Buffalo Bills 16, New England Patriots 23
January 5, 2025 | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
Attendance: 64,626 | Weather: 31°F, Clear, 8 mph winds
| Quick Stats Summary | |
|---|---|
| Game MVPs | |
| NE: | Joe Milton III – 22/29, 241 yards, 2 total TDs, 95.8 PFF grade |
| BUF: | Ray Davis – 64 rushing yards, 1 receiving TD |
| Key Performances | |
| Kayshon Boutte: | 7 catches, 117 yards, 1 TD (perfect catch rate) |
| James Cook: | 16th rushing TD (ties O.J. Simpson’s 1975 record) |
| Joey Slye: | 3/3 FGs including game-sealing 50-yarder |
| Tyler Bass: | Missed XP proved costly in 7-point loss |
| Game-Changing Moments | |
| Von Miller: | Opening sack earned $1.5 million bonus |
| Milton’s fumble: | Led to Cook’s record-tying TD |
| Bass’s missed XP: | Forced Buffalo to need TD instead of FG |
Joe Milton III spent the entire season on New England’s practice squad. On January 5th, the third-string quarterback posted a 95.8 Pro Football Focus grade, the highest for any Patriots quarterback since Tom Brady earned a 96.9 against Miami in 2011. The performance came during a 23-16 victory that cost New Englan=d the first overall draft pick and resulted in coach Jerod Mayo’s firing within an hour of the final whistle.
Table of Contents
Team Statistics Comparison
| Category | Buffalo Bills | New England Patriots |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 259 | 309 |
| Passing Yards | 129 | 232 |
| Rushing Yards | 130 | 77 |
| First Downs | 16 | 19 |
| Third Down | 6/15 (40%) | 4/12 (33.3%) |
| Time of Possession | 28:46 | 31:14 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Buffalo ran 65 plays to New England’s 61, yet the Patriots averaged 5.1 yards per play compared to Buffalo’s 4.0. The difference came primarily through the passing game, where Milton’s efficiency contrasted sharply with Mike White’s late struggles.
Quarterbacks: Milton’s Historic Debut vs Buffalo’s Three-Man Rotation
Joe Milton III entered on New England’s second possession after Drake Maye took a sack from Von Miller on the game’s third play. Miller’s sack triggered a $1.5 million contract bonus for reaching six sacks this season. Maye never returned, finishing 0-for-1 with a sack for minus-9 yards.
Milton took over and delivered immediately. His first drive covered 55 yards in 13 plays, ending with his one-yard touchdown run and a celebratory backflip. By game’s end, Milton had completed 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards with both a passing and rushing touchdown.
Week 18 Quarterback Performance Data
| QB | Team | Comp/Att | Pct | Yards | Pass TD | INT | Rush | Rush TD | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Milton III | NE | 22/29 | 75.9% | 241 | 1 | 0 | 10-16 | 1 | 111.4 |
| Mitchell Trubisky | BUF | 15/21 | 71.4% | 101 | 1 | 0 | 4-12 | 0 | 97.5 |
| Mike White | BUF | 3/11 | 27.3% | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| Drake Maye | NE | 0/1 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 39.6 |
| Josh Allen | BUF | 0/0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | N/A |
Buffalo’s quarterback plan unfolded exactly as intended until the final quarter. Josh Allen handed off once to James Cook, extending his consecutive starts streak to 115 games before sitting. Mitchell Trubisky operated Buffalo’s offense effectively for three quarters. Then Mike White entered late in the third quarter and everything collapsed. Buffalo gained 25 yards total on their final three possessions, including four consecutive incompletions on their last drive that ended on downs with 1:26 remaining.
Milton’s only mistake came in the third quarter on a fumbled exchange at the New England 17. Javon Solomon recovered at the 16, and five plays later James Cook scored his record-tying touchdown. Despite the turnover, Milton’s 95.8 PFF grade ranked as the highest among all Week 18 quarterbacks.
Running Backs: Cook Makes History While Davis Carries the Load
James Cook needed one touchdown to tie O.J. Simpson’s franchise record set in 1975. Buffalo’s coaches made sure he got it. After Solomon’s fumble recovery gave Buffalo the ball at New England’s 16-yard line, Cook received the goal-line carry. His one-yard plunge marked his 16th rushing touchdown of 2024, matching a record that stood alone for 49 years.
Rushing Statistics
| Player | Team | Carries | Yards | Avg | TD | Long | Fumbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Davis | BUF | 15 | 64 | 4.3 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Antonio Gibson | NE | 12 | 41 | 3.4 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| James Cook | BUF | 10 | 28 | 2.8 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Terrell Jennings | NE | 8 | 20 | 2.5 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Joe Milton III | NE | 10 | 16 | 1.6 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
Ray Davis shouldered Buffalo’s rushing workload with 64 yards on 15 attempts. The rookie also caught Trubisky’s two-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, though he gained just one yard on the reception. His 23-yard run in the first quarter stood as Buffalo’s longest rush.
Antonio Gibson led New England with 41 rushing yards while adding four catches for 20 yards. The Patriots averaged just 2.6 yards per carry, struggling behind an offensive line that graded poorly in run blocking across all five positions.
Wide Receivers: Boutte’s Breakout Performance
Kayshon Boutte entered the game with modest career statistics. He left with his first 100-yard performance, catching all seven targets for 117 yards and a touchdown. The second-year receiver’s connection with Milton peaked on a 48-yard touchdown at 9:10 in the second quarter that gave New England a 14-7 lead.
Receiving Production
| Receiver | Team | Targets | Catches | Yards | TD | Drops | Catch % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kayshon Boutte | NE | 7 | 7 | 117 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| Curtis Samuel | BUF | 8 | 7 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 87.5% |
| DeMario Douglas | NE | 4 | 3 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 75.0% |
| Keon Coleman | BUF | 10 | 2 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 20.0% |
| Austin Hooper | NE | 6 | 4 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 66.7% |
| Mack Hollins | BUF | 4 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 75.0% |
Boutte left in the fourth quarter for head injury evaluation after posting career highs. Curtis Samuel operated as Buffalo’s primary target with seven catches on eight attempts. Rookie Keon Coleman struggled throughout, catching just two of his team-high 10 targets.
Tight end Austin Hooper contributed four catches for 27 yards, while Jaheim Bell’s single 19-yard reception at 10:42 in the fourth quarter helped position New England for a crucial field goal.
Defensive Leaders: Elliss Sets Personal Record
Christian Elliss recorded a career-high 13 tackles to anchor New England’s defense. The linebacker’s performance earned an 82.2 PFF grade while the unit limited Buffalo to 4.0 yards per play.
Top Defensive Performers
| Player | Team | Total Tackles | Solo | TFL | Sacks | PFF Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Elliss | NE | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 82.2 |
| Joe Andreessen | BUF | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 71.3 |
| Javon Solomon | BUF | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 68.5 |
| Anfernee Jennings | NE | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 66.2 |
| Damar Hamlin | BUF | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 64.8 |
| Von Miller | BUF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 78.4 |
Miller’s million-dollar sack came on just his third snap. Solomon’s fumble recovery provided Buffalo’s only takeaway and their best scoring opportunity. Andreessen filled in admirably for Buffalo’s resting starters with 10 tackles.
New England lost safety Marte Mapu to a neck injury in the first quarter. Deatrich Wise Jr. (82.4 PFF grade) drew a costly roughing penalty that extended Buffalo’s first touchdown drive by 14 yards, though he otherwise played well.
Special Teams: The Seven-Point Difference
Joey Slye’s leg decided this game. The veteran kicker connected from 41, 42, and 50 yards without a miss, providing nine points in a seven-point victory. His 50-yarder with 1:55 remaining sealed New England’s win.
Tyler Bass made his only field goal attempt from 49 yards but missed the extra point following Cook’s touchdown. With Buffalo trailing 17-16 instead of tied 17-17, they needed a touchdown rather than a field goal to retake the lead. They never got either.
Kicking Breakdown
| Kicker | Team | FG | 40-49 | 50+ | XP | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joey Slye | NE | 3/3 | 2/2 | 1/1 | 2/2 | 11 |
| Tyler Bass | BUF | 1/1 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 1/2 | 4 |
Buffalo punter Sam Martin earned a $100,000 contract bonus for placing his 25th punt of the season inside the 20-yard line. The Bills passed up a 53-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter specifically to secure Martin’s incentive. His punt traveled 29 yards and was downed at the 6-yard line.
Alex Erickson returned two punts for 26 yards total, including a 26-yarder late that set up New England’s final field goal. Brandon Codrington averaged 31 yards on two kickoff returns for Buffalo.
Scoring Efficiency and Red Zone Performance
Buffalo’s backups proved more efficient than New England inside the 20-yard line, converting both red zone trips into touchdowns. New England reached the red zone three times but managed just one touchdown, settling for field goals twice.
| Team | Red Zone Trips | Touchdowns | Success Rate | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 2 | 2 | 100% | 16 |
| New England | 3 | 1 | 33.3% | 23 |
New England overcame their red zone struggles through Slye’s reliability and Buffalo’s late-game offensive collapse. The Patriots scored on five of 10 possessions while Buffalo managed points on just three drives.
Offensive Line Play: Protection Disparities
Pro Football Focus grades exposed significant variation in New England’s pass protection. Right guard Tyrese Robinson earned an elite 88.2 pass-blocking grade while left guard Layden Robinson struggled at 39.5.
| Lineman | Position | Pass Block Grade | Run Block Grade | Pressures Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyrese Robinson | RG | 88.2 | 67.3 | 0 |
| Cole Strange | C | 78.8 | 51.2 | 1 |
| Caedan Wallace | RT | 68.5 | 48.2 | 1 |
| Vederian Lowe | LT | 62.2 | 52.4 | 2 |
| Layden Robinson | LG | 44.0 | 39.0 | 3 |
Milton recognized the protection imbalance and adjusted accordingly, favoring rollouts and bootlegs to his right where Robinson provided superior blocking. The unit’s poor run blocking grades aligned with New England’s 2.6 yards per carry average.
Penalties and Game Management
New England drew seven penalties for 59 yards compared to Buffalo’s six for 35. Caedan Wallace’s holding penalty negated a potential touchdown pass to DeMario Douglas in the fourth quarter. Despite the penalty disadvantage, New England maintained control through special teams and Milton’s efficiency.
Franchise Milestones and Contract Bonuses
Buffalo achieved multiple objectives beyond the final score:
- James Cook: 16th rushing TD tied O.J. Simpson’s 1975 franchise record
- Von Miller: Earned $1.5 million for sixth sack
- Sam Martin: Collected $100,000 for 25th punt inside 20
- Team Record: First NFL team with 30+ passing and 30+ rushing TDs in one season
Ray Davis’s receiving touchdown gave Buffalo their 30th passing score to accompany 31 rushing touchdowns, establishing unprecedented offensive balance.
Draft Position and Coaching Changes
The victory proved costly for New England’s future. They dropped from first to fourth in the 2025 NFL Draft:
- Tennessee Titans (3-14)
- Cleveland Browns (3-14)
- New York Giants (3-14)
- New England Patriots (4-13)
Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced Jerod Mayo’s firing immediately after the game. Mayo lasted just one season after replacing Bill Belichick. The fourth pick likely eliminates New England from selecting quarterbacks Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) or Cam Ward (Miami).
Milton’s emergence complicates New England’s quarterback evaluation. His 95.8 PFF grade against Buffalo’s backups raises questions about his potential versus Drake Maye’s development needs.
AFC East Playoff Implications
Buffalo (13-4) secured the AFC’s second seed and hosts a wild-card game next weekend. They accomplished their Week 18 goals: preserving starter health, achieving player milestones, and maintaining momentum.
Mike White’s poor performance exposed concerning quarterback depth. His 27.3% completion rate and inability to generate offense raises questions should Buffalo need their third quarterback during the playoffs.
For continuing AFC East coverage and playoff analysis, visit TheSportie.
Final Week 18 Analysis
New England’s 23-16 victory over Buffalo produced consequences neither team anticipated when taking the field. Joe Milton III transformed from practice squad player to potential quarterback option with a single performance. James Cook matched a legendary record. Coaches collected bonuses while another lost his job.
The 64,626 fans at Gillette Stadium witnessed individual achievements, strategic decisions, and franchise-altering outcomes compressed into 60 minutes. Milton threw for 241 yards, Boutte caught everything thrown his way, and Slye kicked perfectly when it mattered most. Buffalo rested starters, pursued milestones, and discovered depth concerns. New England evaluated talent, won a game, and created more questions than answers about their future direction.
