"The New England Patriots appeared well on the way to convincingly claiming their first AFC East title since 2019. They were literally snatching the crown from the Buffalo Bills -- and then the five-time reigning division champions turned it up several notches. New England drew first blood in their second head-to-head clash of the season, storming out to a 21-0 lead early in the opening half. Nevertheless, the Bills weathered the storm and ultimately got the last laugh."
"Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen led the charge as the Bills fought back to pull out a 35-31 victory in Foxborough. He put the squad on his back when they needed him most. Conversely, Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye didn't meet the intensity (and the moment). There's no sugarcoating it: Maye and the Patriots squandered a massive opportunity. The ramifications of their collapse against the Bills is reflected in the latest conference standings."
"Updated AFC playoff picture after Patriots' disastrous meltdown loss to Bills Not only is the AFC East suddenly still in play for the Bills. The No. 1 seed is, too. It wasn't pretty, yet they pried open a path to home-field advantage and a bye as the Patriots saw those perks slip through their fingers. Per The Athletic's Playoff Simulator ($)"
The Bills erased a 21-0 deficit to defeat the Patriots 35-31 in Foxborough, led by reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen. Allen carried the team during the comeback, while Patriots second-year quarterback Drake Maye failed to match the required intensity. The loss cost New England important advantages in the conference standings, allowing Buffalo to keep the AFC East alive and open a path toward the No. 1 seed. The playoff picture shifted as a result, with both division and potential home-field implications impacted by the Patriots' collapse and the Bills' resilience.
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