By Carey Iona (The Flyin Hawaiian)
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills’ reign as the NFL’s last undefeated team came to a shocking close Sunday night, as the New England Patriots, led by a breakout performance from second-year quarterback Drake Maye, delivered a stunning 23-20 upset at Highmark Stadium. The win, sealed by a clutch 52-yard field goal in the final seconds, leaves the league without an unblemished record after just five weeks of the season.
The game was a defensive slugfest marred by uncharacteristic sloppiness from the AFC East frontrunners. For the 4-1 Bills, the primary culprit was turnovers, committing three of them, including a crucial interception by Josh Allen in the red zone and an early botched handoff. Allen, the reigning MVP, finished the night with 253 yards and two touchdowns but expressed deep frustration after the game, calling the offensive performance “piss poor.”
However, the night belonged to the surging Patriots and their young signal-caller. Maye, making his first primetime start, went toe-to-toe with the veteran Allen, completing 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards without an interception. He showed composure and brilliance on the final, game-winning drive, highlighted by a spectacular scramble and pass to former Bill Stefon Diggs—who had a monster night with 10 catches for 146 yards in his return to Buffalo—that set up the decisive kick.
Rookie kicker Andy Borregales became the hero, drilling the 52-yarder with just 15 seconds remaining on the clock, silencing the Buffalo crowd and handing the Bills their first home loss since November 2023.
”It was a statement game for us,” said Patriots first-year coach Mike Vrabel. “We knew we had to play smart, hard-nosed football and take advantage of every opportunity. The defense was disruptive, and Drake showed everyone the kind of player he’s becoming on that final drive.”
The Patriots’ defense deserves immense credit for bottling up the Bills’ potent attack, holding running back James Cook to just 49 yards on 15 carries and limiting Buffalo’s offense to just 20 points, well below their season average.
While the Bills will lament the costly mistakes, the victory signals a significant shift in the AFC East. The Patriots, now winners of back-to-back games for the first time since 2022, proved they are a legitimate threat and earned an early-season tiebreaker over the division favorite. For New England fans, this is more than just a win—it’s a sign that the new era is officially taking shape. The league is officially on notice.
