The first two matchups between the Bills and the Patriots this season had very different outcomes with each team winning on the road. It's rare to play a team three times in one season, and it will be the first time for the Bills since they played the Dolphins in the Wild Card Round of the 1998 postseason.
Back in Week 13, the Patriots had 222 rushing yards against the Bills but since then, they've only averaged 136.3 yards per game. On the flip side, the Bills had 99 rushing yards in the Week 13 loss but since then are second in the league with 161.8 rush yards per game.
This emergence of the Bills running game late in the season has been able to keep the offense more balanced and was a factor in their four straight wins to end the season.
"I think when you're able to put the ball on the ground and be productive, especially on first and second downs, it helps your offense," Bills' center Mitch Morse said. "And then if you're being one-dimensional or you can't really run the ball, it just opens the playbook for these coordinators to bring all sorts of stuff that offense linemen hate to see. So do quarterbacks. So even the threat of run helps."
From Weeks 9-13, Devin Singletary had 41 rushing attempts. After the Week 13 loss to the Patriots, his carries went up to 80 in the last five games. Adding that dimension to the Bills offense gets defenses out of their Cover 2 shell that slowed down the offense midway through the season.
After a stretch of going 3-4 from Week 6 to Week 13, the Bills bounced back from that slump and finished the season 4-1. The Patriots went 7-1 in that midseason stretch but finished the season 1-3. These two teams have been trending in the opposite direction since that Week 13 matchup.
Stefon Diggs knows how much of an impact finishing off the regular season on a high note can have in the playoffs. He thinks the run game is peaking at the right time and it's given a boost to the whole offense.
"Being able to just hand it off or run with your quarterback, designed runs, stuff like that takes a lot of pressure off your offense and off your receivers, as well," Diggs said. "I feel like we love it, and it helps us. The run helps the pass, and the pass helps the run. I feel like it opens up some windows for us, it opens up some doors for us, and it'll continue to grow if we continue to build off it."
In the 2021 regular season, the Bills ranked fifth in rushing yards per game (129.9) while the Patriots were right behind them at sixth (129.6). In the first two matchups, Damien Harris rushed for over 100 yards in each game and had four combined rushing touchdowns. In the last two weeks of the season, the Bills defense ranked third in the league – allowing 72 rush yards per game. As the Bills prepare for the third matchup against New England, stopping their rushing attack will be one of the top priorities.
"They're very, very diverse and they got some good running backs," Poyer said about the Patriots running game. "They got good contact balance, run the ball extremely hard. They got a very solid offensive line that blocks well for them. They're able to turn the dial, when one run's not working, they mix it up and go to the next one. So, we're going to have to play well and execute to win."
Sean McDermott was hired as the head coach in Buffalo on Jan. 11, 2017 and the Bills have made four playoff appearances since then. Here's a look back at some of the top photos from his time in Western New York.
Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets at New Era Field, Orchard Park, NY. Photo by Bill Wippert. September 10, 2017.
Sean McDermott arrives in Buffalo as new head coach of the Buffalo Bills. January, 13, 2017 Photo by Craig Melvin.
Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane. Buffalo Bills walk-through, August 7, 2020. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott with players for postgame prayer. Buffalo Bills vs Dallas Cowboys, November 28, 2019 at AT&T Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott with players postgame. Buffalo Bills vs Dallas Cowboys, November 28, 2019 at AT&T Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills fans celebrate with Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019. Photo by Craig Melvin
Coach McDermott and Duke Williams. Postgame locker celebration. Buffalo Bills vs Tennessee Titans, October 6, 2019 at Nissan Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Eric Wood (70) and head coach Sean McDermott celebrate the LeSean McCoy game winning overtime touchdown run in the snow against the Indianapolis Colts at New Era Field on December 10, 2017. Photo by Craig Melvin.
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills vs Indianapolis Colts at New Era Field, Orchard Park, NY.
Photo by Bill Wippert.
December 10, 2017.
Buffalo Bills offensive guard Quinton Spain (67), Head Coach Sean McDermott, offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73), and owner Terry Pegula Buffalo Bills vs Dallas Cowboys, November 28, 2019 at AT&T Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Kurt Coleman and Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills vs Cincinnati Bengals, September 22, 2019 at New Era Field. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott arrives in Buffalo as new head coach of the Buffalo Bills. January, 13, 2017 Photo by Craig Melvin.
Sean McDermott, Josh Allen (17) during the anthem. Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, November 14, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium, December 6, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills vs Carolina Panthers at Highmark Stadium, December 19, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott, Matt Milano (58). Buffalo Bills Week 17 practice, December 30, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 13 practice, December 3, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott celebrates in the locker room after the 34-14 win over the Oakland Raiders at New Era Field at Orchard Park, NY on October 29, 2017. Photo by Craig Melvin.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills vs Pittsburgh Steelers, December 13, 2020 at Bills Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 11 practice, November 17, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 1 practice, September 7, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills fans celebrate with Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019. Photo by Craig Melvin
Sean McDermott celebrates the win. Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens, Divisional Playoff Game, January 16, 2021 at Bills Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott does pushups after fielding punts at the conclusion of practice. Buffalo Bills Week 2 practice, September 16, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott, Isaiah McKenzie (19). Buffalo Bills Week 10 practice, November 10, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on November 17, 2019. Buffalo Bills post game, winning locker room. Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (73) breaks down the team with Bills head coach Sean McDermott. Photo by Craig Melvin
Sean McDermott - Buffalo Bills take part in a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, August 13, 2019. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott, Reid Ferguson (69), Corey Bojorquez (9). Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins, September 20, 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Terry Pegula and Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills vs Arizona Cardinals, November 15, 2020 at State Farm Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott with fans. Buffalo Bills Return of the Blue & Red at New Era Field, August 2, 2019. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Joe Schoen and head coach Sean McDermott celebrate in the locker room following the 30-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Era Field at Orchard Park, NY on October 22, 2017.
Photo by Craig Melvin.
Sean McDermott arrives in Buffalo as new head coach of the Buffalo Bills. January, 13, 2017 Photo by Craig Melvin.
Sean McDermott arrives in Buffalo as new head coach of the Buffalo Bills. January, 13, 2017 Photo by Craig Melvin.
Sean McDermott arrives in Buffalo as new head coach of the Buffalo Bills. January, 13, 2017 Photo by Craig Melvin.
Sean McDermott arrives in Buffalo as new head coach of the Buffalo Bills. January, 13, 2017 Photo by Craig Melvin.
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott Buffalo Bills vs Indianapolis Colts at New Era Field, Orchard Park, NY.
Photo by Bill Wippert.
December 10, 2017.
Sean McDermott arrives in Buffalo as new head coach of the Buffalo Bills. January, 13, 2017 Photo by Craig Melvin.
Buffalo Bills fans celebrate a playoff clinching win with Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 15, 2019. Photo by Craig Melvin
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott and the Bills defense celebrates a goal line stand and a missed field goal at the Buffalo Bills vs Jacksonville Jaguars at New Era Field, November 25, 2018. Photo by Craig Melvin
Head Coach Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots, December 26, 2021 at Gillette Stadium. Photo by David Le
December 10, 2017. Photo by Craig Melvin.
Micah Hyde (23) and Sean McDermott Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens, Divisional Playoff Game, January 16, 2021 at Bills Stadium. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Brian Daboll and Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills return to Buffalo after winning the AFC East division title, December 19. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Sean McDermott and John Harbaugh. Buffalo Bills vs Baltimore Ravens, Divisional Playoff Game, January 16, 2021 at Bills Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott, A.J. Epenesa (57), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills vs Green Bay Packers, Preseason Week 3, August 28, 2021 at Highmark Stadium. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott consoles Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills vs Kansas City Chiefs, AFC Championship Game, January 24, 2021 at Arrowhead Stadium. Photo by Craig Melvin
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott asks Kyle Williams to break it down in the locker room after the win over the Miami Dolphins at New Era Field on December 17, 2017. Photo by Craig Melvin.
Buffalo Bills 2018 Draft picks Josh Allen and Tremaine Edmunds arrive in Buffalo. With Terry and Kim Pegula, Brandon Beane, Sean McDermott. Photo by Bill Wippert April 27, 2018
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Lorenzo Alexander (57) Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets at New Era Field on December 29, 2019. Photo by Craig Melvin
Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier (left), David Culley (hat) head coach Sean McDermott celebrate the Bengals win over the Ravens from the locker room of the Bills after the win over the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on December 31, 2017. Photo by Craig Melvin.
Sean McDermott, Mitch Morse (60), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, December 26, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills 2018 Draft picks Josh Allen and Tremaine Edmunds arrive in Buffalo. With Terry and Kim Pegula, Brandon Beane, Sean McDermott. Photo by Bill Wippert April 27, 2018
The Buffalo Bills Draft Room at One Bills Drive during 2018 NFL Draft. Photo by Bill Wippert April 26, 2018
The fifth-year anniversary of the hiring of Sean McDermott
Tuesday marks five years since Sean McDermott was hired by the Bills. Since 2017, he has a 49-32 record, with 49 wins being the third-most in franchise history. He has a .605 winning percentage which ranks second only to Marv Levy (.615).
McDermott changed the culture here in Buffalo and turned a team that had a 17-year playoff drought into one that made the playoffs in four out of the past five seasons.
"I'm grateful to be a part of this organization," McDermott said Tuesday morning. "Grateful for the chance that Kim and Terry gave me and my and family to come to Buffalo. And that's really where we're at there, but I'm just one piece of the puzzle here."
Some of the players that he signed and drafted in his first year here - Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, Tre'Davious White, Dion Dawkins, and Matt Milano – have turned into integral players for this Bills team.
Their veteran leadership has helped instill his culture into the locker room and has made this team what it is today. Poyer is grateful to McDermott for changing his life by signing him here five years ago.
"It's like forever ago, holy cow, five years," Poyer said. "I mean, to be able to give me the opportunity to come here and to believe in me, trust in me, and really just mold me into the football player that I am today. … Coach McDermott, he's given me nothing but confidence as a football player, and as a person to be able to go out there and execute, do my job on Sundays. He's a great leader."
Injury Update
As the postseason begins, the Bills are a healthy unit. The team held a walk-thru practice on Tuesday and there were only two players on the injury report.
- Efe Obada (Ankle) – Full participant
- Emmanuel Sanders (Knee) – Full participant
"We should be in good shape here," Sean McDermott said Monday regarding the team's injury status.
