The Patriots scored late in the fourth quarter to make it a three-point game with 1:11 left. They attempted an onside kick, and the Bills recovered after a momentary bobble by Khalil Shakir. Ty Johnson ran for a first down, and Allen ran for a first down on 4th-and-short to secure the win.
The Bills won, 24-21, to improve to 12-3 on the season.
Here are some immediate takeaways from the game:
1. Bills needed James Cook clutch performance
The Bills’ defense came out flat against one of the NFL’s worst offenses, and Buffalo faced a 14-0 deficit early in the second quarter. That’s when running back James Cook took over.
Cook took a handoff from Allen on a zone run play, found the opening after assessing the defense, and shot through the hole like a dart.
He evaded one would-be tackler and then was off to the races. Cook scored on the 46-yard run, giving him his third 40-plus-yard touchdown run in his last four games.
Cook has four 40-plus-yard touchdown runs on the season, setting a new Bills franchise record for a running back.
Cook kept his foot on the gas in the third quarter when he caught a short touchdown pass from Allen to tie the score at 14 points apiece.
Cook’s 16 total touchdowns this season are the second-most in Bills history, behind only O.J. Simpson’s 23 in 1975.
2. Greg Rousseau locks it down in the 4th
The Bills’ offense got going in the second half, scoring on their first two possessions, but the Patriots still had life early in the fourth quarter.
New England trailed by just three points and got the ball deep in their zone. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye attempted to throw it backward to running back Rhamondre Stevenson on a quick screen-type pass, but defensive end Greg Rousseau blew him up as the ball hit his hands.
When the ball hit the turf, officials ruled it was a fumble. Slot cornerback Taron Johnson fell on the ball in the end zone and put the game out of reach with a defensive touchdown.
Johnson left the game during the next possession after spotters required him to get evaluated for a head injury. He went into the locker room and later returned to the game.
3. Scary Josh Allen moment
Allen was injured in the fourth quarter with what the team called a right elbow contusion.
Trainers spent a few minutes with him on the sideline, checking out the injury before throwing to see if he could return to the game. He ultimately did go back in and finished.
Allen hurt his arm against the Detroit Lions last week and had to go to the X-ray room after the game. He said it was fine and just a weird hit to his funny bone.
With the playoffs approaching, the Bills must use caution with Allen in the team’s final two games.
If the Chiefs win on Christmas, they’ll lock up the No. 1 seed for the playoffs. Buffalo should seriously consider shutting Allen down until the playoffs. He ran the ball five times against the Patriots, which is a significant risk.
Allen reportedly played through a broken hand earlier this season.
4. Curious case of Baylon Spector
Spector started for injured linebacker Matt Milano even though second-year linebacker Dorian Williams was active.
Williams started most of the season before Milano returned from a torn biceps muscle this month. Williams entered the game on a few third downs, but Spector was the choice by coach Sean McDermott for the majority of the first half.
Spector struggled. He was flagged for defensive pass interference on the Patriots’ first touchdown drive and was out of position in coverage on multiple plays.
The big knock on Spector has been his inability to stay healthy. He spent four games on injured reserve in November with a calf injury and then reinjured it in practice this week. He left Sunday’s game with another calf injury, allowing Williams to play at the weakside linebacker spot the rest of the way.
Williams suffered an elbow injury last week against the Lions. Perhaps that played into the reasoning behind Spector getting the nod.
5. Cam Lewis’s big moment & Kaiir Elam struggles
Lewis was run over on Stevenson’s first-quarter touchdown run but responded in the third quarter with his first career interception.
Maye was playing well through most of three quarters when he thought he saw his tight end flashing open near the back of the end zone. Lewis read the rookie’s eyes and came flying into the play. He came down with a sliding catch and stopped the Patriots from taking the lead back.
Lewis started for injured safety Taylor Rapp, and rookie Cole Bishop got another start with Damar Hamlin still out with a rib injury.
Kaiir Elam started for the injured Rasul Douglas and had a rough game. He was flagged multiple times for pass interference in the second half. He was also responsible for the lapse in coverage on the Patriots’ first touchdown.
New England receiver Kayshon Boutte ran a great route, and Elam ran for him stride for stride. But Elam couldn’t get his body around in time to make a play on the ball. Boutte hauled it in and got both feet in bounds.
