Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ loss to the Bills in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
Offense digs too big a hole: After opening the game with a Jalen Reagor 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the offense went interception, punt, interception, punt and interception for a touchdown that put the Patriots in a 20-7 hole. You're not winning many NFL games this way, even with the defense doing more than their part and Josh Allen having an off day (7 of 20, 46 yards, INT, 22.9 rating in the first half) that obviously the Patriots defense had a hand in.
Zappe gets off to rough start, hangs tough: Gotta give Bailey Zappe a lot of credit. On the road against the Bills, most QBs who throw three interceptions in a half (I put the last one on Reagor for not converting his route against the blitz) would have turtled and the game would have gotten out of hand. But he led two scoring drives over 70 yards after trailing 20-7 and made some very big plays along the way, none bigger than the 39-yard pass to Reagor (phenomenal catch) to set up a score. The other two explosive pass plays (48 yards to Kevin Harris and 24 yards to DeMario Douglas were screens). Zappe finished 16 of 26 for 209 yards (8.0 yards per attempt).
Patriots back up to No. 3 pick in the draft: By virtue of the Cardinals' upset of the Eagles, the Patriots are tied with Washington and Arizona at 4-12. Washington holds a slight strenth of schedule edge.
Sets up an interesting dynamic in Week 18 ... a loss to the Jets would really be huge for the Patriots. Can Bill Belichick, perhaps in his final game, stomach dropping a game to the hated Jets?
Sam Martin puts on a punting display for Bills: Buffalo's punter very likely was the difference in this game as he was 6 for 6 on punts inside the 20-yard line, including 3 inside the 10. New England's average start was their 17-yard line; Bills - 40. Meanwhile, Chad Ryland missed another field goal and the Patriots had delay of game on another miss from Ryland.
Patriots clinch last place in AFC East for the first time since 2000: Belichick's first season ... and possibly his last ending up in the same place. A sign?
TURNING POINT
The 51-yard pass from Josh Allen to Dalton Kincaid on the first drive of the second half against Kyle Dugger made it a 13-point game and tough sledding. Not sure where the help was for Dugger.
Allen ➡️ Kincaid
— NFL Canada (@NFLCanada) December 31, 2023
pic.twitter.com/HdgHwUNwJi
Then the 3rd and 7 pass from Allen to Khalil Shakir for 11 yards with 3:35 left. It was basically over at that point. Bills were in field-goal range.
SECOND GUESS
The Patriots had the ball, yes at their own 8-yard line, with 1:05 left in the first half, trailing 20-14, with all three timeouts knowing the Bills got the ball to start the second half. Yet Bill Belichick still ran it twice with Zappe. I understand it was a rough first half for the offense, but they were starting to settle down a bit. Not getting any points there and then the Bills scoring to open the second half made the odds of winning very long early in the third quarter.
"Zero," said Belichick when asked how much consideration he gave to trying to move the ball. "Zero."
TWO UP
Jalen Reagor: Had a miscommunication on one interception but he had a kickoff return for a touchdown and a terrific over-the-shoulder catch.
Allen ➡️ Kincaid
— NFL Canada (@NFLCanada) December 31, 2023
pic.twitter.com/HdgHwUNwJi
Jalen Reagor reached a top speed of 20.62 mph on his 98-yard kick return TD, the fastest speed by a @Patriots ball carrier this season.
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 31, 2023
In pursuit of Reagor, kicker Tyler Bass reached 20.58 mph, the fastest play by a kicker in the NGS era (since 2016).#NEvsBUF | #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/ix9VXrA61A
Defensive line: Did a great job keeping Josh Allen in the pocket and against the run for the most part.
THREE DOWN
Kyle Dugger : Led the team with 10 tackles and had a forced fumble, but that Kincaid catch was huge and he didn't seem to be aware of the snap.
Chad Ryland : He needs a reboot.
Bailey Zappe : Three interceptions is three interceptions. He did bounce back nicely, however.
TOP PLAYS
DeMario Douglas became a human joystick on this play — the #Patriots rookie is insanely elusive.pic.twitter.com/rsdhBMje16
— Carlos (@LosTalksPats) December 31, 2023
.@baileyzappe04 brings it in!
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 31, 2023
: #NEvsBUF on CBS pic.twitter.com/gIDMTW4s3e
3️⃣6️⃣'s long run to set up the score.
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 31, 2023
: #NEvsBUF on CBS pic.twitter.com/u3wFkGxYUD
That first career pick is a beauty, Alex Austin
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 31, 2023
: #NEvsBUF on CBS pic.twitter.com/LBtyCOPrcb
INJURIES
WR DeVante Parker (ribs): Was rule questionable to return,.
LB Jahlani Tavai (leg): Walked off under his own power. Returned on next play.
TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
Patriots need to lose the final game: I don't know how it is going to happen, but Sunday's matchup against the Jets could be huge for the franchise. If they lose, the Patriots are assured of at least a top 3 pick. If they win, they could drop all the way to 7th, I think. It would really benefit the franchise to pick 2nd in the draft.
Bills are going nowhere: That team is just not that good. Josh Allen is too inconsistent. The coaching is inconsistent. Stefon Diggs is nowhere to be found. The defense is hit and miss.
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