Bills vs. Patriots in Week 15: A Division Clash With Plenty of History-and One Familiar Face
Week 15 brings us a high-stakes AFC East showdown with playoff implications, postseason pride, and a heavy dose of drama. The Buffalo Bills are heading to Foxborough for a rematch with the New England Patriots-a team that already stunned them once this season. And while the Bills are looking for redemption, one major obstacle stands in their way: a former teammate who knows them all too well.
Yes, Stefon Diggs is now suiting up for the Patriots, and he made his presence felt in a big way when these teams met back in Week 5. In that game, Diggs torched his former squad for 10 catches, 146 yards, and a whole lot of frustration for Bills fans.
He averaged nearly 15 yards per catch and looked every bit like a man on a mission. That mission?
To remind Buffalo exactly what they let go.
Now, with the division crown hanging in the balance, the stakes couldn’t be higher. If the playoffs started today, the Patriots would be AFC East champs for the first time since 2019, while the Bills would be heading in as a wild card. That’s a scenario no one in Buffalo wants to see play out, especially not with Diggs playing a starring role.
A win this weekend, though, changes the equation. It would pull the Bills within one game of the Patriots in the standings and keep their hopes of a fifth straight division title very much alive. But to do that, they’ll need to slow down a receiver who knows their defense, their quarterback, and their tendencies inside and out.
Diggs’ Revenge Tour Rolls On
Let’s be honest-this was always going to be personal. When Diggs joined the Patriots this offseason, every matchup with the Bills was circled on the calendar. And while Buffalo has tried to move on, it’s hard to ignore the way things ended.
The Bills parted ways with Diggs after a stretch of internal tension that became too much to manage. The move raised some eyebrows at the time, but it worked out in the short term.
Josh Allen had his best season as a pro last year, capturing his first MVP award and thriving in an offense that didn’t have to force-feed the ball to one star receiver. The chemistry was cleaner, the offense more balanced.
But now, with Diggs thriving in New England and already having delivered one dagger to his former team, the pressure is back on Buffalo. This isn’t just about a division title anymore-it’s about pride, legacy, and proving that moving on from Diggs was the right call in the long run.
Stephen A. Smith Weighs In
On First Take, Stephen A. Smith didn’t hold back when discussing this matchup. He pointed to Diggs’ Week 5 performance as a reason to doubt the Bills this time around, even though they’re favored heading into the game.
“Twelve targets. Ten receptions.
One hundred and forty-six yards receiving,” Smith said. “Stefon Diggs, a former Buffalo Bill, now in New England… We got a division crown on the line that we can secure with this victory?
Okay, on our home turf against my former team? I’m lookin’ at it like that, y’all, and I’m sayin’, nah, I can’t put the Buffalo Bills as the favorites in this one.”
It’s the kind of bold prediction that gets fans fired up-and Bills fans, in particular, aren’t likely to take it lightly. But Smith’s point is clear: Diggs is motivated, he’s dangerous, and he’s already proven he can be the difference-maker in this rivalry.
A Must-Win for Buffalo
For the Bills, this game isn’t just about revenge-it’s about survival in a crowded AFC playoff race. Dropping to 0-2 against the Patriots would all but hand New England the division, forcing Buffalo to navigate the wild card path in a conference that’s been anything but forgiving.
But a win? That changes everything. It keeps the division within reach, sends a message to the rest of the league, and maybe, just maybe, quiets the Diggs narrative-at least for now.
There’s no shortage of storylines heading into this one: division supremacy, playoff positioning, and a former star looking to make his old team pay. Buckle up.
Bills-Patriots in December with everything on the line? That’s the kind of football we live for.