It had to end sometime. That doesn't make it hurt any less. The Buffalo Bills rallied in the fourth quarter for a 35-31 victory at Gillette Stadium, snapping the Patriots' incredible ten-game winning streak in the most heartbreaking fashion imaginable. This one is going to sting for a while.
For three quarters, it looked like business as usual. The offense was humming — 398 total yards, Drake Maye threw for 312 yards, and the Patriots carried a 31-21 lead into the fourth quarter. It felt like the streak was going to reach eleven. It felt safe. It wasn't.
Two turnovers in the fourth quarter. That's what did it. Two gut-wrenching giveaways that handed Buffalo short fields and all the momentum in the world. The Bills scored 14 fourth-quarter points off those turnovers, and just like that, the magic was gone. When you gift a team like Buffalo extra possessions in a close game, they're going to make you pay. And they did.
The defense, which had been so reliable all season, couldn't get the stop when it mattered most. Buffalo's final drive was surgical, and the Patriots had no answer. It's a bitter pill to swallow, especially at home, especially against a division rival, especially after everything this team had built over the last two and a half months.
But let's keep perspective here. This team is 11-3. They're in a commanding playoff position. The streak is over, but the season isn't. Time to refocus, correct the mistakes, and get back to winning. One loss doesn't define this team. On to Baltimore.