An emotional homecoming for the Buffalo Bills was capped by a 35-23 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday as Josh Allen and Nyheim Hines starred in the regular season finale.
With Damar Hamlin's ongoing recovery from last week's on-field cardiac arrest, a vocal and visual outpouring of support emanated throughout Highmark Stadium before the game, with both teams wearing shirts emblazoned with Hamlin's first name and shirt number (3) for warmups. The Bills seemed to ride that wave of emotion on the very first play of the game, as Hines collected the opening kickoff and bolted 96 yards for a touchdown.
The Patriots responded well to the sudden deficit, trading touchdowns with the hosts until the score was 14-14 just before halftime. As the break approached, Buffalo looked to take a lead into the locker room but a timely Pats interception in the red zone ensured that the teams would start the third quarter on equal footing.
Things looked increasingly hopeful for New England early in the second half as the visitors hit a go-ahead field goal midway through the third quarter. The Patriots needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, and their chances never looked better than when that FG attempt travelled through the uprights.
However, that's where the game immediately got away from the Patriots as Hines bested his earlier effort with a 101-yard kickoff return immediately following New England's field goal. From then on it was the Bills' game to lose, as the hosts added to their lead and thwarted any inklings of another comeback thanks to the superb play of Allen and the Buffalo offense.
The Patriots' loss, combined with the Miami Dolphins' victory over the New York Jets, means New England will miss the playoffs. Buffalo had clinched their own postseason berth several weeks ago.
DAZN provided text commentary of Sunday's game as it happened. Check it out below.