The New England Patriots vs Buffalo Bills Match Player Stats from October 4, 2026, show how New England pulled off one of Week 4’s biggest surprises with a 29–26 road victory. The Patriots entered Buffalo after a difficult Week 3 loss, but Drake Maye answered with his best performance of the young season. He threw three touchdown passes for 269 yards, including the late score that gave New England the lead with 1:50 remaining.
Buffalo appeared to have control after taking a 26–21 lead late in the fourth quarter. However, Maye engineered a quick scoring drive, finding Efton Chism III for a spectacular 23-yard touchdown. The Patriots then converted a two-point try before Craig Woodson intercepted Josh Allen on Buffalo’s next possession. The victory moved New England to 2–2 and handed the Bills their first loss of the season.
Final Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 29 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 26 |
New England opened the scoring on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Maye to Romeo Doubs. Buffalo answered with James Cook’s eight-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Rhamondre Stevenson then restored the Patriots’ lead with a one-yard rushing score before Josh Allen responded with a two-yard touchdown run. A late Tyler Bass field goal gave Buffalo a 17–14 halftime advantage.
The Patriots regained control in the third quarter when Maye connected with Doubs for a two-yard touchdown. Buffalo later moved ahead again through Bass’ 38-yard field goal and Allen’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman. With Buffalo leading 26–21, Maye drove New England down the field and hit Chism for the winning touchdown. The successful two-point conversion made it 29–26.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | October 4, 2026 |
| Venue | Highmark Stadium |
| Location | Orchard Park, New York |
| Final Score | Patriots 29, Bills 26 |
| Patriots Record | 2–2 |
| Bills Record | 3–1 |
| Winning Team | New England Patriots |
The result was particularly important for New England because it came against an unbeaten Buffalo team playing its first season at its new stadium. The Patriots had entered Week 4 at 1–2 after a 36–5 loss to Jacksonville, making the victory an important response from both Maye and coach Mike Vrabel.
For Buffalo, the loss ended a perfect 3–0 start. The Bills still produced 340 total yards and moved the ball efficiently at 6.3 yards per play, but two turnovers and the late defensive breakdown proved costly. Buffalo also could not stop New England’s final scoring drive when the game was on the line.
Team Statistics Breakdown
| Statistic | Patriots | Bills |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 405 | 340 |
| Yards per Play | 5.5 | 6.3 |
| Plays | 73 | 54 |
| Rushes | 35 | 20 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Penalties | 6–35 | 5–31 |
| Possession | 33:41 | 26:19 |
| Fumbles | 3 | 2 |
| Lost Fumbles | 1 | 1 |
New England generated more total offense and controlled possession for more than 33 minutes. The Patriots ran 73 plays compared with only 54 for Buffalo, giving their offense additional opportunities even though the Bills averaged more yards on each play.
Buffalo’s efficiency was not enough to overcome the difference in volume and the timing of its mistakes. The Bills had two turnovers, including Allen’s late interception, while New England also committed two turnovers. The Patriots’ ability to recover after those mistakes became an important part of the victory.
Read Jacksonville Jaguars vs Cincinnati Bengals Match Player Stats and Key Performers
Quarterback Performance
| Quarterback | Comp/Att | Pass Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Maye | 22/37 | 269 | 3 | 1 |
| Josh Allen | 23/33 | 253 | 1 | 1 |
Maye delivered the performance New England needed. He completed 22 of 37 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns. Although he threw one interception, he stayed aggressive late and produced the decisive scoring drive. His final touchdown pass to Chism was the biggest throw of the game.
Allen finished with 23 completions on 33 attempts for 253 yards, one passing touchdown and one interception. He also scored on the ground in the second quarter. Allen’s touchdown pass to Coleman gave Buffalo a 26–21 lead, but his late interception at the New England 19-yard line ended the Bills’ chance to answer the Patriots’ comeback.
Rushing Statistics
| Player | Carries | Yards | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Maye | 8 | 54 | 0 | 26 |
| Rhamondre Stevenson | 13 | 47 | 1 | 10 |
| TreVeyon Henderson | 14 | 42 | 0 | 11 |
| James Cook | 12 | 75 | 1 | 17 |
| Josh Allen | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| DJ Moore | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Maye was New England’s leading rusher with 54 yards on eight carries. His mobility helped extend plays and gave the Patriots another dimension against Buffalo’s defense. Stevenson added 47 rushing yards and scored a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter before playing an important role in the decisive two-point conversion.
Cook was Buffalo’s strongest runner, gaining 75 yards on 12 carries and scoring the Bills’ first touchdown. Allen added a rushing touchdown of his own, but Buffalo’s overall ground game produced fewer opportunities because the offense relied heavily on its passing attack. Cook’s 17-yard run was his longest rushing play of the afternoon.
Receiving Statistics
| Player | Receptions | Yards | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Henry | 5 | 62 | 0 | 20 |
| Romeo Doubs | 6 | 58 | 2 | 15 |
| Mack Hollins | 3 | 53 | 0 | 26 |
| Efton Chism III | 2 | 42 | 1 | 23 |
| Keon Coleman | 6 | 116 | 1 | 34 |
| Khalil Shakir | 7 | 82 | 0 | 51 |
| Dawson Knox | 2 | 13 | 0 | 8 |
Doubs was one of New England’s biggest offensive weapons. He caught six passes for 58 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown came on a 14-yard play in the opening quarter, while his second came on a two-yard reception in the third quarter. He also converted important fourth-down opportunities during the game.
Coleman led Buffalo’s receiving group with six catches for 116 yards and one touchdown. His 34-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter temporarily put the Bills ahead 26–21. Shakir also produced seven receptions for 82 yards, including a 51-yard catch that helped create a major play for Buffalo.
Key Player Performances
Maye was the obvious standout for New England because of his three touchdown passes and late-game composure. Doubs added two touchdown receptions, while Stevenson contributed both on the ground and through the air. Chism, however, produced the play that will be remembered most: his one-handed 23-yard touchdown catch gave the Patriots the lead with less than two minutes remaining.
Coleman was Buffalo’s top receiving performer, while Cook gave the Bills an effective rushing option. Allen also produced 257 total yards when his passing and rushing numbers are combined. Yet the late interception overshadowed an otherwise productive game and prevented Buffalo from responding after the Patriots’ final touchdown.
Important Game Moments
The game started with New England controlling the first quarter. Maye’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Doubs completed a 12-play, 97-yard opening scoring drive. Buffalo responded in the second quarter with Cook’s touchdown, but Stevenson quickly put New England back in front. Allen’s rushing touchdown and Bass’ late field goal then sent Buffalo into halftime with a 17–14 lead.
The biggest sequence came in the final minutes. Coleman caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Allen to give Buffalo a 26–21 lead with 4:27 remaining. Maye answered with a quick drive that ended with Chism’s leaping one-handed touchdown. After the two-point conversion, Craig Woodson intercepted Allen on Buffalo’s next possession, allowing New England to run out the clock.
Turning Point
The decisive turning point was Chism’s touchdown catch. Facing a third down near the Buffalo 23-yard line, Maye rolled to his right and threw toward the end zone. Chism made a remarkable one-handed grab for the 23-yard touchdown, putting New England ahead 27–26. The Patriots then converted the two-point attempt with Maye finding Stevenson.
The defensive play that followed completed the turnaround. Buffalo had another opportunity with enough time to respond, but Craig Woodson intercepted Allen at the New England 19-yard line. The Patriots protected the ball afterward and used the remaining clock to secure the 29–26 victory.
Final Match Summary
The New England Patriots vs Buffalo Bills Match Player Stats highlight a dramatic divisional game decided in the final two minutes. Maye finished with 269 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Doubs caught two scoring passes and Chism delivered the winning touchdown. New England also produced 405 total yards and held the ball for 33:41.
Buffalo had strong individual performances from Allen, Cook, Coleman and Shakir, but the Bills could not protect their late lead. New England scored eight fourth-quarter points, including the decisive touchdown and two-point conversion, before Woodson’s interception ended Buffalo’s final drive. The Patriots improved to 2–2, while the Bills dropped to 3–1.
Stay More Update FEATURE POSTS
