Instant Analysis: Patriots avoid New Year’s Eve disaster but still fall short vs Bills
The New England Patriots turned the ball over four times against the Buffalo Bills at Orchard Park on Sunday, and they still came within less than a touchdown in a game that had them pegged as double-digit underdogs.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe had his worst start of the season, throwing for 113 yards and three interceptions in the first half alone. He was able to get the turnovers under control in the second half, and he even bounced back with some impressive drives to help keep the Patriots in it.
But it wasn’t enough in the end to stand up to the Bills in their house. Aside from being a game full of too many self-inflicted wounds, the Patriots did have some positive moments against Buffalo.
Rookie cornerback Alex Austin hauled in his first interception with a leaping grab against Bills quarterback Josh Allen, and Jalen Reagor flashed his playmaking abilities on special teams with an incredible kickoff returned for a touchdown on the first play of the game.
The Patriots have one final game left on the regular season schedule back at home in Week 18 against the visiting New York Jets. A win or a loss will solidify their position on the 2024 NFL draft board and whether they’ll be in a good spot to take a quarterback.
When it comes to Sunday’s game against the Bills, there will surely be talk about Bill Belichick’s standing with owner Robert Kraft. The Patriots are 2-3 in their last five games since Zappe took over as starting quarterback, and the team managed to put up a good fight in each of the three losses.
Will that be enough to ultimately keep Belichick around a little while longer in New England? It’s certainly a question worth asking after their latest outing.
