ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — It was tough sufficient for Josh Allen to observe helplessly on the sideline as New England quarterback Drake Maye marched the Patriots 37 yards to arrange Andy Borregales’ decisive 52-yard discipline objective with 15 seconds left.

What was worse for the Payments’ quarterback is understanding how a lot of a hand he and his teammates performed within the 23-20 loss on Sunday evening.

As if three turnovers, two by Allen, weren’t sufficient: The offense got here up brief on a ultimate drive that stalled at New England’s 27, leaving Buffalo settling for Matt Prater hitting a game-tying 45-yard discipline objective with 2:17 left.

“We simply performed sloppy,” Allen stated. “Not gonna win a soccer sport, turning the ball over thrice … That’s simply unhealthy soccer and we simply didn’t play good tonight.”

In dropping to 4-1, Buffalo joined the Philadelphia Eagles, who misplaced to Denver, in being the NFL’s ultimate two unbeaten groups to lose on Sunday. The result additionally ended Buffalo’s regular-season dwelling successful streak at 14, one in need of matching the group file.

And instantly the five-time defending AFC East champions discover themselves in a divisional race that has the upstart Patriots (3-2) on their heels.

“Respect to them. They got here in, they knew what they needed to do. They took care of the soccer. We didn’t,” Allen stated.

The primary signal of hassle got here on Buffalo’s opening drive, which ended with Allen shedding a fumble on a botched handoff to Dawson Knox at midfield. Two collection later, extensive receiver Keon Coleman misplaced a fumble, which the Patriots recovered at Buffalo’s 11.

Credit score the Payments’ protection for limiting the Patriots to a discipline objective off the primary two turnovers.

The turning level, nevertheless, got here with Allen’s interception within the third quarter. Trailing 13-10 and going through second-and-13 at New England’s 19, Allen pressured a throw over the center meant for Khalil Shakir, solely to have defensive again Marcus Jones leap in entrance and choose it off.

Maye responded with an 11-play, 90-yard drive capped by Rhamondre Stevenson’s second landing run in constructing a 20-10 lead.

“I actually don’t suppose that was a pressure. It was only a unhealthy ball,” Allen stated of the interception. “I noticed Khalil and I simply left it just a little inside and the child made an excellent play.”

Including salt to the wound was having former Payments star receiver Stefon Diggs end with 10 catches for 146 yards in his first journey again to Buffalo since being traded to Houston in April 2024. It was the kind of outing the Payments had been accustomed to seeing Diggs carry out in a Buffalo uniform throughout his four-year stint with the group.

The sloppiness was uncharacteristic of a Payments group that had turned the ball over as soon as this season — Allen throwing an interception in a 31-19 win over New Orleans final week. Earlier than being picked off final week, Allen had dedicated only one turnover in his earlier 12 begins, together with playoffs.

The opening-drive turnover got here after Buffalo scored touchdowns on the primary possession in every of its first 4 outings this season — and 12 whole, courting to the beginning of 2024.

The offense struggled general with New England bottling up Buffalo’s working assault. James Cook dinner was restricted to 49 yards speeding and no catches, the primary time he’s didn’t crack 100 yards from scrimmage this season. Cook dinner additionally had his franchise-record streak of scoring a landing speeding finish at eight video games.

Penalties didn’t assist, with Buffalo flagged 11 instances for 90 yards.

“Woulda, shoulda, coulda, proper?” coach Sean McDermott stated. “It wasn’t something they did. However, once more, all studying alternatives for us as a group, and that’s what we have to do.”

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