Two key adjustments spark Patriots upset of the Bills, 29-25

There are a lot of people waking up this morning with egg on their face. No one had any reason to believe the Patriots could beat Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, and the Buffalo Bills. The Bills began the season as one of the favorites in the AFC to get to the Super Bowl, but have lost their swagger this year. The Patriots’ victory Sunday may be more of an indictment on the Buffalo Bills than it was an indication the Patriots’ franchise is back on track.

I know I, myself, am feeling a little like Tom Jackson this morning. For those of you too young to remember, Tom Jackson was an ESPN analyst for 29 years Bill Belichick made a surprise trade the week prior to the start of the 2023 season, trading veteran team leader, Lawyer Milloy, to the Bills. The team “hated their coach,” Jackson said at the time, raising many eyebrows. That team would go on to win the Super Bowl despite a rocky start.

Last week, I solemnly admit I wrote to keep an eye on certain Patriots' players “quiet quitting.” I was r, r, r, wrong. To their credit, the 1-5 team played hard on Sunday. They were hyped up on the sideline. Mac Jones looked like a different person – rather than sulking on the bench, he was constantly on his feet talking to his teammates when not on the field. Trent Brown came back into the game for New England’s pivotal game-winning final drive after being dinged up and in the blue tent for most of the fourth quarter. Brown was terrific the entire game.

Belichick made two key changes for the game which made the offense look completely different. Hey, sometimes it pays to listen to fans. Sometimes the answers are the obvious answers. Like Forrest Gump said, "I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is." Bill, us fans know we are not football geniuses like you, but we do know football.

For weeks fans have been clamoring for Belichick to play rookie sixth round pick Demario Douglas more. Douglas was the one receiver the Patriots have that actually has some elusiveness and explosiveness. Belichick, however, benched Douglas early in the Miami game after getting stripped from behind while trying to get extra yards after a catch. 

Douglas then suffered a concussion early in the New Orleans game while making a nice leaping catch. He didn’t return to that game and missed the Raiders' game the following week.

Sunday, Douglas was back and saw the most extensive playing time of his young career. He was featured early and often, frequently motioning across the offense. He made key plays receiving, rushing, and punt returning.

Douglas made two key catches in the red zone on consecutive touchdown drives in the fourth quarter. He had one carry for 20 yards on an end around. He also had a 25-yard punt return in the second quarter which led to a field goal. He was also seen selling hot dogs in the stands at Gillette. (That last one was not true – at least I don't think it was)

The other change Belichick made which was instrumental was moving right guard, Mike Onwenu, to right tackle. Many of us have mentioned for weeks that the only solution to the Patriots’ right tackle woes was having to move their most effective, consistent lineman over one spot from guard to tackle, but no one believed Belichick would actually do it. Belichick has always been enamored with Onwenu at guard, often raving about how he has the perfect body for the position.

Belichick signed Riley Reiff and Calvin Anderson in free agency this past offseason. Reiff was ineffective at tackle and was, actually, moved to guard where he played a few effective snaps before landing on IR. Anderson has been a failure.

Belichick made two trades for tackles just before the season started. Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. has been viewed as a project and only played a handful of plays early in the season. Vederian Lowe has seen significantly more playing time, but has been overmatched.

The Patriots also tried rookie Sidy Sowe at right tackle. He was drafted in the fourth round after playing guard in college. It is tough to learn a new position at the NFL level. It is no wonder Sowe hasn't measured up. It is unfair to think he could.

The best option, even though Belichick hates doing it, is to move Onwenu out there to tackle and put Sowe back at his natural position of guard. Fifth round pick, guard Atonio Mafi, has seen a lot more playing time than Belichick would have liked. Last year’s first round pick Cole Strange has been out most of the season. Onwenu has been bothered by an ankle injury all year. 

So maybe Belichick had been thinking about moving Onwenu out to tackle all along, but Onwenu just wasn't healthy enough to make the switch yet. Onwenu’s season debut at tackle coincided with Cole Strange returning to the starting left guard position. Now, the only potential vulnerable spot was right guard, which can be covered up by veterans, David Andrews and Onwenu, as bookends. The experience Sowe, Mafi, and Lowe have gotten should prove beneficial, as well. The changes to the offensive line showed immediate results.

Mac Jones was 3-for-3 on the opening drive as he looked comfortable in the pocket for the first time this season. Rhamondre Stevenson had a 14-yard carry on the opening drive running behind Onwenu. 

The Patriots had to settle for a field goal on that first drive. They would score a touchdown on their next drive to open up a 10-0 lead. It was unchartered territory for a team that has fallen behind double digits early in five of their first six games.

Mac Jones showed what he can do if his offensive line protects him and his receivers can even get a little bit open. Veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and DeVante Parker, despite their fat contracts, have been unable to get any separation or show any inspiration all season. Maybe their fat wallets have been weighing them down. Schuster missed his second game recovering from a concussion. Parker saw his playing time largely reduced against Buffalo after dropping a catchable deep pass at the end of the Raiders’ game which may have directly cost the Patriots a victory. His lack of accountability in interviews all week has been embarrassing.

The Patriots would be better served moving on from Parker and Schuster and going forward with Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Tyquan Thornton, and even Jalen Reagor and Kayshon Boutte.

Mac Jones finished 25-of-30 for 275 yards, two touchdowns, and, most importantly, no turnovers. On this day, he outplayed Josh Allen.

Allen was horrible right out of the gate. He threw an interception on his very first pass. He would continue to overthrow numerous open receivers. He ended up putting respectable numbers – 27-of-41, 2 TDs, 1 INT. He was limited to only 17 yards rushing. Despite being down top pass rushers, Matthew Judon and Josh Uche, the Patriots schemed plays to get consistent pressure on Allen from a variety of sources. One play it would be Myles Bryant blitzing from the outside, on another it would be Jahlani Tavai or Ja'Whaun Bentley shooting up the middle. It kept the Bills and Josh Allen guessing, and rattled.

Most notable on defense was the resurgence of Christian Barmore. He was a disappointment last season after a strong rookie season. The last few games he has been a beast, shedding blockers like they weren't even there. He punished Buffalo whenever they blocked him one-on-one.

All was not perfect for the Patriots. They did blow a 22-10 lead with seven minutes to go in the game. Buffalo scored two quick touchdowns and took a 25-22 lead with 1:57 to go. Buffalo was helped by a Kendrick Bourne fumble after a reception in New England’s zone. It was a "here we go again" moment for fans.

Mac Jones has been desperately in search of his first “Tom Brady comeback moment.” He has had numerous opportunities, including against Philadelphia, Miami, and Las Vegas this year. Until Sunday, he has come up inches short. On this day in front of his home crowd, he led an 8-play, 75-yard drive culminating with a one-yard touchdown pass to Mike Gesicki with 12 seconds left.

The drive was notable for Belichick’s aggressiveness. He allowed Jones to keep passing while being deep in Buffalo territory. Instead of just settling for a chip shot field goal and try and win in overtime, Belichick kept allowing Jones to throw the ball and try to win the game in regulation with a touchdown. Few would have blamed Belichick for playing it conservative with the way Jones has been making some foolish mistakes in the last few weeks.

There were other mistakes. Special teams continues to be an issue. Why Cam Achord still has a job is beyond me? Brenden Schooler was called for a false start on a punt early in the second quarter. More egregious, the Patriots had to waste a timeout on a field goal midway through the third quarter when Sidy Sow was late getting on the field. How does that happen? It was almost the difference of Chad Ryland having to hit a 54-yard field goal instead of a 49-yarder on a challenging, windy day. 

Another possible disastrous gaffe was David Andrews wandering a little too far downfield prior to a pass on a huge 34-yard gain by Rhamondre Stevenson on the last drive which set up the Patriots’ final touchdown. A flag was thrown on the play, but the referees picked it up after conferring. It looks like the Patriots got away with one.

There was also some bad tackling by New England. Most notably was a 3rd-and-15 play in which Kyle Dugger missed a one-on-one tackle in the flat on a swing pass allowing the runner to gain 17 yards and a first down. Fortunately, Buffalo didn’t score on that drive. 

And then there was the touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs in the fourth quarter in which he slid down to make the catch around the Patriots’ five-yard line with two defenders meandering around him. Before either defender had the wherewithal to touch him, Diggs got up and darted to the end zone. Buffalo was probably still going to score a touchdown on that drive, but still.

Some other positives to come from the game. Cornerback Jack Jones played for the first time this year. He made a couple solid tackles. It was nice to have him back on the field with all the other injuries the secondary have had.

Even though special teams, in general, had its problems, the rookie kickers had very nice days. Punter Bryce Baringer exhibited power and finesse by booming a 64-yard punt and placing another one, directionally, out-of-bounds at the Buffalo 3. Placekicker Chad Ryland had his most active kicking day of his career and was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals in swirling, windy conditions.

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