National Football League
Buffalo 27, New England 21
When: 1:00 PM ET, Sunday, December 31, 2023
Where: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
Temperature: 35°
Head Official: Alan Eck
Attendance: 70772

Quarterback Josh Allen rushed for a pair of 1-yard touchdowns and the Buffalo Bills held off a late rally by the New England Patriots to earn a 27-21 victory on Sunday afternoon in Orchard Park, N.Y.

With the win, Buffalo (10-6) will go into the final week of the regular season holding the AFC's second wild-card berth but not yet assured of a postseason spot.

Allen put the Bills up 27-14 with 10:42 remaining in the third quarter when he snuck into the end zone with the help of a push from running back Latavius Murray.

Ezekiel Elliott rushed for a 6-yard score early in the fourth to pull New England (4-12) within six, and the Patriots ended up getting the ball back with 6:41 left in the game.

However, New England failed to get past its 11-yard line, and Buffalo then ran out the clock.

Allen made up for a shaky day through the air with his performance on the ground. He completed just 15 of 30 throws for 169 yards and was picked off once. Dalton Kincaid had four catches for 87 yards.

Allen was also knocked from the game in the final two minutes due to an apparent left shoulder injury.

The Patriots' Bailey Zappe finished with 209 yards and three interceptions on 16-for-26 passing. Elliott went for 39 yards on 14 carries.

Jalen Reagor wasted little time putting New England in front, taking the game's opening kickoff 98 yards to the end zone.

But the Bills' defense then took over.

Zappe was picked off twice and Pharaoh Brown lost a fumble following a 5-yard reception, allowing Tyler Bass to sandwich a pair of field goals -- from 35 and 24 yards out -- around Allen's 1-yard scoring plunge.

Bass' second field goal provided Buffalo with a 13-7 edge with 2:16 left in the first quarter, and Rasul Douglas made it 20-7 with a 40-yard pick-6 early in the second.

The Patriots got back on track with a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 17-yard rushing TD by Zappe.

--Field Level Media

Top Game Performances
Rushing
New England   Buffalo
Ezekiel Elliott Player James Cook
14 Attempts 16
39 Yards 48
2.8 Avg Yards 3.0
1 Touchdowns 0
9 Long 8
Receiving
New England   Buffalo
Kevin Harris Player Dalton Kincaid
2 Receptions 4
54 Yards 87
27.0 Avg Yards 21.8
0 Touchdowns 0
48 Long 51
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
New England 294 103 191 3 0 1 1.0 2
Buffalo 281 127 154 3 2 3 3.0 1
Upcoming Games
  • Buffalo will play their next game on the road against Miami. The Bills have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .833 after a loss.
  • New England will play their next game at home against N.Y. Jets. The Patriots have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .333 after a loss.