Three games. Three seasons’ worth of drama packed into a single AFC East calendar year. When the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills squared off across the 2025 NFL season, football fans witnessed something genuinely unexpected: a rivalry reborn, a young quarterback’s coming-of-age story, and the most compelling divisional chess match the AFC East had produced in nearly a decade.
Drake Maye stepped under center at Highmark Stadium on a Sunday night in early October with the weight of a franchise rebuild on his shoulders — and delivered the most memorable performance of his young career. Weeks later, Josh Allen engineered a stunning second-half masterpiece at Gillette Stadium that reminded everyone why he remains one of football’s most dangerous players. The player statistics from these three 2025 matchups reveal a rivalry where individual brilliance, costly mistakes, and clutch execution separated winners from losers in the narrowest of margins.
Having thoroughly analyzed every drive, every snap count, and every advanced metric from these three meetings, this is the complete breakdown of what happened — and what it means.
The 2025 Season Series Overview
| Game | Result | Location |
| Week 5 (Oct 5, Sunday Night Football) | Patriots 23 – Bills 20 | Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park NY |
| Week 15 (Dec 14) | Bills 35 – Patriots 31 | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA |
| Week 18 (Jan 4, 2026) | Bills 35 – Patriots 31 | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA |
New England took the first meeting in a dramatic primetime finish. Buffalo answered with two consecutive comeback victories — but not before the Patriots had established themselves as genuine AFC East contenders for the first time since 2019.
GAME 1 — Week 5, Sunday Night Football: Patriots 23, Bills 20
Setting the Stage
Five weeks into the 2025 season, the Buffalo Bills arrived at their home stadium with a perfect 4-0 record — the NFL’s last remaining undefeated team after the Philadelphia Eagles had earlier fallen to Denver. What followed was one of the season’s defining early performances, as New England handed Buffalo its first defeat and served notice that the AFC East power structure was shifting.
Complete Team Statistics
| Category | Patriots | Bills |
| Final Score | 23 | 20 |
| Passing Yards | 273 | 253 |
| Rushing Yards | 61 | 45 |
| Total Yards | 334 | 298 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Penalties | 9 for 80 yds | 9 for 93 yds |
| Field Goals | 3-for-3 | 2-for-2 |
| Attendance | 70,802 | Highmark Stadium |
Drake Maye: Primetime Baptism
No performance better defined the 2025 New England Patriots than Drake Maye’s showing on Sunday Night Football in Buffalo. Facing the AFC’s stingiest pass defense on the road in his first career primetime game, the second-year quarterback delivered with ice-cold composure when his team needed it most.
Official Passing Statistics
- Completions / Attempts: 22 of 30
- Completion Percentage: 73.3%
- Passing Yards: 273
- Touchdowns: 0 (New England won through ground game and kicks)
- Interceptions: 0
- Rushing Yards: 12
- Second Half Accuracy: 13 completions on 14 attempts — 184 yards
- Fourth Quarter: 6 completions, 6 attempts — perfect
Maye’s overall line was impressive, but the numbers that matter most are his second-half splits. Down 10-6 entering the third quarter, he authored a complete turnaround — completing 93% of his throws over the final 30 minutes, including a flawless fourth quarter where he missed on zero attempts.
The Game-Winning Drive
With the score knotted at 20-20 and 2:12 remaining on the clock, Maye stepped into the huddle for what became the signature moment of his young professional career. Starting at his own 26-yard line, he needed to move the offense far enough for a meaningful field goal attempt — all while protecting the football and not giving Allen time for a late response.
The drive covered 37 yards on five plays. Maye began it by throwing while a Bills pass rusher was physically dragging him to the ground — somehow maintaining his release point and finding Stefon Diggs for 12 yards. Two plays later he dropped a precise sideline throw to Kayshon Boutte for 19 more, crossing midfield. Running backs grounded the ball inside the red zone. Andy Borregales walked out for a 52-yard attempt with 20 seconds remaining, struck it cleanly, and the Patriots led 23-20.
“That was fun,” Maye said with obvious delight after the game. “Two-minute drive at the end to win it — that’s exactly what you want.”
He was right. That drive — calm, controlled, one completion after another — announced Maye’s arrival as a quarterback capable of delivering on football’s biggest stages.
Stefon Diggs: Revenge and Redemption
The most emotionally charged individual performance of the entire 2025 AFC East season belonged to wide receiver Stefon Diggs, whose return to Buffalo produced one of the year’s most memorable statistical lines and one of its most compelling human stories.
Full Statistical Line
- Receptions: 10
- Receiving Yards: 146
- Second-Half Receiving Yards: 119
- Key Blocks: Primary target on the game-winning drive
Diggs spent four seasons in Buffalo before being traded to Houston in early 2024, and his tenure there produced franchise receiving records that may stand for years. Returning to his old stadium wearing the visiting team’s uniform created an atmosphere unlike any other regular-season game that week.
He responded by producing his finest game of the 2025 season. His second-half explosion — 119 of his 146 yards came after halftime — directly fueled both of Rhamondre Stevenson’s rushing touchdowns. A 32-yard catch-and-run set up the first score; a 30-yard reception enabled the second. On the game-winning drive, he made the first key grab while Maye was being tackled.
“It was lit, prime time,” Diggs said postgame, clearly energized by the setting. “I knew it was going to be a test for us.”
His route-running craft showed repeatedly — creating separation against cornerbacks who knew exactly where he wanted to go. His ability to convert a broken play into a significant gain on the final drive, adjusting his route in real time as Maye scrambled, highlighted the veteran intelligence that younger receivers simply cannot replicate.
Rhamondre Stevenson: Redemption Through Touchdowns
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson’s afternoon followed a classic narrative arc: early mistake, complete recovery.
Statistical Line
- Rushing Attempts: 14
- Rushing Yards: 52
- Touchdowns: 2 (4-yard run, 7-yard run)
- Fumble: 1 (lost in Q1, directly led to Bills possession)
Stevenson fumbled on New England’s second possession of the game — a momentum-killing turnover that handed Buffalo the ball in good field position early. Rather than allowing the mistake to compound, he channeled it into something positive. Both of his touchdowns came in the second half, each capping drives that Diggs’ big receptions had constructed.
His 4-yard score to retake a 13-10 lead capped a 74-yard drive. His 7-yard score to push the advantage to 20-10 followed Marcus Jones’ interception — the play that essentially decided the game’s outcome. Stevenson’s ability to bounce back from an early mental lapse and deliver decisive scores was exactly the veteran resilience a young quarterback needs around him in close games.
Andy Borregales: Three Kicks, One Legend
Rookie kicker Andy Borregales turned a single evening at Highmark Stadium into a career-defining performance.
Kicking Log
- Q1 30-yard field goal: 3-0 New England
- Q2 19-yard field goal: 6-3 New England (halftime lead)
- Q4 52-yard field goal (0:15 remaining): 23-20 New England — FINAL
A perfect 3-for-3 on the night, including the 52-yarder that ended the game. Mike Vrabel demonstrated enormous trust in a rookie kicker by sending Borregales out with the game on the line from that distance. That trust was completely repaid.
Marcus Jones: The Interception That Turned the Tide
New England cornerback Marcus Jones delivered the defensive play of the game at the most critical possible moment.
With the Patriots clinging to a 13-10 lead in the third quarter, Buffalo drove deep into New England territory. Allen scanned the field under pressure and forced a throw over the middle toward Khalil Shakir. Jones anticipated the route perfectly, undercut it, and made a diving interception at the New England 10-yard line.
The Patriots took over with prime field position and marched 90 yards in 11 plays for Stevenson’s second touchdown — a 14-point swing built on a single defensive read. Jones made his second consecutive game with a defensive touchdown contribution (he had scored the previous week) but his impact here was equally important without needing to score.
Josh Allen: Three Turnovers, One Unforgettable Quote
For all his brilliance, Josh Allen’s Week 5 performance was undermined entirely by a self-destructive turnover performance that he addressed with characteristic directness afterward.
Official Statistics
- Completions / Attempts: 22 of 31
- Completion Percentage: 71.0%
- Passing Yards: 253
- Touchdowns: 2 (Curtis Samuel 6-yard catch; Keon Coleman TD)
- Interceptions: 1 (Marcus Jones, red zone)
- Fumbles Lost: 1 (botched exchange with Dawson Knox, opening drive)
- Team Fumbles Lost: 2 (Keon Coleman also fumbled)
Buffalo turned the ball over three times. Three possessions that could have translated to touchdowns instead gifted New England field position, momentum, and ultimately a victory that snapped a 14-game Bills home winning streak.
Allen’s opening fumble — a miscommunication on a handoff attempt that ended Buffalo’s first possession deep in New England territory — set the tone for a frustrated evening. His second-quarter interception by Jones came when he forced a tight window throw over the middle while trailing, compounding the damage.
“We just played sloppy. Not going to win a football game turning the ball over three times,” Allen said plainly. “That’s just bad football.”
His 253-yard, two-touchdown line would have been sufficient to win most games. Against a team that converted its turnover opportunities efficiently and executed a flawless kicking game, it simply wasn’t enough.
GAME 2 — Week 15, December 14: Bills 35, Patriots 31
The Comeback Story
Seven weeks after Drake Maye’s primetime victory in Buffalo, the two teams met at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough with the AFC East division title on the line. The Patriots led 24-7 at halftime. They lost 35-31. The second-half performance from Josh Allen was one of the most remarkable individual comebacks in Bills franchise history.
Complete Team Statistics
| Category | Bills | Patriots |
| Final Score | 35 | 31 |
| Halftime Score | 7 | 24 |
| Total Yards | 385 | 367 |
| Second-Half Points | 28 | 7 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Rushing Yards (Cook) | 107 | — |
| Henderson Rushing | — | 148 |
TreVeyon Henderson: Making NFL History
The Week 15 matchup between these rivals will forever be remembered for one player’s place in NFL history books. Rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson delivered a performance that put him alongside one of the league’s most celebrated names.
Complete Statistical Line
- Rushing Attempts: 14
- Rushing Yards: 148
- Yards Per Carry: 10.6
- Touchdowns: 2 (one 52-yard run; one 65-yard run)
- Historical Achievement: Only the second player in NFL history to record two rushes of 50+ yards for touchdowns in separate games during the same season, joining Chris Johnson (2009)
Henderson’s 65-yard score stood as New England’s longest rushing touchdown since 2014. Starting behind his blockers with patience before bursting through an opening and outrunning every Bills defender, the play showcased the explosive first step and long speed that made him a high draft selection.
His 10.6 yards-per-carry average across 14 attempts reflected a combination of exceptional individual talent and a first-half game script that allowed New England to establish dominant rushing lanes. Together with Drake Maye’s two rushing touchdowns, the Patriots rushed for over 200 yards in the opening 30 minutes — building what appeared to be an insurmountable first-half advantage.
Josh Allen: Erasing 21 Points
Down 21-0 at halftime in a hostile environment, with his team facing potential season-defining defeat, Josh Allen authored the finest individual second-half performance of the entire 2025 AFC East season.
Official Statistics
- Completions / Attempts: 19 of 28
- Passing Yards: 193 (all coming in second half and overtime)
- Touchdowns: 3 (Knox twice; Cook once)
- Interceptions: 0 in the comeback
- Rushing Yards: 35 (including a first-down conversion on fourth-and-1)
Allen’s methodical approach after halftime was a study in controlled aggression. He converted third downs consistently, moved the chains with his legs on critical possessions, and found tight end Dawson Knox twice in the red zone — a connection that has defined Buffalo’s short-area scoring for years.
His fourth-down throw late in the third quarter — a 37-yard strike to Dalton Kincaid that kept the comeback alive when a turnover on downs would have ended it — was the most technically demanding throw of the series. Under pressure, reading coverage, delivering an accurate ball down the field on a situation where failure meant likely defeat: that’s what separates elite quarterbacks from merely good ones.
“No matter what the score is, if we’ve got the ball and a chance, we like our chances,” Allen said after the game.
James Cook: The Workhorse Engine
Running back James Cook provided the physical foundation that made Allen’s aerial brilliance possible in the second half.
Statistical Line
- Rushing Attempts: 22
- Rushing Yards: 107
- Yards Per Carry: 4.9
- Touchdowns: 1 (3-yard run)
Cook’s 22-carry workload was a career-high for volume in a single game in 2025. His patient, downhill running style between the tackles wore down New England’s defensive front across the third and fourth quarters, creating fatigue that opened windows for Allen’s passing game.
His single touchdown — a 3-yard plunge — came on a sustained third-quarter drive that cut the deficit to 24-21 and shifted the game’s momentum permanently. The combination of Cook’s volume rushing and Allen’s precision passing gave Buffalo an offensive balance that proved impossible for New England to contain once the Bills found their second-half rhythm.
Dawson Knox: Red Zone Reliability
Tight end Dawson Knox delivered in both red zone trips he was targeted in, catching two touchdown passes that proved crucial to the comeback.
His first score — a 4-yard grab on the Bills’ opening second-half drive — was set up by a 58-yard kickoff return from Ray Davis and a 20-yard Allen scramble that combined to give Buffalo excellent field position immediately after halftime. Knox’s second touchdown came later in the fourth quarter, converting another red zone possession into seven points and pushing Buffalo ahead.
Knox’s reliability in tight windows against linebacker coverage represents one of Allen’s most consistent weapons in high-stakes situations. In games where the Bills need short, dependable touchdowns rather than explosive plays, his intelligence and body control near the goal line consistently deliver.
Drake Maye: Historic First Half, Difficult Second
Drake Maye’s Week 15 performance illustrated the growth still required of a second-year quarterback — spectacular in the first half, limited after halftime.
His two rushing touchdowns contributed to New England’s 24-7 halftime advantage, with designed runs and bootlegs exploiting Buffalo’s aggressive pass coverage. He moved the offense efficiently in the first two quarters, taking advantage of excellent field position and executing the game plan precisely.
After halftime, the Bills’ defensive adjustments and improved blitz timing disrupted his rhythm. A third-quarter interception by Tre’Davious White provided Buffalo with prime field position that directly led to another score. Maye finished with competitive numbers overall, but the second-half struggles were the difference between defending a large lead and watching it evaporate.
These are the kinds of learning experiences that separate good quarterbacks from great ones — and Maye’s willingness to study and correct these patterns showed in his strong performances that followed in Weeks 16, 17, and the playoff run.
Drake Maye: Full 2025 Season Context
No discussion of the Patriots-Bills rivalry is complete without acknowledging what Maye accomplished across the entire 2025 campaign.
Full Regular Season Statistics
- Passing Yards: 4,394
- Touchdowns: 31
- Interceptions: 8
- Completion Percentage: Consistent 70%+ range
- QBR (Week 17 vs Jets): 99.8 — the highest value in the stat’s recorded history
Maye also set a franchise completion percentage record (91.3% against Tennessee in Week 7), surpassing Tom Brady’s previous best. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to complete over 90% of his passes while also throwing for 250+ yards and five touchdowns in a single game.
His postseason performance matched his regular season brilliance. He guided the Patriots to their first playoff berth since 2021, won a Divisional Round game against Houston, reached the AFC Championship in snowy Denver, and advanced to Super Bowl LX — New England’s first Super Bowl appearance in seven years.
For an organization that spent several years rebuilding, Maye’s emergence confirmed that the most important piece of the puzzle was already in place.
Head-to-Head Statistical Comparison: Maye vs Allen
| Metric | Drake Maye | Josh Allen |
| Series Record | 1-2 | 2-1 |
| Week 5 Passing | 22/30, 273 yds, 0 INT | 22/31, 253 yds, 1 INT |
| Week 15 Passing | Multiple TD runs, 1 INT | 19/28, 193 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT |
| Combined Turnovers | 2 across series | 4 (3 in Wk5, 1 in Wk15) |
| Game-Winning Play | 52-yd FG drive | 21-pt second-half comeback |
| Signature Stat | 13/14 in second half Wk5 | 37-yd 4th down strike Wk15 |
Both quarterbacks produced defining individual moments across this series. Maye’s career primetime debut and ice-cold two-minute drill showcased the mental composure of an elite quarterback in development. Allen’s 21-point comeback resilience demonstrated why he commands the NFL’s most committed fan base.
What These Statistics Tell Us About Both Teams
New England’s Rebuilt Identity
The Patriots’ 2025 performance against Buffalo confirmed that their rebuild had genuinely succeeded. Several key statistical indicators told the story:
Offensive balance: New England combined 273 passing yards with effective rushing production in their Week 5 win, preventing Buffalo from keying on any single dimension of attack. This balance — featuring Maye’s passing, Stevenson’s power running, Henderson’s explosiveness, and Diggs’ route running — created matchup problems that took the Bills three meetings to fully solve.
Turnover conversion rate: In the Week 5 victory, New England converted all three Buffalo turnovers into scoring opportunities. This efficiency — taking full advantage of opponents’ mistakes — separates winning teams from struggling ones.
Special teams excellence: Andy Borregales’ perfect 3-for-3 field goal performance, including the 52-yarder that won the game, reflected an organizational commitment to all three phases that championship franchises require.
Coaching development: Mike Vrabel’s ability to prepare his young quarterback for primetime pressure, manage a slender halftime lead in Week 5, and maintain team confidence through a devastating Week 15 collapse showed first-year coaching excellence.
Buffalo’s Championship Resilience
Despite losing the series opener, the Bills’ statistical profile across both games showed why they remain one of the AFC’s most dangerous teams.
The 21-point comeback in Week 15 was statistically historic. Very few teams in NFL history have erased deficits that large in the second half against competent opponents. Allen’s ability to process coverages, deliver accurate throws under pressure, and convert critical fourth downs places him among the handful of quarterbacks capable of winning any game at any moment.
Cook’s 22-carry, 107-yard performance gave the comeback effort its physical foundation. Knox’s red zone reliability provided the precise short-area scoring that tight games require. The Bills’ second-half offensive efficiency — 28 unanswered points against a defense that had dominated for two full quarters — reflected the organizational depth and competitive identity that seven consecutive 10-win seasons have produced.
Historical Significance: A Rivalry Reborn
The 2025 Patriots-Bills series carries historical weight beyond three individual games.
New England secured their first AFC East division title since 2019 — ending a six-year drought and confirming Maye’s rapid development into a franchise quarterback. The Bills’ 21-point comeback in Week 15 prevented the Patriots from clinching the division that day, extending a battle that ultimately went down to the season’s final weeks.
For the Bills, a seventh consecutive season of 10-plus victories validated their organizational consistency across coaching transitions and roster changes. Allen’s continued development — particularly his improved efficiency and fourth-quarter decision-making — kept Buffalo among the AFC’s genuine championship contenders.
For New England, the season series served as both a measuring stick and a motivator. Winning the Week 5 primetime game confirmed the Patriots belonged in the AFC East conversation. Losing the next two reminded them that sustained excellence requires consistent execution across all 17 regular season games and into the postseason.
Fantasy Football Takeaways
Must-Start Based on Series Performance
Drake Maye (QB, Patriots): His Week 5 line (22/30, 273 yards, zero turnovers) combined with his full-season numbers (4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, 8 interceptions) made him one of the top-ranked fantasy quarterbacks of the entire 2025 season. His dual-threat ability adds rushing floor to already strong passing production.
TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Patriots): His 148-yard, two-touchdown Week 15 performance — including two runs of 50+ yards — established his big-play ceiling as one of the highest among all running backs. Henderson became the first rookie to crack the top-five in rushing yards for a week in 2025.
Stefon Diggs (WR, Patriots): Ten catches for 146 yards in his return to Buffalo showed his continued elite production. His knowledge of defensive tendencies from his Buffalo years gave him schematic advantages no other receiver possessed in this specific matchup.
Josh Allen (QB, Bills): His 21-point comeback performance confirmed his status as one of football’s most valuable fantasy assets. Visit Pro Football Reference for his complete game log across the entire 2025 season.
Monitor Carefully
Rhamondre Stevenson (RB, Patriots): Two touchdowns in Week 5 showed scoring upside, but his fumble and inconsistent volume make him a game-script dependent option.
James Cook (RB, Bills): His 22-carry Week 15 performance revealed his ability to handle a full workload when needed. His dual-threat receiving ability (already demonstrated throughout the regular season) keeps his floor elevated even in lower-volume weeks.
Conclusion: What Three Games Proved
The New England Patriots versus Buffalo Bills rivalry in 2025 produced three games that collectively told a richer story than any single matchup could have communicated alone.
Drake Maye’s 22-of-30, 273-yard primetime performance — culminating in a 37-yard drive that put Borregales in position to win with 15 seconds left — announced his arrival as an elite NFL quarterback. Stefon Diggs’ 10-catch, 146-yard return to his former stadium provided one of the year’s most emotionally compelling individual performances. Rhamondre Stevenson’s two-touchdown redemption arc after an early fumble showed the resilience championship-caliber teams require.
Josh Allen’s three-turnover Week 5 performance — “just bad football,” in his own accurate assessment — was answered decisively in Week 15 with a comeback that ranked among the finest half of quarterback play in the entire 2025 season. TreVeyon Henderson’s place in NFL history alongside Chris Johnson for multiple 50-plus yard touchdown runs provided a rookie highlight that will be discussed for years. James Cook’s workhorse 107-yard effort powered the Bills’ rally when pure passing volume would not have been sufficient.
The official series statistics show Buffalo winning 2-1. What those numbers cannot fully communicate is the dramatic swing in organizational momentum — from a decade of New England struggling while Buffalo rose, to a 2025 season where both franchises competed as equals on the AFC East’s biggest stages.
That is the true story these player statistics tell. Two quarterbacks at different points of their careers, two organizations with different recent histories, three games that proved the AFC East’s best rivalry was back at full strength — and the best chapter of Drake Maye’s career was still ahead of him.
