The AFC East is not settled.
Behind two rushing touchdowns from MVP candidate Drake Maye, the New England Patriots sprinted out to a 21-0 lead over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday with a chance to clinch the division. But Josh Allen led the Bills on five consecutive touchdown drives to overcome a poor defensive effort and spark Buffalo to a stunning, 35-31 win.
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The win snapped a 10-game win streak for the Patriots, who were in position to clinch the AFC East with a win. Instead, the Patriots drop to 11-3 and cede ground in the race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs to the Denver Broncos. And the Bills improve to 10-4 to remain in the race for the division.
It added up to a stunning collapse for a Patriots team that looked well on its way to celebrating its first division title since the Tom Brady era at home. Instead, they’re left to parse a collapse that allowed the Bills to score 28 second-half points.
Buffalo’s furious comeback
Buffalo looked down and out after three first-half possessions produced 29 yards, two 3-and-outs, three punts and a 21-0 hole. But Buffalo scored a touchdown on its final possession of the first half and went into halftime with a 24-7 deficit.
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Then Allen and the Bills ran roughshod in the second half. Buffalo scored touchdowns on its first two possessions of the third quarter, and its defense came up with an interception of Maye with New England’s lead whittled down to 24-21.
From there, Allen delivered again, this time with a touchdown pass to Dawson Knox to give the Bills their first lead of the game at 28-24 early in the fourth quarter.
The Patriots responded with a quick-hit touchdown to retake the lead just 14 seconds later. But the Bills responded again with their fifth consecutive touchdown drive, this time with a James Cook run to retake the lead at 35-31.
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Maye eventually had a chance to fortify his MVP case and clinch the division with the ball back in the final 2:43. But Buffalo’s defense forced a turnover on downs to regain possession for its offense and secure the victory. Maye’s pass on fourth-and-5 fell incomplete.
Patriots, Drake Maye miss big opportunity
With Allen fresh off his first MVP award, the Bills entered the season as clear favorites to win the division and compete for the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory. But a porous defense that ranks 28th against the run opened the door for the Patriots to contend.
And through 13 games, the Patriots burst through that door to take control of the division behind a breakout season from Maye, who’s emerged in a two-way race with Matthew Stafford for MVP. Sunday provided the Patriots with a chance for an AFC East coronation and an MVP moment for Maye.
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Instead, they’re left to fight down the stretch of the season with three games to play and the division and No. 1 seed in the AFC up for grabs.
This story will be updated.
This news was originally published on this post .
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