The New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 29-26 in a thrilling AFC East matchup on October 4, 2026. The game took place at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, where Buffalo entered the contest with a 3-0 record. New England improved to 2-2 after overcoming a late 26-21 deficit. Drake Maye delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, throwing three touchdown passes for 269 yards. The Patriots also produced several crucial defensive plays during the final minutes.
Buffalo controlled portions of the second half and took a five-point lead with less than five minutes remaining. Josh Allen connected with Keon Coleman for a 34-yard touchdown that appeared to put the Bills in position to protect their perfect home record. New England responded with a decisive scoring drive. Maye found Efton Chism III for a spectacular 23-yard touchdown, then connected with Rhamondre Stevenson for the successful two-point conversion. Craig Woodson sealed the victory with a late interception.
Final Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 29 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 26 |
The Patriots won 29-26 after trailing 26-21 late in the fourth quarter. New England opened the game strongly and scored the only touchdown of the first quarter. Buffalo responded with 17 points in the second quarter to take control before halftime. The Patriots answered with a touchdown in the third quarter and then produced the game’s decisive scoring sequence in the final minutes.
The fourth quarter contained the biggest swings of the game. Buffalo initially moved ahead 20-21 after a field goal, then extended its advantage to 26-21 on Coleman’s touchdown. New England answered with an eight-point drive that included Chism’s touchdown and a successful two-point conversion. That sequence gave the Patriots the lead with only 1:50 remaining.
Drake Maye Player Stats
Drake Maye was the central figure in New England’s victory. He completed 22 of 37 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw one interception. Maye added 54 rushing yards on eight carries, including a 26-yard run that helped New England sustain its offensive attack. His ability to make plays with both his arm and legs created problems for Buffalo’s defense.
Maye saved his biggest passing play for the final drive. With New England trailing 26-21, he rolled to his right and delivered a deep pass toward the end zone. Efton Chism III made a spectacular one-handed 23-yard touchdown catch. Maye then completed the two-point conversion to Stevenson, putting the Patriots ahead 29-26 with 1:50 remaining.
Josh Allen Player Stats
Josh Allen completed 23 of 33 passes for 253 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also rushed five times for four yards and scored a rushing touchdown. Allen helped Buffalo build a 26-21 lead in the fourth quarter, but his late interception prevented the Bills from getting another opportunity to regain the advantage.
Allen’s rushing touchdown came in the second quarter on a two-yard run. The score tied the game at 14-14 and represented an important moment in Buffalo’s second-quarter surge. Allen later found Coleman for a 34-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. However, the Patriots defense produced its most important play when Craig Woodson intercepted Allen near the New England 19-yard line.
Patriots Offensive Player Stats
New England’s offense generated 405 total yards and maintained possession for 33:41. The Patriots ran 73 offensive plays compared with 54 for Buffalo. Their balanced approach included 35 rushing attempts and 38 passing attempts, giving Maye enough support to attack the Bills defense throughout the afternoon.
| Patriots Player | Passing | Rushing | Receiving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Maye | 22/37, 269 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT | 8-54 | — |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | — | 13-47, 1 TD | 3-27 |
| TreVeyon Henderson | — | 14-42 | — |
| Hunter Henry | — | — | 5-62 |
| Romeo Doubs | — | — | 6-58, 2 TD |
| Mack Hollins | — | — | 3-53 |
| Efton Chism III | — | — | 2-42, 1 TD |
Romeo Doubs was another major contributor for New England. He caught six passes for 58 yards and scored two touchdowns. His first touchdown came on a 14-yard reception in the opening quarter. His second arrived on a two-yard touchdown catch during the third quarter. Those scores gave the Patriots an important offensive foundation.
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Rhamondre Stevenson and the Patriots Running Game
Rhamondre Stevenson carried the ball 13 times for 47 yards and scored a touchdown. His one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter helped New England regain the lead after Buffalo had tied the game. Stevenson also contributed three receptions for 27 yards, making him useful in both phases of the offense.
TreVeyon Henderson added 42 rushing yards on 14 attempts, while Maye led the Patriots in rushing yardage with 54 yards. The Patriots therefore received meaningful rushing production from several players. Stevenson also became part of the decisive final sequence when he caught Maye’s successful two-point conversion pass following Chism’s touchdown.
Buffalo Bills Offensive Player Stats
Buffalo finished with 340 total yards and 54 offensive plays. The Bills averaged 6.3 yards per play, which was higher than New England’s 5.5. However, Buffalo struggled to maintain its offensive rhythm during key portions of the game and could not close out its late lead.
| Bills Player | Passing | Rushing | Receiving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Allen | 23/33, 253 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT | 5-4, 1 TD | — |
| James Cook | — | 12-75, 1 TD | 2-8 |
| Keon Coleman | — | — | 6-116, 1 TD |
| Khalil Shakir | — | — | 7-82 |
| Dawson Knox | — | — | 2-13 |
| Dalton Kincaid | — | — | 1-7 |
James Cook led Buffalo’s rushing attack with 75 yards on 12 carries and scored an eight-yard touchdown. Keon Coleman was the standout receiver, finishing with six receptions for 116 yards and a 34-yard touchdown. Khalil Shakir also produced seven catches for 82 yards, including a 51-yard reception.
Keon Coleman Leads Bills Receivers
Keon Coleman provided Buffalo with its biggest receiving performance. He caught six passes for 116 yards and scored the Bills’ final touchdown. His 34-yard touchdown reception from Allen came with 4:27 remaining and moved Buffalo ahead 26-21. At that point, the Bills appeared close to securing another home victory.
Coleman’s performance gave Buffalo an explosive option downfield. His touchdown also demonstrated the connection between Allen and the young receiver. However, the Bills could not maintain their advantage after the Patriots answered immediately. New England’s final scoring drive changed the game’s direction and left Buffalo with too little time to recover.
Patriots vs Bills Team Statistics
The overall statistics show that New England controlled the game in several important areas. The Patriots recorded 405 total yards compared with Buffalo’s 340 and ran 73 plays compared with 54. New England also held the ball for more than 33 minutes. Both teams committed two turnovers, making the final defensive sequence particularly important.
| Team Statistic | Patriots | Bills |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 405 | 340 |
| Plays | 73 | 54 |
| Yards Per Play | 5.5 | 6.3 |
| Possession | 33:41 | 26:19 |
| Rushing Attempts | 35 | 20 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Third Down | 5/12 | 6/12 |
| First Downs | 26 | 19 |
| Red Zone | 3/3 | 2/4 |
New England’s ability to sustain drives proved valuable. The Patriots produced 26 first downs and converted five of 12 third-down opportunities. Buffalo converted six of 12 third downs but had fewer total offensive plays. The Patriots also went 3-for-3 in the red zone, while Buffalo finished 2-for-4.
Key Fourth-Quarter Comeback
The Patriots entered the final period trailing 21-20 after Buffalo’s 38-yard field goal. The Bills then produced their biggest play of the quarter when Allen connected with Coleman for a 34-yard touchdown. Buffalo led 26-21 after the failed two-point attempt, leaving New England with a major challenge and only a few minutes remaining.
Maye responded with a composed final drive. New England moved 73 yards on eight plays before Maye found Chism for the go-ahead touchdown. The Patriots chose to attempt a two-point conversion rather than settle for a one-point lead. Maye completed the pass to Stevenson, giving New England a three-point advantage with 1:50 remaining.
Efton Chism III Delivers the Winning Catch
Efton Chism III became the unlikely hero of the matchup. With New England facing a critical third down near the Buffalo 23-yard line, Maye rolled right and threw toward the end zone. Chism made an acrobatic one-handed catch for the touchdown, immediately changing the game. The reception gave New England a 27-26 lead before the successful two-point conversion.
Chism finished the game with two receptions for 42 yards. Although his total was modest compared with Coleman’s production, his final catch carried enormous significance. The touchdown demonstrated Maye’s confidence under pressure and gave the Patriots their first lead since the third quarter. It also became the defining offensive play of the game.
Craig Woodson Seals the Patriots Victory
Buffalo still had an opportunity after Chism’s touchdown. The Bills received the ball with 1:50 remaining and needed only a field goal to tie the game. Instead, the Patriots defense forced the decisive turnover. Craig Woodson intercepted Allen near the New England 19-yard line, ending Buffalo’s final possession and allowing New England to run out the clock.
The interception capped a strong defensive response from New England. Buffalo had moved the ball effectively at several points, but the Patriots produced the critical stop when the game was on the line. New England’s two takeaways matched Buffalo’s total, while the late interception carried far greater importance because it directly protected the three-point lead.
Match Highlights and Biggest Takeaways
The Patriots’ victory was significant because Buffalo entered the matchup undefeated at 3-0. New England not only handed the Bills their first loss of the season but also became the first visiting team to win at Buffalo’s new Highmark Stadium. The Patriots also improved to 2-2 and earned consecutive regular-season wins over Buffalo.
Drake Maye’s three-touchdown performance was the biggest offensive development for New England. Romeo Doubs scored twice, Stevenson contributed a rushing touchdown and the decisive two-point catch, while Chism produced the winning reception. For Buffalo, Coleman and Cook provided strong performances, but the Bills could not protect their 26-21 fourth-quarter lead.
Conclusion
The New England Patriots’ 29-26 victory over the Buffalo Bills was one of the most dramatic games of Week 4. New England overcame a five-point fourth-quarter deficit behind Drake Maye’s late touchdown pass to Efton Chism III. The Patriots then completed the two-point conversion before Craig Woodson intercepted Josh Allen on Buffalo’s final possession. The victory moved New England to 2-2 and handed Buffalo its first loss of the 2026 season.
The player statistics tell the story of a closely contested AFC East battle. Maye threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns, while Allen produced 253 passing yards and two total touchdowns. Coleman finished with 116 receiving yards, Doubs scored twice, and Stevenson contributed in multiple phases. Ultimately, New England’s late execution decided the game and delivered a memorable road win in Buffalo.
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