AFC Championship Preview vs. Buffalo Bills
Record: 11-6, 2nd AFC East, 7th AFC seed
Head Coach: Sean McDermott
Offensive Coordinator: Thomas Brown (Multiple Zone Run)
Defensive Coordinator: Alan Williams (Base 3-4)
Team Leaders
Passing: Josh Allen (69 cmp%, 4541 yards, 29 TD, 12 INT, 99.1 passer rating)
Rushing: James Cook (837 yards, 4.2 ypc, 9 TD)
Receiving: Keon Coleman (82 receptions, 1131 yards, 10 TD)
Blocking: 35 sacks allowed
Defense: Ed Oliver (51 tackles, 14 TFL, 13.5 sacks)
‣ NFL 2026 AFC Championship Game - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts (13-7) Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots (17-3)BUF | 10 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 19 NE | 7 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 27
Patriots defense, running game leads them back to the Super Bowl
In the first half of his first ever AFC Championship Game, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye looked every bit of the third-year player playing in the biggest game of his football life. Prior to the final drive of the first half, he had thrown for just seven yards and when he did get the Patriots in scoring range, Maye was unable to get the snap off before time expired as New England came away with zero points on a drive that had gotten them to Buffalo's two-yard line.
When it mattered the most, though, Maye looked like the MVP candidate he had been all season, using his legs to keep drives alive as Derrick Henry turned back the clock, galloping into the endzone for a 38-yard score for the game winning touchdown to punch New England's ticket back to the Super Bowl with a 27-19 win over Buffalo.
Despite being outplayed by Josh Allen for most of the day, Maye made the plays that he needed to make, finding Xavier Restrepo for a third and five conversion heading into the fourth quarter trailing 19-14. On fourth and seven a few plays later, Maye stood in the pocket as the Bills sent pressure, finding Christian Watson across the middle for a 27-yard touchdown to take the one-point lead with eleven minutes left.
Allen would fail to complete a pass on the ensuing possession, giving the Patriots a chance to put the game away and they did, first with Maye scrambling for back-to-back first downs on consecutive third downs and then Henry ripped off a 38-yard run into the endzone to make it an eight point game with eight minutes left.
Buffalo would have one final chance to tie the game as Allen converted back-to-back third downs of his own with completions to Keon Coleman, who had six receptions for 136 yards. But on third and six from the New England seven-yard line, Allen was unable to navigate through the pocket and was held to a one-yard scramble. With the game on the line, Allen would fail to get a decent pass off, scrambling out of the pocket and being hit as he wildly threw the ball to the ground.
The Patriots would clinch with three consecutive runs as Henry picked up the first down, sealing the win and sending New England back to the Super Bowl. Scoring Summary Quarter 1 Tyler Bass, 20 Yd FG (7:56) Quentin Johnson 5 Yd pass from Josh Allen (2:06) Derrick Henry, 1 Yd run (0:33)
Quarter 2 Tyler Bass, 20 Yd FG (1:52)
Quarter 3 Drake Maye, 10 Yd run (8:30) Elijah Moore 18 Yd pass from Josh Allen -- 2pt failed (3:18)
Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones to have surgery on ACL tear
Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones is scheduled to have surgery on his partially torn ACL, officially ruling him out for the Super Bowl against the Dallas Cowboys. Jones suffered the injury in New England's win over Buffalo after intercepting Bills quarterback Josh Allen and was immediately ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Jones, 27, has been one of New England's best players the past three seasons, emerging as the top choice in the nickel as well as having standout performances when asked to cover quicker receivers on the outside. Jones has a career high 91 tackles this year, answering questions about his physicality that were raised when the Patriots signed him to a four-year extension.
The loss of Jones is a big one as the Cowboys have a deep wide receiver corps that includes CeeDee Lamb, Isaiah Bond, Eugene Wilson III and Brandin Cooks. The speedy Jones would have been an ideal candidate to place on Bond or Wilson, two of the league's fastest receivers. The Patriots do have solid depth at corner in Daylen Everette and Benjamin St. Juste but they are bigger corners, especially St. Juste at six-foot-three and 200 pounds.
An option for the Patriots is safety hybrid Jonathan Jones, whose also taken snaps in the nickel at various points this season. The Patriots have also signed free agent cornerback Mike Jackson to the active roster, replacing Jones' spot on the roster.
Last edited by Soapy on 14 May 2025, 08:23, edited 2 times in total.
HB Rhamondre Stevenson (doubtful/shoulder)
CB Rasul Douglas (out/wrist)
Tyler Bass, 20 Yd FG (7:56)
Derrick Henry, 1 Yd run (0:33)
QB Josh Allen: 28-37, 327 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
QB Drake Maye: 15-27, 147 yards, touchdown, 9 carries, 82 yards, touchdown
QB Brock Purdy: 25-35, 365 yards, 2 touchdowns, interception
QB Dak Prescott: 28-34, 346 yards, 2 touchdowns
TE Blake Ferguson: Season (shoulder)
