BUFFALO, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 29: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills throws a pass against the New England Patriots during the first quarter in the game at New Era Field on September 29, 2019 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
The Buffalo Bills hoped to showcase their status as contenders against the New England Patriots, but the defending champs have delivered an early reminder that they still lord over the AFC East.
The AFC East has been the New England Patriots’ personal playground for the past two decades, and the latest challenger is the Buffalo Bills. On the strength of a weak schedule, the Bills got to 3-0, but their strong defense and an interesting offense headlined by second year quarterback Josh Allen has them thinking they could challenge the Patriots.
The Patriots are in Orchard Park today and the early returns haven’t been very good for the Bills, who find themselves trailing 13-0 in the first quarter. Brandon Bolden ran a touchdown in for the first New England points, with the second score coming off a blocked punt returned for six by J.C. Jackson.
The Bills looked completely unprepared for the block attempt on that play, which is not a good look for a team that fancies itself a playoff contender. Allen is also off to a bad start, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble, with another potential lost fumble getting wiped out by a penalty.
The Patriots have done a tremendous job on Allen, who is just 1-8 for 10 yards in the first quarter. That has made life difficult for Buffalo, which finds itself in a deep hole and facing a much tougher opponent to come back against than the Jets, who blew a 16-0 lead to Buffalo in Week 1.
In a game where the Bills needed to make a statement that they can hang in the AFC East, it is instead the Patriots who have thrown down the gauntlet early. With Buffalo showing little ability to move the football early against the Patriots’ defense, what looked a potential clash of titans in the AFC may quickly turn into a blowout.