For almost 20 years, the Buffalo Bills have been the New England Patriots’ whipping boys.
Not anymore. Thanks to their franchise record-breaking superstars Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, the Bills gave the Patriots a taste of their own medicine on Monday.
A week after finally dethroning the Patriots from atop the AFC East division, the Bills thrashed the Patriots 38-9 with Allen throwing four touchdown passes – three of them to Diggs – to help Buffalo become the first AFC East team in two decades to sweep New England.
The victory at Gillette Stadium means the Bills have a 12-3 record entering the final week of the regular season and keeps them in the No. 2 spot in the AFC.
“We’ve got one game left. And all that, it’s cool, the records, this and that,” Allen said afterwards.
“But the plan is to get to 13-3 and give ourselves a chance in the playoffs. It doesn’t mean much if we can’t get it done.”
In the victory, both Allen and Diggs went about setting single-season franchise records for touchdown passes and receiving yards respectively.
Allen now has 34 touchdown passes, surpassing Jim Kelly’s franchise single-season record. Hall-of-Famer Kelly congratulated the 24-year-old on his achievement.
“CONGRATULATIONS Josh!!! Keep breaking records and winning games! Keep doing your thing! Proud of you! Let’s Go Buffalo!!” he said on Twitter.
Diggs had nine catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns, setting a Bills single-season record for receiving yards.
Since joining the Patriots, head coach Bill Belichick has had nothing but success, winning six Super Bowls.
However, after the departure of legendary quarterback Tom Brady in the summer to Tampa Bay, the Patriots have found it tough sledding.
With 2015 MVP Cam Newton at the helm, they have a 6-9 record and the defeat to the Bills insured they have their first losing season since 2000.
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After just throwing for 34 yards and running for a touchdown, Newton was pulled in the third quarter for backup Jarrett Stidham, though he didn’t have much better luck, completing 4-of-11 passes for 44 yards.
With such a poor performance from both quarterbacks, Belichick declined to name who would start for the Patriots at quarterback in Week 17.
“The game was over about 10, 15 minutes ago,” Belichick said. “We worked on this game, we played the game. Haven’t made any plans for next week, obviously. Game’s 15 minutes old.”
