Score: Buffalo 17, New England 24
Regular season records: Buffalo (10-5), New England (12-3)
What it means:
The New England Patriots clinch the AFC East and the Bills remain the No. 5 seed for the 2019 playoffs.
Scroll through to see photos of all the Week 16 action as the Bills take on the Patriots in a Saturday matchup in New England.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley (10) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (97) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) and free safety Jordan Poyer (21) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills strong safety Micah Hyde (23) and cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills kicker Stephen Hauschka (4) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills strong safety Micah Hyde (23) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills strong safety Micah Hyde (23) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills punter Corey Bojorquez (9) and kicker Stephen Hauschka (4) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary (26) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills defensive end Trent Murphy (93) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) and offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley (10) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Head Coach Sean McDermott Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills defensive back Siran Neal (33) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills defensive back Siran Neal (33) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills defensive back Siran Neal (33) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills running back Senorise Perry (32) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) and defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes (55) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson (90) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson (90) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills cornerback Taron Johnson (24) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills kicker Stephen Hauschka (4) and punter Corey Bojorquez (9) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91), outside linebacker Matt Milano (58), and defensive end Trent Murphy (93) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills cornerback Kevin Johnson (29) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary (26) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) touchdown Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) touchdown; quarterback Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) touchdown; quarterback Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills defensive end Trent Murphy (93) and strong safety Micah Hyde (23) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills defensive back Siran Neal (33) and running back Senorise Perry (32) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley (10) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49), outside linebacker Matt Milano (58), and cornerback Taron Johnson (24) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson (90) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills punter Corey Bojorquez (9) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills cornerback Levi Wallace (39) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) and strong safety Micah Hyde (23) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver (91) and strong safety Micah Hyde (23) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills cornerback Kevin Johnson (29) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley (10) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 21, 2019 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Roberts (18) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 21, 2019. Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes
First quarter: Bills 3, Patriots 7
The Bills win the coin toss and deferred to the second half.
On the Patriots opening drive, Jordan Poyer punched the ball out of Rex Burkhead's arms leading to a fumble that was picked up and returned 31 yards by Micah Hyde.
Stephen Hauschka opened the scoring with a 35-yard field goal with 9:21 remaining in the quarter. Buffalo is 7-0 when scoring first in 2019.
The Patriots marched down the field on their next possession, utilizing a heavy run attack. Sony Michel ran six times for 28 yards on the 11-play drive. On first and goal, Tom Brady threw to Matt LaCosse from the eight-yard line for the touchdown with 1:50 remaining.
Second quarter: Bills 10, Patriots 10
Corey Bojorquez's punt was downed at the New England one-yard line by Siran Neal. The Patriots needed to drive the entire length of the field for a score. Brady led the Patriots on a drive that went 17 plays for 91 yards and consumed 8:58 of the clock that ended in a 36-yard field goal from Nick Folk.
Buffalo's offense goes three and out after Allen's pass to Cole Beasley is broken up by J.C. Jackson. New England led time of possession, 18:53 to 7:46, respectively.
The Bills forced New England's first punt of the game, but their offense still couldn't get things to click, punting three plays later. Starting at the 50, New England was within striking distance for a field goal but went for it on 4th-and-1. Kevin Johnson made a huge tackle to force the turnover on downs.
With 30 seconds on the clock and two timeouts left the Bills offense had their best drive. Buffalo needed six plays to go 59 yards and a touchdown. Allen completed a pass to Knox for 34 yards to get it down to the one-yard line and Allen threw to left tackle Dion Dawkins for the score.
Third quarter: Bills 17, Patriots 13
The Patriots score a touchdown but it gets called back on offensive pass interference by Julian Edelman. New England cannot convert on 3rd-and-18 and Nick Folk makes a 51-yard field goal to move the Patriots back in front.
A solid kick return sets the Bills up with good field position. Devin Singletary and Isaiah McKenzie combine to move the chains. On second-and-13 from the Buffalo 47, Allen hits John Brown in stride for the 53-yard touchdown, the longest completion of the Bills season.
Fourth quarter: Bills 17, Patriots 24
The Patriots get the ball into the red zone again but only come up with three. Brady tried to scramble it in from five yards out but Ed Oliver easily caught him. Folk is 3-for-3 on field goal attempts.
Edelman made his return from the locker room to catch a 30-yard pass. New England gets their first touchdown since the first quarter on a Burkhead two-yard run. Two-point conversion pass to Edelman was complete and gave New England a 24-17 lead.
The Bills moved the ball inside the 10-yard line. Allen's run on first-and-goal was stuffed, on second his pass was incomplete to Dawson Knox and on third he was sacked. Allen threw up one last heave on fourth but it was incomplete. The Patriots were able to kneel out the clock.
Subplots:
Josh Allen has now accounted for a touchdown in 21 consecutive games. That marks a new franchise record, surpassing Doug Flutie's 20 game streak from 1998-99.
Josh Allen has passed the 5,000 career passing yardage mark in his 27th game. He is now the third quarterback in NFL history with 5,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in 30 games or less joining Cam Newton (23) and Robert Griffin III (22).
Josh Allen has accounted for 29 total touchdowns this season - the second-most in a season in team history trailing only Jim Kelly's 34 in 1991.
New England's 17-play drive marked the longest allowed by the Bills all season.
Josh Allen connected with Dawson Knox for 34 yards to put them on the one-yard line. That marks Knox's third 30+ yard reception of the season.
Dion Dawkins now has two career touchdown catches.
Buffalo inactives: RB T.J. Yeldon, S Dean Marlowe, OG Ike Boettger, OT Ty Nsekhe, WR Duke Williams, Te Tommy Sweeney, DT Vincent Taylor
Patriots inactives: DT Byron Cowart, TE Ryan Izzo, G/T Jermaine Eluemunor, RB Damien Harris, OT Korey Cuningham, QB Cody Kessler, CB Jonathan Jones
Up Next:
The Bills conclude their season at home against the New York Jets at 1 p.m.
