The New England Patriots claimed a momentum-shifting 29-26 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Week 4, and the Patriots upset win could be the catalyst for a broader turnaround with a favorable slate ahead.
New England entered the matchup at 1-2 after a sluggish start highlighted by uneven play from Drake Maye, who had thrown six interceptions through three games. With the ground game inconsistent and the receiving corps still settling in, the performance against Buffalo marked a sharp change in tone for the season.
Maye delivered 269 passing yards with three touchdown throws and one interception, showing poise in the pocket, sound decisions on scrambles, and improved accuracy. Ball security remained a concern as he fumbled three times, though the Patriots recovered two of them. Even so, the overall command he displayed aligned with expectations set by his strong form last season.
Containing one of the league’s highest-scoring offenses provided a lift to both sides of the ball. Buffalo had been averaging more than 33 points per game, yet New England limited Josh Allen to a single passing touchdown and four rushing yards, and kept James Cook III from breaking loose. The defensive front’s discipline helped tilt the game’s tempo in the Patriots’ favor.
Romeo Doubs added to the surge with a two-touchdown outing, his second productive showing of the season, reinforcing the sense that key pieces are trending upward at the right time. With Maye settling in and complementary players contributing, New England exits Week 4 with renewed confidence.
Patriots upset win precedes favorable four-game slate
The timing of the breakthrough is notable. From Weeks 5 to 8, the Patriots face the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Miami Dolphins, a stretch that profiles as their most navigable sequence of the season.
Las Vegas, up next in Week 5, has started 3-1 with a defense led by coordinator Rob Leonard and an offense that has opened well. The matchup still projects as winnable for New England, and a victory would build needed momentum.
After the Raiders, the Jets present one of the Patriots’ more favorable pairings on the schedule. A subsequent meeting with the Bears could come against a Chicago team potentially without injured quarterback Caleb Williams. The run concludes against the Dolphins, who are 0-4 at this stage, representing perhaps the softest on-paper opponent of the group.
If New England can sweep the next four or drop no more than one, the club would reinsert itself into the AFC playoff picture before the schedule stiffens later in the year. The result against Buffalo positions the Patriots to convert this window into a tangible climb up the standings.