Jared Tofil | Sports Writer
For the first time since 2019, the New England Patriots are back on top of the AFC North Division after the Buffalo Bill lost 41-15 to the Indianapolis Colts, where Jonathan Taylor became the 6th running back to score five total touchdowns in a game and took the lead in rushing yards and touchdowns. After the game, Josh Allen had the chance to talk about the loss. “We’re a really good football team when we don’t bite ourselves in the butt. What we put on the field today is not who we are,” said Josh Allen, who threw two touchdown passes, both to Stefon Diggs, and two interceptions. “We need to do a better job on all fronts. There’s no way around it, but at the same time, it’s not panic mode”. On the other hand, New England started the season 2-4 behind rookie QB Mac Jones have turned the season around and won their last five games, the previous being a blowout win over the Atlanta Falcons 25-0, where the defense shined, racking up four sacks on veteran QB Matt Ryan as well as four total interceptions. Payton Manning, on the ESPN+ exclusive show Detail, goes on to say, “That’s really good stuff there by Mac Jones.” Getting praise from one of the best QBs of all time. Buffalo is now 6-4.5 games behind the 7-4 New England Patriots.
The Bill at the start of the season was favored to win the division by a landslide after taking it last year from New England for the first time in 12 years in a season where Tom Brady left in the first game with a torn ACL. It looked like this was going to be the case as they started 5-2 but in their previous three games are 1-2. Buffalo will be hoping to win next week vs. the New Orleans Saints, who are 5-5 after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 40-29. Buffalo will need the Josh Allen to Stephon Diggs connection to continue to work for them, and the Saints, after starting 5-2, really need a win to get back on pace. New England will be facing the tough Tennessee Titans, who, despite losing Derrick Henry, are still 8-3 coming off of a loss to the Houston Texans. The Patriots are hoping the defense will continue to be tremendous, and Mac Jones and the offense shine. In the up-and-coming weeks, the Patriots and Bills have two games vs. each other in weeks 13 and 16. It’s going to be interesting to see who comes out on top in the division.