ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — An opening kick-off return, followed by an interception was only the beginning of this tight, back-and-forth matchup between two AFC East division rivals.
Buffalo knew going into the game that a win against New England could potentially set them up for a chance to clinch the AFC East against the Miami Dolphins next week.
The Bills pulled through, grabbing a much-needed victory over the Patriots 27-21.
Josh Allen finished the game with 169 passing yards, going 15-30 while also earning two rushing touchdowns, tying the record for most rushing touchdowns by a QB in a single season with 15.
Zappe corrals his offense for a seven-play, 84-yard sequence to set up Ezekiel Elliot, who finally gets on the board with a six-yard rushing touchdown to put New England back within one score with 11:01 remaining in regulation.
Josh Allen picked up another rushing touchdown with 10:42 remaining in the third quarter. Bass puts up another extra point as Buffalo puts up the only score in the third.
Allen throws his first interception of the game, giving the Patriots the ball back at their 11-yard line. New England misses a field goal to close out the first half.
The Patriots answer right back, as Ezekiel Elliot marches down the field, setting up Zappe for a 17-yard rushing touchdown. An extra point attempt is good.
Buffalo gets their third interception of the game at the beginning of the second as Douglas takes it down the field for a 40-yard touchdown. Bass' extra point is good, 20-7 Bills.
Bass closes out the first quarter with a 24-yard field goal. Bass' extra point is good,
Buffalo finally marches down the field to score as Josh Allen takes it in from the one-yard line, Bass extra point is good to give the Bills the lead 10-7.
With 8:41 remaining in the opening quarter now, New England regains possession, but another errant pass by Zappe leads to another interception for Buffalo. Rasul Douglas gets credit this time, bringing the ball down to the Patriots 14-yard-line.
Bills again can't generate a score. Bass puts up a 35-yard field goal to put Buffalo on the board 7-3.
Bailey Zappe enters now for the Patriots as they begin their first offensive drive. On their first play, the pass intended for a receiver was tipped by Rasul Douglas and picked up by Ed Oliver.
The Bill's first drive was shut down as Allen was sacked for a loss of 10 yards, which led to Buffalo going three and out.
New England wasted no time getting on the board. Jalen Reagor takes the opening kickoff back 98 yards for a touchdown. Just 12 seconds into the game, the Patriots went up 7-0.
