The New England Patriots walked into Week 15 looking like a team ready to make a statement. And for about a quarter and a half, they did just that-jumping out to a 21-0 lead over the Buffalo Bills behind a ground game that was firing on all cylinders.
But in the NFL, momentum is fragile. What looked like a dominant performance early unraveled into a 35-31 loss that not only stings in the standings but also raises some tough questions heading into the final stretch of the season.
Let’s start with what went right: the run game. Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson showcased exactly why he’s taken over lead duties in the Patriots’ backfield.
His 52-yard touchdown run was a burst of speed and vision that left Buffalo’s defense chasing shadows. Quarterback Drake Maye also got in on the action, punching in two short rushing scores of his own.
The Patriots piled up 246 rushing yards as a team-numbers that usually spell victory in December football.
Rhamondre Stevenson chipped in with 50 yards on just six carries, but his impact on the game went beyond the stat sheet-for better and for worse.
With the Patriots still clinging to a 24-21 lead late in the third quarter, Stevenson caught a 16-yard pass from Maye that should’ve been a momentum-builder. Instead, it turned into a flashpoint.
At the end of the play, Stevenson and Bills linebacker Matt Milano got into a heated exchange. Stevenson struck Milano with his right hand, drawing an unnecessary roughness flag.
Milano was flagged too, so the penalties offset-but the NFL wasn’t done with Stevenson.
On Saturday, the league fined Stevenson $12,172 for the incident, which falls under the standard punishment for a first-time offense involving striking, kicking, tripping, or kneeing. It’s his first fine of the 2025 season, though he had two similar fines last year for a chop block and a facemask.
While the fine won’t keep him off the field, it underscores a larger issue for Stevenson: he’s no longer the featured back in New England. That title now belongs to Henderson, and the rookie is making it hard to argue otherwise.
Against Buffalo, Henderson logged 16 touches for 161 total yards and two touchdowns. Stevenson, meanwhile, had nine touches for 77 yards and the costly penalty.
This shift in the backfield dynamic isn’t just about stats-it’s about trust. Henderson is proving he can be explosive and reliable. Stevenson, while still a valuable weapon, has to clean up the mental mistakes if he wants to earn more snaps, especially with the postseason looming.
The Patriots, now 11-3, don’t have much time to dwell on the loss. They’re back under the lights on Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens, a team that thrives in primetime and won’t be forgiving of sloppy play or emotional miscues.
If New England wants to bounce back, they’ll need to lean on what worked early against Buffalo-dominant run blocking, creative quarterback play, and smart, disciplined football. The margin for error is shrinking, and every game from here on out carries playoff implications.
The Patriots showed they can go toe-to-toe with a top-tier AFC opponent. Now they have to show they can finish.