Patriots vs. Bills game recap: Everything you need to know from Week 16

The Buffalo Bills did what the New England Patriots would have done — and have done — so many times. The Bills ran up the score on a lesser team (in this case, the Patriots). And then Buffalo put in its backups, who still looked superior against New England. And so the Patriots lost, 38-9, on Monday Night Football.

We already knew the Patriots weren’t a playoff team. That continued to show. And the Bills are one of the best teams in the AFC, continuing to play at an elite level on Monday night. The question is whether this role reversal is the new normal. In the meantime, here’s everything you need to know from this game.

Final score:

It was over when...

... the Bills offense took the field for their second drive. New England's defense bent but didn't break in their opening drive, allowing just a field goal. But then the Bills absolutely pummeled New England on that second drive. At that point, Buffalo asserted control over the game. It was a precursor of what would come on the ensuing drives. It didn't help that, on the ensuing drive, Stefon Diggs began to burn J.C. Jackson. When Diggs starting winning that matchup, the game went from a clear loss to a devastating blowout.

Keys to the game

Here's what we saw as determining the outcome of this game.

• The Buffalo Bills were better. In just about every phase. The only advantage the Patriots seemed to have was a running game (24 carries, 145 yards, 1 touchdown). But the Bills offense was so productive that New England couldn't keep up by running the ball at a large volume. So the Patriots had to go away from their only strength.

• The Patriots don't have a quarterback. It was a determining factor, with both Newton and Stidham stinking. And finding a quarterback will be key for 2021.

3 stars of the game

⭐️⭐️⭐️: QB Tom Brady -- He was on the other line of that phone that Bill Belichick spiked, right? https://twitter.com/coreybehnke/status/1343762635926462464 ⭐️⭐️: CB Stephon Gilmore -- If there was any game that should increase Patriots fans' appreciation for Gilmore, this should be it. J.C. Jackson struggled enormously against Stefon Diggs, who finished with nine catches for 145 yards and three touchdown receptions. Jackson was, simply, outmatched. ⭐️: The Patriots run blocking -- Every ball-carrier looked good in the holes that New England's offensive line opened up. Sony Michel, for example, has looked much improved in 2020, in part because of these big holes. He had 10 carries for 69 yards. J.J. Taylor, an undrafted rookie, had six carries for 38 yards.

The Patriots' quarterback situation remains in flux

Belichick wouldn't commit to starting Newton for Week 17, but he also said the quarterback "did a good job for us. That wasn't the problem." The coach has left the door open to starting Stidham, though I'm not sure that Patriots fans will be happy with what they see. Stidham has been inserted into the lineup during garbage time, and has been largely ineffective. It's clear New England knows Newton is the better player. But the question is whether he's been good enough to warrant the Patriots building an offense around him with a legitimate supporting cast.

Next up: vs. the New York Jets

In a sense, the Jets may be more incentivized to win. They've already locked up the No. 2 overall pick. New England, meanwhile, can move up the draft board (as far as No. 9 overall) by losing. But you know Belichick isn't thinking about that. You know he wants to win the game. And you know he's going to start Newton -- again. Even if everyone in New England is going to spend the next weeks suggesting the Patriots should start Stidham. Again. Thing is, New England may not even need to try to lose. They may just take the L against a Jets team that's playing shockingly well. The Jets may actually be the better team in Week 17.