Last season, the New England Patriots pulled off what felt like a miracle: a 23-20 upset win over their biggest rivals, the Buffalo Bills, in Week 5. That victory wasn’t just a big one, it absolutely set the tone for their whole year, ultimately bringing the AFC East title back to Foxborough for the first time in six years. Fast forward to 2026, though, and things look a whole lot different.
The Bills Are Rolling, The Patriots Are In Trouble
The Buffalo Bills are once again looking like serious contenders for the division title, sitting pretty with a 3-0 record to start the season. The Patriots, on the other hand, are facing a serious uphill battle. They kicked off 2026 at a disappointing 1-2, and their offense, led by last year’s MVP runner-up Drake Maye, has seriously struggled to play consistent football and hang onto the ball. If any game screams “get right or get left” for a team, this Week 4 rematch in Buffalo might just be it. The Pats are heading to Orchard Park as 6.5-point underdogs, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Can they pull off another upset, or is this where their season hits a wall?
Pats Pulpit Staff Weighs In: It Doesn’t Look Good
The consensus from the Pats Pulpit staff and community isn’t exactly brimming with confidence for New England. Bernd Buchmasser expects a tough battle in a hostile environment. He thinks an upset would be monumental, just like last year, potentially having a lasting effect on the team’s confidence. But he also thinks the gap between the Patriots and the Bills feels too wide to overcome right now, especially with the Patriots’ issues and injury woes. His call: **Bills 21, Patriots 17**.
Matt St. Jean pulls no punches, saying Drake Maye looks “broken,” and honestly, the entire Patriots offense looks broken with him. The Bills are absolutely rolling, even easily winning games when they lose the turnover differential badly. St. Jean can’t imagine this game being competitive given the version of Maye we have seen so far this season. His prediction: **Bills 27, Patriots 10**.
Dylan Klayman echoes the sentiment, pointing out that the Bills, as they often do, look straight-up unbeatable to start the year. Maye, he says, is “completely flustered and lost” right now. The defense also didn’t perform last week, barely putting any pressure on the quarterback, and penalties have been racking up. Based on what we have seen from the Patriots this season, Klayman believes this game will not be close at all. His final score: **Bills 34, Patriots 17**.
Pat Lane is leaning on pure hope, admitting that if the Patriots get blown out, he will consider their season “essentially over.” He wants to see some fight, and getting 20-plus points on offense would be huge. He calls the Bills a “wagon,” fully expecting a loss but stressing that how the Patriots play is incredibly important.
The Patriots are walking into a firestorm in Buffalo, and a lot of folks are wondering if their season is already on the brink. Will Maye and the offense somehow find a spark, or will this trip to Orchard Park confirm everyone’s worst fears?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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