The New England Patriots conclude the 2024 season at Gillette Stadium as the Buffalo Bills come to Foxboro for their second matchup in three weeks.
As the Bills have the No. 2 playoff seed in the AFC on lock, Josh Allen will be playing limited action along with the rest of the starters. On New England’s sideline, where a loss secures the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Drake Maye will be behind center with the team looking to win.
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Sunday, January 5, 1 p.m. ET | Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA | Inactives | Game day roster | Broadcast information
First quarter
The Bills won the toss and deferred, putting the ball in Drake Maye’s hands to start Sunday. It was a quick three-and-out following a false start and then third-down sack by Von Miller working over Trey Jacobs.
Starting at QB, Josh Allen took one snap — a handoff — before coming out of the game. Mitch Trubisky took over behind center. Trubisky was then stuffed on back-to-back short yardage keepers leading to a turnover on downs.
Maye’s day ended after just one drive as Joe Milton III took over at quarterback for his first regular season action — completing his first pass to Pop Douglas for 12 yards and finding Douglas again to move the chains on the following 3rd-and-3. A completion on 3rd-and-13 then set up a 4th-and-1 where Milton snuck it himself for a first-down. Milton then completed his next third-down pass to move the ball to the one, where he then kept it himself for the score. [Patriots 7 : 0 Bills]
Second quarter
The Bills offense got on the move behind James Cook and a pair of completions to Mack Hollins — in addition to a roughing the passer penalty on Deatrich Wise. Inside the five, a third-down pass to Mack Hollins was caught but brought down short by Marcellas Dial. Keeping the offense on the field, Trubisky’s pass to Ray Davis was caught for a touchdown. [Patriots 7 : 7 Bills]
Back with the football facing a 3rd-and-9, Milton worked to find Kayshon Boutte for a 14-yard conversion. Two plays later, Milton worked out of the pocket to his right before firing a bullet downfield to his left to a wide open Boutte for a 48-yard touchdown. [Patriots 14 : 7 Bills]
The Bills run game took over the next drive as Ray Davis moved the ball over midfield before a holding penalty moved them backwards. Set up in a 3rd-and-14, Trubisky found his tight end for a seven yard gain. Tyler Bass’ 49-yard field goal was then good. [Patriots 14 : 10 Bills]
Milton got the Patriots offense on the move again with completions to Kendrick Bourne and Austin Hooper. Facing third-and-long over midfield, a screen to Gibson was brought down immediately for a loss. Baringer punted away after the two-minute warning.
