The Buffalo Bills head into Week 4 with a shot to move to 4-0, and they’ll try to do it against a Patriots team that could fall to 1-3. It’s a game that will draw plenty of attention to the quarterbacks, but the real battle may come up front.
That’s where Buffalo has an edge, and even Mike Vrabel made sure to acknowledge it. ESPN’s Mike Reiss relayed Vrabel’s praise of the Bills’ offensive line before the matchup, with the Patriots head coach pointing to how well the group handles its assignments and opens space for James Cook III.
"The linemen do a fantastic job of understanding the scheme that they want to run and creating lanes for James Cook, who once he gets cooking -- no pun intended -- they're just tough to stop," Vrabel said.
The Bills’ front has been a major reason they’ve opened the season unbeaten. They held up in Week 1 against the Houston Texans and followed that with another solid outing in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions, setting the tone for Buffalo’s fast start.
This week, that line will also benefit from what the Patriots are missing. New England will be without Christian Barmore, while Milton Williams and superstar cornerback Christian Gonzalez are also not available for the matchup.
Still, Buffalo’s offensive line is being judged less on who it won’t face and more on how it protects Josh Allen and creates room in the run game. The expected starting group of Dion Dawkins at left tackle, Alec Anderson at left guard, Connor McGovern at center, O’Cyrus Torrence at right guard, and Spencer Brown at right tackle gives the Bills a sturdy foundation.
That matters even more against a Patriots defense that has struggled to stop running backs this season. If Buffalo can keep Cook rolling, the backfield could be set up for a big day.
Vrabel’s comments made the point clearly enough: this line has earned respect, and it’s going to be central to whatever the Bills do in Week 4.
In Other News...
Bills Let Another AFC East Game Slip Away For One Reason
The Bills had enough offense to stay in the fight with New England, but it still came down to a familiar kind of AFC East frustration. James Cook and Josh Allen both helped Buffalo move the ball and put points on the board, yet the back-and-forth game never quite tilted the Bills way as the Patriots kept finding answers.
Drake Mayes night mixed big throws with turnovers, but New England still came up with the plays that mattered most, including touchdowns from Romeo Doubs and Efton Chism III. Chisms late scoring catch helped seal the Patriots 29-26 win, leaving Buffalo with another divisional loss and another reminder that close games in this rivalry keep slipping out of reach. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Loss To Patriots Turns On One Infuriating Sequence
A jarring sideline exchange helped flip the flow of a tight game in New England, and the Bills were the ones who benefited in the moment. Mike Vrabel was hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after using profanity toward an official, and the flag extended a Buffalo drive that ended with a game-tying touchdown before halftime.
From there, though, the Patriots regrouped and finished with a 29-26 win, powered by Drake Mayes three-touchdown afternoon and a game ball from Vrabel. The penalty became one of the afternoons most talked-about sequences, and both Vrabel and official Bill Vinovich addressed it after the game, leaving Buffalo with plenty to wonder about on a day when a small flashpoint carried outsized weight. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Secondary Concerns Just Got Harder To Ignore After Patriots Loss
The Bills secondary left little room for comfort in the loss to New England, and Maxwell Hairston had a difficult afternoon trying to keep pace with Romeo Doubs. Hairston was beaten for two touchdown catches, a reminder of how quickly coverage issues can swing a game when Buffalo is already dealing with injuries and a thin defensive backfield.
Josh Allens late interception only added to the frustration, even with Keon Coleman giving the offense a bright spot by finishing with 116 receiving yards and a touchdown. The bigger concern for Buffalo is that the defensive questions did not just linger after the defeat, they showed up in moments that mattered most, and now they sit there for everyone to see. [Read more 🡒]