The New England Patriots became the first road team to win at Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium, edging the Bills 29-26 in a tightly contested Week 4 matchup. Despite the loss, Buffalo entered the game undefeated at 3-0 and led early, but New England overcame a 35-6 thrashing from the Jacksonville Jaguars last week and key absences on defense to take the victory.
The Patriots outgained Buffalo with 405 yards and had more first downs and expected points per play, while scoring 29 points after averaging only 12 per game before Sunday. Backup wide receiver Efton Chism, a practice squad player promoted to the 53-man roster since his rookie season in 2025, caught the game-winning touchdown, a moment that drew pointed remarks from Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
“They wanted to give us the game. They had no confidence that’s why they struggled all game,” Gardner-Johnson said in the Bills locker room after the game. He expressed frustration that a less established player made the decisive play rather than one of the Patriots’ top receivers. “An elevated guy made a hell of a catch. Probably won’t hit him again, respectfully,” he added.
Gardner-Johnson also challenged the idea that the Patriots deserved the win. “Everybody knows who is the better team. ‘Oh, you see the score.’ The better team lost today,” he said. He continued by pointing out that the Patriots “barely scored” and “struggled all game,” despite putting up 29 points.
Buffalo’s defense faced challenges with New England missing cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive tackle Christian Barmore, as well as starting third-string right guard Ben Brown. The Bills’ offense, which had been strong in the first three weeks, couldn’t hold off the Patriots’ late surge. The final score marked Buffalo’s first home loss since moving to Highmark Stadium.
The Patriots’ ability to bounce back from a heavy defeat the previous week and succeed on the road against a division rival with a perfect record at home is a significant development in the AFC East race. Meanwhile, the Bills face questions about their confidence and execution after a performance that, according to Gardner-Johnson, did not live up to their own standards.
According to Yahoo Sports.