"After a much-needed bye week, the Patriots were immediately tested in Week 15, as they welcomed the Bills for their second matchup of the season, which could have sealed the division in their favor for the first time in six years. Based on how they played in the weeks leading up to the game, which included a 10-game win streak, it looked like the Bills should be the underdogs on the road."
"At first, that looked to be true, as the Patriots went up 21 points going into halftime, only to fall apart in the final two quarters in the most miserable way. Although there is plenty of blame to go around, the defense's lackluster effort might be one of the worst parts of the loss. They nearly accomplished their season-high of missed tackles, allowed the opposing running backs to march down the field with ease, and racked up frustrating penalties to top it all off."
After a bye week, the Patriots faced the Bills in Week 15 with a chance to clinch the division for the first time in six years. The Patriots entered the matchup after a 10-game winning streak and built a 21-point halftime lead. The second half featured a collapse as the Bills scored on five consecutive drives to erase the deficit. The defense struggled across multiple areas, recording near-season highs in missed tackles, surrendering effective runs by opposing backs, and committing costly penalties. Head coach Mike Vrabel publicly criticized the defensive performance and enumerated specific failures. The defensive breakdown raised significant concerns about the team's ability to stop elite offenses.
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