The Week 15 showdown between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills is staying right where it is-locked into its original 1 p.m. ET kickoff on December 14 at Gillette Stadium. Despite some buzz about a possible primetime flex, the NFL has decided to keep this AFC East clash in the early window.
That means Drake Maye and the Patriots will take on Josh Allen and the Bills under the usual Sunday afternoon lights, not the national spotlight of Sunday or Monday night. The deadline for the league to make a scheduling switch passed on Tuesday, and Patriots radio voice Scott Zolak confirmed on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Zolak & Bertrand” that the league opted not to make a move.
There had been some chatter about the game potentially earning a primetime slot. After all, it’s a divisional matchup with playoff implications-especially for a Bills team still very much in the postseason hunt. But with the Vikings-Cowboys set for Sunday night and the Dolphins-Steelers lined up for Monday, the NFL stuck with its original slate.
For fans in New England, that means a traditional afternoon kickoff at Gillette. And for the Patriots, it’s another chance to test their young quarterback against one of the league’s elite in Josh Allen. No primetime lights, but plenty of intrigue.