The stakes are high as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills prepare to square off against the New England Patriots in a pivotal Week 15 matchup. With the AFC East title still in play and playoff positioning on the line, this one has all the makings of a statement game. But despite Allen’s recent heroics, it’s the Patriots who come into Sunday as the team to beat - and there are a few compelling reasons why.
Let’s start with the most obvious: New England already has one up on Buffalo this season. And while that win feels like a lifetime ago in NFL terms, it still matters - especially when you consider how that game unfolded and who made the biggest impact.
Enter Stefon Diggs.
The former Bills star torched his old team in their previous meeting, putting up a monster stat line: 12 targets, 10 catches, 146 yards. That kind of production doesn’t just sting for Buffalo - it reminds them of what they lost.
Diggs spent four seasons in Buffalo (2020-2023), helping the Bills lock down four straight AFC East titles alongside Allen. But now he’s wearing Patriots colors, and he’s quickly become a go-to weapon for rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
Diggs hasn’t just been productive - he’s been consistent. With 64 receptions for 705 yards and three touchdowns so far this season, he’s been a stabilizing force in New England’s offense. And his growing chemistry with Maye is one of the biggest reasons the Patriots are riding high at 11-2, winners of 10 straight heading into this matchup.
It also doesn’t hurt that Mike Vrabel has this Patriots team playing disciplined, physical football - the kind that travels well in December and wins in January. Vrabel’s name is starting to gain serious traction in Coach of the Year conversations, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s taken a young quarterback, a revamped roster, and turned them into one of the most complete teams in the league.
But don’t count out Buffalo just yet. The Bills may be trailing in the division, but they’ve got plenty of fight - and Josh Allen is still very much in MVP-caliber form.
Allen was electric in Week 14, leading the Bills to a 39-34 win over the Bengals in a game they absolutely needed. He completed 22 of 28 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, and added another 78 yards and a score on the ground. That dual-threat dominance earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors - his third time winning the award this season (he previously took it home in Weeks 1 and 11).
When Allen is locked in like that, Buffalo can hang with anyone. He’s the kind of quarterback who can take over a game, even against a defense as disciplined as New England’s. And with the Bills sitting at 9-4, a win on Sunday wouldn’t just keep them in the playoff hunt - it could completely shift the momentum in the AFC East.
So here we are: Patriots vs. Bills, Diggs vs. his old squad, Allen trying to play spoiler, and a division title still up for grabs. The Patriots have the edge on paper, but this is the kind of game where stars shine and legacies are shaped.
Sunday can’t come soon enough.