When Josh Allen rolled into Buffalo in 2018, the AFC East still belonged to the New England Patriots, plain and simple. For decades, those guys had been a brick wall for the Bills, holding an 80-52-1 advantage in the all-time series. And yeah, a massive chunk of that was the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era, where they went 34-4 against Buffalo. But even with that asterisk, the Pats owned the division. Allen’s arrival signaled a change, but it wasn’t instant, and those early battles set the stage for one of the league’s most dramatic power shifts.
Those Early Days: Learning to Fight the Empire
Allen’s first shot at the Patriots came late in his rookie season, though he was sidelined watching for their October 2018 visit to Orchard Park. When he finally got the start in Foxborough two days before Christmas, it went exactly how Bills-Patriots games had gone for almost two decades. New England snagged a 24-12 win. Allen threw for 217 yards with a touchdown but also two interceptions, and the Patriots just kept on cruising to another AFC East title and, eventually, another Super Bowl.
A year later, the Bills were a lot closer to the squad we recognize now. They kicked off 2019 at 3-0 before the defending Super Bowl champs rolled into Orchard Park. Buffalo’s defense was stout, holding Tom Brady to just 150 passing yards and no touchdowns. But Allen had a rough day, throwing three interceptions before he had to leave the game, and New England narrowly escaped with a 16-10 win. By their December rematch, the Bills were legit at 10-4 and had already locked up a playoff spot. Allen stepped up big, throwing for 208 yards and two touchdowns without a pick, and Buffalo even took a 17-13 lead into the fourth quarter. But, typical Patriots, they still found a way to win 24-17. Allen’s record against them? A brutal 0-3. Getting closer meant nothing.
A New Chapter Begins: Brady’s Exit, Bills’ Hunger
Then came 2020. Tom Brady was out of New England when they showed up in Orchard Park on November 1st, but trust me, beating the Patriots still mattered massively. Buffalo hadn’t beaten the Pats at home since way back in 2011. Head coach Sean McDermott had never beaten Bill Belichick. And Allen, after three tries, was still hunting for his first win against them.
With the Bills and Patriots gearing up to face off again this Sunday in Orchard Park, you gotta look back at how far this rivalry has come. That 0-3 start for Allen wasn’t just a record; it was the foundation for everything that came next in a rivalry that’s totally flipped.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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