by TYLER HATHAWAY
The Buffalo Bills are now 3-0 on the season after a shaky come-from-behind win over the winless Los Angeles Chargers. A very familiar foe is coming to Buffalo this weekend, as another struggling squad in the New England Patriots will look to turn their season around in what is a must-win game for the Bills. Here’s the breakdown:
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-2/AFC East)
vs.
BUFFALO BILLS (3-0/AFC East)
Sunday, Highmark Stadium, 1:00 pm
Storyline #1: Bills with a chance to secure complete control of the division
The AFC East race could not have gone almost any better through three weeks for Buffalo.
The Bills sit at 3-0, the Patriots and Jets at 1-2, and the Dolphins are sitting at 0-3. With the Jets facing a tough Chicago Bears team on the road this Sunday, a win over New England would leave Buffalo with an almost unprecedented three-and-a-half game lead through four games over the defending division champ Patriots who would be in second place. In order for Buffalo to pursue their sixth divisional title in seven years, you cannot lose this game.
It’s important to note that the Bills were in a similar spot a season ago, with a 2-2 Patriots team coming into Buffalo and taking down the 4-0 Bills and launch-padding a season that saw them finish 14-3.
Storyline #2: What has happened to Drake Maye?
It’s been an incredibly disappointing start for New England quarterback Drake Maye in 2026.
The 2025 MVP runner-up has only thrown for one touchdown while turning the ball over seven times through three games, which is the most in the NFL. He’s also been sacked three times in every game so far this year. His performance against Jacksonville on Sunday was brutal, turning the ball over three times while only completing 56% of his passes for 199 yards.
“Confidence comes from your preparation, and it comes from going out there,” Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said to reporters this week about his quarterback. “I can’t manufacture confidence. I can’t just say, ‘Hey, be confident.’ You have to practice. You have to hit those plays in practice, and you have to feel good about it”.
Storyline #3: Greg Rousseau’s explosive start
Sixth-year defensive end Greg Rousseau is currently on pace to have a career year for the Bills. The Miami product has logged two sacks in each of the Bills’ first three games and has forced three fumbles, already tied for a career high. He is currently leading the NFL in sacks, forced fumbles, and tackles for loss.
He credits first-year defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s scheme for part of his success early in 2026.
“I feel like sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the numbers, but I feel like I was rushing good before in the previous few years,” Rousseau told NFL reporter Jordan Schultz this week. “But I’d definitely say, man, the scheme’s been great. Just being able to stand up and kind of get on my angle and kind of have more space, be able to get to my length more,”
Key to the game #1: Win the turnover battle
The formula is already out there for how to beat the Patriots this season. It’s to force turnovers.
As mentioned previously in the article, third-year quarterback Drake Maye has struggled to open the season, committing three turnovers in each of the Patriots’ losses this year. If you can get to Maye and pressure him into making mistakes, you can give the offense more chances to find the endzone against a tough Patriots’ defense.
On the opposite end, you can’t turn the ball over and give Maye and the offense to get comfortable and confident, like what happened against the Chargers. You can’t turn the ball over five times and expect to win every game.
Key to the game #2: Spread the wealth offensively
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and will likely mirror DJ Moore for most of the game, which will limit his opportunities. So it’s going to be all hands on deck through the passing attack, and other targets will need to have fruitful games to succeed against a Patriots pass defense that has been strong to open the year (197.7 yards per game allowed through three games).
Tight end Dalton Kincaid has been off to a strong start to the year, currently registering 14 catches for 263 yards and a touchdown through three games. Wideout Keon Coleman has made plays when the Bills have needed him to, including a 37-yard catch in Week 3 that set Buffalo up on the one yard line. Slot guy Khalil Shakir has been off to a slower start to his standards, but with Moore likely drawing a lot of attention this week has the opportunity to beat the Patriots underneath.
X-Factor: Bills quarterback Josh Allen
Last Sunday was a rough outing for Josh Allen. He threw two first-quarter interceptions, lost a fumble, and was missing throws we’re used to seeing the superstar quarterback make. But he finished the fourth quarter strong, making plays that helped secure Buffalo a comeback win, such as a fourth and seven completion while breaking a sack to Ty Johnson late in the game.
He can’t have a game like he did against the Chargers against New England. Not with the stakes of the game, and not if he wants to keep up his MVP-level start to the season that he had through the first two games.
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