The New England Patriots begin AFC East divisional play this weekend with a trip to Buffalo to take on the Bills. We preview the game on today’s episode of the Patriots Roundtable Podcast.
The New England Patriots (1-2) take to the road once more to wrap-up the second of two consecutive games away from Gillette Stadium. New England will begin AFC East divisional action this Sunday with a tilt against the Buffalo Bills (3-0).
On today’s episode of the Patriots Roundtable Podcast, hosts Eddie Marotta and Tyler Geis will preview the Patriots’ upcoming rivalry showdown in Buffalo — examining matchups that could swing the game’s result, keys to victory on both sides of the ball, and identifying strategies that will help New England get back on-track after a difficult Week 3 defeat.
When the Patriots are on offense, all eyes will be fixated on the quarterback position. Drake Maye’s struggles to begin year-three have generated headlines league-wide, and the Bills will not be a team that will make those woes easy to overcome. Outside of Maye, New England will need better all-around performances from their supporting cast — including a banged-up offensive line, a faltering rushing attack, and receivers with untapped potential. Striking a better balance will be necessary for improvement on offense, as much of the burden for production has fallen at the feet of Maye in the first month of the regular season. Unlike 2025, those results haven’t been promising to begin the year.
The matchup will be more of the same for the Patriots on the defensive side of the ball, as Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen has excelled under former offensive coordinator and now-head coach Joe Brady. Allen’s command of the Bills’ offense has expanded, and he’s been the beneficiary of an efficient rushing attack led by running back James Cook and a stable of three dual-threat tight ends. On the perimeter, wide receivers D.J. Moore and Khalil Shakir will be the subjects of attention for the New England secondary all afternoon — but they’ll have to find a way to shut them down without Christian Gonzalez on the field, as he was ruled out with a shoulder injury on Friday.
A classic AFC East rivalry will renew on Sunday — this time, with the added intrigue of two teams seemingly headed in opposite directions. The Patriots look to legitimize their division crown from 2025, while Buffalo will aim to take a commanding early-season three-game advantage and fast-track their way back to the top of the East after surrendering it to New England for the first time in five years last fall.
What do you think the Patriots need to do to bounce back against the Bills this weekend? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.
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