Along with Borregales's game-winner, the Pats also got a field-flipping punt from Bryce Baringer in the fourth quarter. Baringer booted a 73-yarder to put the Bills on a long field. Buffalo had to settle for a field goal on the drive, tying the score at 20 apiece, which set up the Patriots heroics on the game-winning drive. The Pats specialists delivered on Sunday night.
**5\. Patriots Run Defense Shuts Down Bills RB James Cook and Company**
Another key to this game defensively was the Patriots holding the Bills rushing attack to a 36 percent success rate and just 3.3 yards per rush for Cook. Buffalo entered the week as the top-ranked rush offense in expected points added (EPA), but the Patriots defense shut Cook and company down to the tune of -0.36 EPA per rush this week. On top of the low efficiency, Cook's longest run of the night was only nine yards. Besides a few Allen scrambles, the run defense was terrific. We'll have more on what they did schematically to shut down the Bills rushing attack in After Further Review.
**6\. Pats Backfield Sustains Significant Injury, Fumbling Woes Continue for Stevenson**
Starting with the injury, RB Antonio Gibson sustained what appeared to be a significant knee injury when he was upended on a huge hit returning a kickoff. Gibson left the field with help from trainers and was immediately ruled out of the game. If his injury is serious, Gibson's absence for an extended period leaves the Patriots with only two healthy running backs.
Along with Gibson's injury, Pats lead-back Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled for the third time this season on Sunday night. This time, Stevenson had the ball punched out when he was being tackled on a reception after catching a check-down from Maye. Between the injury to Gibson and Stevenson's ball security issues, New England might have a depth issue to sort through at running back. The Patriots have RB Terrell Jennings on the practice squad, but they might look to make an external addition.
**7\. Patriots Offensive Line Does Its Job, Bills Turn Up Blitz Pressure in Second Half**
After watching the film, we'll have a more complete review of the Patriots offensive line. The instant reaction was that the Pats O-Line held the Bills pass-rush enough in check to let Maye operate, with rookie LG Jared Wilson returning to the starting lineup (LT - Campbell, LG - Wilson, C - Bradbury, RG - Onwneu, RT - Moses). Buffalo turned up the pressure in the second half, a theme of the post-game press conference with offensive players, blitzing Maye eight times after only blitzing him twice in the first half. Maye lamented leaving some clean pockets, inviting pressure, but the offensive line only allowed one "quick" pressure the entire night. Overall, it was a solid 38.9% pressure rate, with the lone blemish being a false start by sixth OL Vederian Lowe to wipe out a third-down conversion.
**8\. Covering Tight Ends is an Area of Needed Improvement for the Pats Defense**
The one nitpick for the Patriots defense was some struggles covering the Bills tight ends. In particular, Bills TE Dalton Kincaid had six catches for 108 yards, with four catches for 72 yards against Pats safeties Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson. If the Pats play a high rate of man coverage, the safeties will be tasked with covering tight ends, and they've been inconsistent in doing so to this point. New England seems to be riding with Hawkins and Woodson, but deploying a tight end-stopper such as CB Alex Austin or LB Marte Mapu in man coverage situations could work, as could helping to talented pass-catchers like Kincaid. Again, this is a celebratory night, but the Pats defense's issues covering tight ends are not new. We've been seeing them struggle with it since training camp.