Patriots Finally Beat Buffalo In 'Meaningless' Week 18 Game

The 131st meeting of two fierce AFC East rivals came with very few surprises as the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills traveled down Highway I-90 to visit Foxborough, Massachusetts, to face the New England Patriots in the final game of the 2024/25 NFL regular season.

In a game that had no real implications for the Buffalo Bills, I saw the Patriots win their 79th game against Buffalo in the team's all-time history. Since Buffalo had the 2nd Seed in the 2024/25 NFL playoffs locked up, a majority of the game saw the team's second and third-string players take the field. All-star quarterback Josh Allen only played one play at the beginning of the first quarter before backup QB Mitchell Trubisky took the field to manage most of the game.

With the backups in, the Patriots took advantage early by scoring the first points of the game as New England's rookie QB Joe Milton III took the ball into the end zone on a 1-yard run. The Pats didn't lead the game long as the Bills came right back in the second quarter with Ray Davis taking a 2-yard pass from Trubisky for a touchdown.

New England added a second touchdown with Kayshon Boutte snagging a 48-yard pass from Milton before Tyler Bass kicked a 49-yard Field Goal to send the two teams into the half-time break.

Getty Images

With the Patriots winning 17-10 at the half, the Bills came back firing on all cylinders as James Cook was able to score a touchdown on a one-yard run. That score also helped Cook tie OJ Simpson for the most rushing touchdowns by a Buffalo Bills player.

Unfortunately for Bills fans, that was the last score the hometown team could muster as Pats kicker Joey Syle was able to kick three more Field Goals, giving New England the victory 23-16.

With the Bills having locked in its playoff position several weeks ago, the team now looks to take its 13-4 record into the Wild Card Weekend of the NFL Playoffs. The Bills will host a home game next weekend against the 7th seed. This is the fifth straight year the Bills have won the AFC East and made a playoff appearance.