Buffalo Bills Stage Dramatic Comeback to Defeat New England Patriots
In a pivotal Week 15 matchup, the Buffalo Bills overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat the New England Patriots 35-31 in snowy Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Sunday. This victory snapped the Patriots' 10-game winning streak and kept the Bills' hopes alive for a sixth consecutive AFC East title.
Trailing 24-7 at halftime, the Bills initiated their comeback with quarterback Josh Allen leading the charge. Allen threw three touchdown passes, including two to tight end Dawson Knox, and added 48 rushing yards. Running back James Cook contributed significantly with three total touchdowns and 107 rushing yards. The Bills scored the first 21 points of the second half, overturning the halftime deficit.
For the Patriots, running back TreVeyon Henderson had an impressive performance, rushing for 148 yards and two long touchdowns of 52 and 65 yards. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye passed for 155 yards and added two rushing scores. Despite these efforts, the Patriots were unable to maintain their lead.
This win improved the Bills' record to 10-4, keeping them in contention for the AFC East title. The Patriots, now 11-3, missed an opportunity to clinch the division. The Bills have now won six of their last eight games, demonstrating resilience as the regular season nears its conclusion.
In other notable Week 15 games, the Baltimore Ravens achieved their first shutout since 2018 by defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 24-0 in frigid conditions. Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw for 150 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Rasheen Ali and Zay Flowers. The Ravens' defense was instrumental, with interceptions by Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Van Noy contributing to the victory. This win improved the Ravens' record to 7-7, keeping them in the playoff hunt.
The Houston Texans secured their sixth consecutive win by defeating the Arizona Cardinals 40-20. Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud led the offense with 260 passing yards and three touchdowns, two to Nico Collins. Rookie running back Jawhar Jordan, elevated from the practice squad, rushed for 101 yards in his NFL debut. This victory improved the Texans' record to 9-5, strengthening their playoff position.
The Philadelphia Eagles ended a three-game losing streak with a dominant 31-0 shutout victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, marking their first shutout since 2018. Quarterback Jalen Hurts rebounded from a poor performance last week by throwing three touchdown passes—two to tight end Dallas Goedert and one to wide receiver A.J. Brown—while completing 12 of 15 passes for 175 yards without any turnovers before exiting early in the fourth quarter. The Eagles' defense was formidable, limiting the Raiders to just 75 total yards. This win improved the Eagles' record to 9-5, keeping them competitive in the NFC East.
These games have significantly impacted the NFL playoff picture, with teams like the Bills, Ravens, Texans, and Eagles bolstering their postseason prospects. The Patriots' loss ends their impressive winning streak, highlighting the competitive nature of the league. Individual performances, such as Trevor Lawrence's six-touchdown game and the Ravens' defensive shutout, underscore the high level of talent and competition in the NFL.
As the regular season approaches its climax, the race for playoff berths intensifies, promising an exciting conclusion to the 2025 NFL season.