2. Containing James Cook & the TEs
Buffalo’s offense might not be as explosive as they’ve been in years past, but Allen has enough around him to challenge the Patriots defense. James Cook ranks second in the NFL with 1,308 rushing yards and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry. In the first meeting, New England held Cook to 49 yards on 15 carries, but Allen found success targeting tight ends. Dalton Kincaid had 108 yards in that game.
Fellow TE Dawson Knox is coming off his best performance of the season: six catches for 93 yards against Cincinnati. That combination of Cook and the two tight ends will be New England’s biggest challenge. Stopping the run, then protecting the middle of the field, are huge keys to slowing down Allen and keeping his offense contained.
Expect Buffalo to lean on Cook early and use play-action to attack linebackers and safeties with Kincaid and Knox. If the Patriots can bottle up Cook on early downs and disrupt those middle-of-the-field throws, they’ll force Buffalo into uncomfortable third-and-longs.
It’s been years since the Gillette Stadium crowd has seen a game of this magnitude. Drake Maye has been sensational in Year 2, throwing for 3,412 yards, 23 TDs, and just 6 INTs with a 111.9 passer rating. However, this kind of game could pose a novel challenge for the leading Pro Bowl vote-getter. Maye has one game-winning drive and zero fourth-quarter comebacks in his career, and that lone drive came against Buffalo in Week 5.
That’s where important NFL games are won or lost, and this one is likely to come down to which quarterback makes the last play. Allen has done it countless times, but Maye hasn’t, mostly because he hasn’t really needed to during the Patriots 10-game win streak.
That could change this Sunday.
Against an aggressive Bills defense that blitzes heavily, Maye must stay poised, protect the football, and deliver in the clutch. December divisional games define MVPs. This is an opportunity not just for the team to secure a division title, but for Maye to outduel last year’s MVP and carve out an even more compelling case that he is the game’s most valuable player this season.
The Patriots have the edge at home and the better overall record, but Buffalo’s experience in big games and Allen’s playmaking ability make this a true toss-up. If New England executes these three keys, they’ll punch their playoff ticket and send a message that the AFC East runs through Foxborough again.
