The New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 23-20 on Sunday Night Football at Highmark Stadium on October 5, 2025, ending Buffalo’s unbeaten streak and leaving the NFL without any remaining undefeated teams. Rookie kicker Andy Borregales converted a 52-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining to secure the upset victory.[1][2][3]
Drake Maye Delivers Breakout Performance
Drake Maye threw for 273 yards and orchestrated the game-winning drive in the final minutes, demonstrating poise under pressure in one of the league’s loudest stadiums.[4][5] The second-year quarterback completed passes at a remarkable adjusted completion rate, recording just one incompletion in the second half.[6]
One pivotal moment showcased Maye’s dual-threat capabilities. Facing pressure on the decisive drive, he evaded a potential sack with a running back-style stiff arm, then delivered a 12-yard completion to Stefon Diggs to maintain possession.[7][8] This play set up Borregales for the decisive field goal.
Maye’s performance has elevated him to 10th or 11th in quarterback rankings across six major sports publications, including NFL.com, Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, The Athletic, CBS Sports, and The Ringer.[9] An NFL executive told The Athletic that Maye “looked fantastic, relaxed and composed” with “all the physical attributes needed to be exceptional.”[9]
Stefon Diggs Shines Against Former Team
Stefon Diggs recorded 10 receptions for 146 yards in his return to Highmark Stadium, with 119 of those yards coming in the second half.[10][11] Diggs, who departed Buffalo after the 2023 season, delivered a standout performance against his former teammates.[12]
Diggs caught a critical 32-yard pass from Maye in the third quarter that helped set up a Patriots touchdown.[13] His performance throughout the second half proved instrumental in keeping drives alive during crucial moments.
First Half Marked by Turnovers and Field Goals
Both teams struggled offensively in a first half characterized by turnovers and defensive stands. The Bills committed two fumbles, while the Patriots turned the ball over once.[14][15] Neither offense could capitalize on the turnovers with touchdowns, settling for field goals instead.
Josh Allen acknowledged the Bills’ ball security issues, stating, “They took care of the football, we didn’t.”[16] Andy Borregales kicked field goals of 30 and 19 yards for New England, while Matt Prater connected from 31 yards for Buffalo. The Patriots led 6-3 at halftime.[17][18]
The Patriots reached the 1-yard line on the final play of the first half but failed to score a touchdown, settling for Borregales’ second field goal instead.[19]
Offensive Production Improves After Halftime
The Bills opened the third quarter scoring with a 13-play, 66-yard drive that consumed nearly six minutes. The drive featured a 20-yard reception by Dalton Kincaid, who finished with six catches for 108 yards.[20] Josh Allen capped the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Samuel, giving Buffalo a 10-6 advantage.[21]
New England responded immediately. Maye connected with Diggs on the 32-yard completion, and Rhamondre Stevenson scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to reclaim the lead at 13-10.[22]
Turnovers Prove Costly for Buffalo
The Bills advanced to the Patriots’ 9-yard line on their next possession but were pushed back to the 19-yard line after an offensive pass interference penalty.[23] On the following play, Marcus Jones intercepted an Allen pass intended for Khalil Shakir.[24]
Stevenson capitalized on the turnover with a 7-yard rushing touchdown, his second of the game, extending New England’s lead to 20-10.[25] Allen threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns but committed two turnovers that contributed to Buffalo losing the turnover battle 3-1.[26]
Bills Rally Falls Short
Buffalo cut the deficit to three points when Allen threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman, making the score 20-17.[27] The Bills defense then forced a critical stop, with Shaq Thompson chasing Maye out of bounds for a sack on third down after a false start penalty.[28]
Matt Prater tied the game at 20 with a 45-yard field goal with 2:17 remaining in the fourth quarter.[29] However, Maye responded by completing a 19-yard pass to Kayshon Boutte to move into field goal range.[30] Despite a sack by Cole Bishop, Borregales converted the 52-yard attempt with 15 seconds left.[31]
Allen could not engineer a comeback in the final seconds, and the Patriots secured the 23-20 victory.[32] The loss ended Buffalo’s consecutive home regular-season win streak and their home winning streak against New England.[33]
Standings Impact
The Patriots improved to 3-2 on the season, moving above .500 and closing the gap in the AFC East.[34] The Bills fell to 4-1, remaining atop the division but suffering their first defeat of 2025.[35] The victory marked Josh Allen’s seventh loss in 14 career meetings against New England, evening his record at 7-7 against the Patriots.[36]
