s defense, usually stout against the run, simply couldn’t keep up.
This Patriots team, led by first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, has been one of the league’s most compelling stories this season. They entered Sunday riding a 10-game win streak and sitting at 11-2 overall.
And they’ve done it with a mix of tough defense, a relentless ground game, and just enough playmaking through the air to keep defenses honest. Vrabel has this squad playing with an edge - and on Sunday, that edge was on full display.
For Buffalo, the first half was a nightmare on both sides of the ball. While the defense struggled to contain New England’s rushing attack, the offense couldn’t get anything going.
The Bills finished the first half with fewer than 100 total yards - a stunning stat for a team that’s shown plenty of offensive firepower this season. Whether it was missed assignments, poor execution, or just getting flat-out beat, Buffalo couldn’t find a rhythm.
Still, this is a Bills team that’s 9-4 coming into the game, riding a two-game win streak, and has shown resilience all year. They’ve been in tough spots before and found ways to claw back. But with the Patriots playing the kind of physical, mistake-free football that wins in December, the margin for error is razor-thin.
If New England holds on, they’ll lock up the AFC East - a remarkable feat in Vrabel’s first year at the helm. For Buffalo, the second half is about more than just chasing a comeback. It’s about showing fight, finding answers, and proving they’re still a contender in a loaded AFC.
There’s still football left to play, but the Bills have work to do - and fast.