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Patriots vs Bills: facts and history behind this AFC East rivalry

By Patrick Morgan

ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots shakes hands with Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills after the game at New Era Field on October 29, 2018 in Orchard Park, New York. New England defeats Buffalo 25-6. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 29: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots shakes hands with Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills after the game at New Era Field on October 29, 2018 in Orchard Park, New York. New England defeats Buffalo 25-6. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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The New England Patriots (9-5) host the Buffalo Bills (5-9) at Gillette Stadium on Sunday with a chance to win the AFC East against their longtime rival.

Two of the original eight American Football League franchises will meet for the 117th time on Sunday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Both founded in 1960, the New England Patriots (originally named the Boston Patriots) lead the all-time series against the Buffalo Bills by a margin of 73-43-1.

That winning percentage narrowly edges out New England’s all-time record against the New York Jets (64-54-1). The Miami Dolphins are the only AFC East team the Patriots have a losing record against all-time (52-55).

Somewhat surprisingly, the Bills and Patriots have met just one time in the playoffs: a 1963 AFL divisional game won by New England.

Arguably the most impressive statistics in this rivalry revolve around Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

Brady is 29-3 against the Bills, and has never lost a home game to them in which he played all four quarters. Belichick’s record is 33-4 against Buffalo. Together, the winningest quarterback/coach duo in NFL history has enjoyed more success against the Bills than any other opponent in the league.

ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 29: A Buffalo Bills fan yells at referees during the game between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots at New Era Field on October 29, 2018 in Orchard Park, New York. New England defeats Buffalo 25-6. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – OCTOBER 29: A Buffalo Bills fan yells at referees during the game between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots at New Era Field on October 29, 2018 in Orchard Park, New York. New England defeats Buffalo 25-6. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

Long-time fans of either team will remember that it wasn’t always roses for New England when facing Buffalo. The Bills teams of the 1990s, particularly the early years, routinely gave the Patriots fits behind the stellar play of Hall of Famers Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, and Bruce Smith.

Not much has gone right for Buffalo since losing four consecutive Super Bowls. New England hired Bill Belichick and drafted Tom Brady, paving the way for nearly two decades of Patriots dominance in this rivalry.

Mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, the Bills can still play spoiler on Sunday as they seek to thwart the Patriots’ plans for a 10th consecutive division title.

Next. An early scouting report on the Buffalo Bills. dark

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