Allen’s controversial play sparks fan reaction
Josh Allen’s controversial fourth-quarter flop quickly became a talking point after the Bills’ 29-26 loss to the Patriots. The moment came during a tense divisional matchup Buffalo appeared close to controlling.
Allen later made a costly decision that helped seal New England’s comeback. The play added another layer to an already dramatic loss.
Buffalo’s first loss of 2026
The Patriots defeated the Bills 29-26 on October 4, 2026, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The result ended Buffalo’s unbeaten start and moved New England’s record to 2-2.
Buffalo entered the game 3-0 and led 26-21 after a fourth-quarter touchdown. New England answered with a late touchdown and two-point conversion, then secured the victory with an interception.
Allen’s passing numbers
Allen completed 23 of 33 passes for 253 yards and 1 touchdown against New England. He finished with a passer rating of 89.6.
He also carried the ball 5 times for 4 yards and scored 1 rushing touchdown. Allen was charged with 1 fumble, while his late interception ended Buffalo’s final possession.
The late interception changed everything
With slightly more than a minute remaining, Allen threw deep toward the left sideline while facing double coverage. Patriots safety Craig Woodson intercepted the pass, ending Buffalo’s final possession.
Afterward, Allen said he should have thrown the ball out of bounds because Buffalo was already within about 20 yards of field-goal range. The turnover prevented the Bills from getting another opportunity to tie or win.
New England’s late comeback
New England trailed 26-21 before quarterback Drake Maye led the Patriots on their decisive fourth-quarter drive. Maye completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Efton Chism III with 1:50 remaining.
The Patriots then converted a two-point attempt to Rhamondre Stevenson, taking a 29-26 lead. Buffalo could not answer after Woodson intercepted Allen on the following possession.
Maye delivered three touchdown passes
Maye completed 22 of 37 passes for 269 yards and 3 touchdowns in the victory. He also threw 1 interception and added 54 rushing yards on 8 carries.
His touchdown passes went to Romeo Doubs twice and Efton Chism III once. The late connection with Chism gave New England its first lead after Buffalo’s fourth-quarter touchdown.
Allen’s strong start made the loss notable
Allen entered the Patriots game after Buffalo opened the season with 3 victories over Houston, Detroit and the Los Angeles Chargers. He had thrown 5 touchdown passes in the first 2 games.
Against New England, Allen produced 253 passing yards and 2 total touchdowns. He threw 1 interception against New England after throwing 2 interceptions against the Chargers the previous week.
Interesting fact: Allen won his first AP NFL MVP award in 2024, after recording 4,269 total yards and 41 total touchdowns for Buffalo.
The flop became part of a larger discussion
The fourth-quarter fall drew attention because it came during a close divisional game in which Buffalo was protecting a lead. Reports identified Jones as the Patriots defender involved, while officials allowed play to continue.
The incident was separate from Allen’s later interception, but both moments appeared in coverage of the defeat. The interception ended Buffalo’s final drive, while the flop produced no change to the official score.
Interesting fact: The Patriots were founded in 1959 as the Boston Patriots and renamed the New England Patriots in 1971. They have won six Super Bowls.
The Patriots defense limited key opportunities
New England’s defense allowed Allen to complete 23 of 33 passes for 253 yards, with 1 passing touchdown and 1 interception. The Patriots also recorded 1 sack, while Allen fumbled once but did not lose possession.
Buffalo generated several explosive plays, including 5 completions of at least 20 yards. Still, New England made the decisive defensive play when Woodson intercepted Allen late in the fourth quarter.
Keon Coleman led Buffalo’s receivers
Wide receiver Keon Coleman produced Buffalo’s biggest receiving performance against New England. He finished with 116 receiving yards and a touchdown, giving Allen a major downfield target during the game.
Coleman’s production helped Buffalo build a 26-21 fourth-quarter lead. Despite that output, the Bills did not score again after New England completed its late comeback.
The loss affected the AFC East race
Buffalo remained 3-1 after the defeat, while New England improved to 2-2. The Patriots’ victory prevented Buffalo from maintaining a perfect record through the first four games.
The teams also played an important divisional matchup because both are members of the AFC East. New England’s win reduced Buffalo’s early-season cushion while giving the Patriots a divisional victory.
Allen acknowledged his costly decision
Allen did not blame the final interception on a teammate or the officials after the game. He said he should have thrown the ball away after escaping Jones and recognizing the defensive coverage.
His comments directly addressed the decision that ended Buffalo’s final possession. The quarterback’s admission provided a clear account of his own role in the late turnover without changing the game’s official result.
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The next test arrives quickly
Buffalo’s next scheduled game is against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, October 12, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The Week 5 matchup is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. Eastern and will air on ESPN and ABC.
The Bills enter the matchup at 3-1, while the Rams are 2-2 after defeating Philadelphia 24-20. The game gives Buffalo its next regular-season opportunity after the Patriots’ loss.
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What do you think about Josh Allen’s controversial play? Like this post and leave a comment with your take on whether it was a flop or simply part of the game.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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