The New England Patriots sent the formerly 3-1 Raiders home in Week 5 after torching them 45-17. AFC Offensive Player of the Week Drake Maye led the way, unleashing a deep-passing game that sent the Raiders packing, leaving them with a 3-2 record.
This beatdown came after an even more impressive and important win over the Bills in Buffalo, which sent seismic shockwaves through the area, like a lake-effect blizzard on Lake Erie.
While every NFL game counts if you win it, some count more than others. Beating a direct rival for the top of your division earns even more points than a win on the scoreboard. For the second straight year, the Patriots have gone into the Bills' home-field advantage and taken a win.
Now, if they can repeat that when the two teams clash again in Foxborough, on December 6 in Week 13, they'll hold a clear tie-breaker over the Bills if they tie for the Division lead.
The New England Patriots should have no fear of the Buffalo Bills
Whether it's Mike Vrabel's feisty presence, quarterback Drake Maye's maturation, or other factors, the New England Patriots have no fear of the Buffalo Bills. Patriot Nation shouldn't lose sight of the irony.
The Bills have arguably the NFL's best quarterback in Josh Allen. He's an excellent passer, a pocket escape artist par excellence, and he's also a 6'5", 237-pound battering ram if he takes off and runs with the football.
No matter, Mike Vrabel's Patriots and Maye couldn't seem to care less. They approached the Bills the way they do any other team, as the next notch on their belt toward winning their next AFC East title.
The proof was in the pudding: after the Jaguars dismantled them 35-6 in Jacksonville, the Patriots laced up their cleats, marched undaunted into the Bills' brand-new Highmark Stadium, and took home a hard-fought win. In the process, they ended the Bills' undefeated season to that point.
Some NFL wins matter more than others. Whenever the revived Mike Vrabel-led Patriots play the Josh Allen-led Bills, the stakes are higher than in any other game. The Patriots beat the Bills in Week 4.
If they can maintain their upward trend and repeat that big win over the Bills on December 6 in Foxborough, they'll likely host an AFC playoff game in January. Games against the Bills are, for all intents and purposes, the biggest that the Patriots play.
Add us as a preferred source on Google