Patriots-Bills Showdown Looms, but All Eyes Should Be on One Key Player: Kicker Andy Borregales
As the 11-2 New England Patriots prepare for what could be their biggest test of the season against the 9-4 Buffalo Bills, most of the focus has naturally centered on the high-stakes AFC East implications, playoff seeding, and the heavyweight clash between two of the conference’s top teams. But there's one under-the-radar storyline that could quietly decide how this one ends - and it’s got everything to do with the leg of rookie kicker Andy Borregales.
Let’s rewind for a second. The Patriots used a sixth-round pick (No. 182 overall) on Borregales out of the University of Miami, a move that came with plenty of confidence from the front office.
And it wasn’t blind faith - Borregales had the résumé. Over four years with the Hurricanes, he drilled 74 of 86 field goals and missed just one extra point out of 184 attempts.
His career long? A 56-yarder.
That’s not just solid - that’s NFL-ready production.
Early in the season, Borregales looked like he might live up to the hype. But a few early misfires - particularly in high-leverage moments - raised some eyebrows.
Enough so that it reportedly caused the coaching staff to rethink some of their late-game decision-making. The timing of those misses didn’t help either, especially considering the Patriots had just traded veteran kicker Parker Romo to the Falcons.
And Romo? He’s been lights out in Atlanta. That contrast has only added fuel to the conversation in Foxborough about whether the Patriots made the right call.
But let’s not get lost in hindsight. The numbers for Borregales are actually solid.
He’s hit 36 of 38 extra points and gone 23-for-26 on field goals. The misses weren’t ideal, but they haven’t derailed the Patriots’ season - not yet, anyway.
And according to head coach Mike Vrabel and the special teams staff, the team hasn’t lost faith in their young kicker.
That trust is going to be tested in a big way this weekend.
The Patriots-Bills rivalry is never short on drama, and this one is shaping up to be a nail-biter. With playoff implications on the line and two of the AFC’s best going head-to-head, this is the kind of game that often comes down to a single possession - and sometimes, a single kick.
Borregales doesn’t need to be perfect. He just needs to be clutch.
Vrabel and his staff have made it clear they’re riding with their guy. And when a team stands by its kicker, especially in a pressure-packed moment like this, it can make all the difference.
Confidence matters - not just from the coaches, but from the kicker himself. If Borregales steps onto the field with the game on the line, it won’t just be about mechanics or leg strength.
It’ll be about poise. About trust.
About delivering when it matters most.
The Patriots have proven they can win in multiple ways this season - with defense, with their ground game, with timely throws. But if this one goes down to the wire, the spotlight could shift to special teams. And in that moment, it’ll be Andy Borregales’ time to show why New England believed in him from the start.
This isn’t just a big game for the Patriots. It’s a defining moment for their rookie kicker.