Daily news and links for Monday.
TEAM TALK
- Post Game Notes: Patriots end Buffalo’s eight-game streak of 30 points; Patriots had first successful fake punt attempt since 2017; Hunter Henry sets new single-season career high in receiving yards; Drake Maye ties Patriots rookie record with a TD pass in seventh-straight game; More.
- Gamebook: Full Patriots at Bills stats.
- Evan Lazar’s Game Observations: Eight takeaways from the Patriots competitive loss to the Bills. Player spotlight: Drake Maye Connects with Kayshon Boutte on 28-Yard TD; More.
- Post Game Quotes: Patriots and Bills.
- Post Game Pressers: Jerod Mayo – Drake Maye – Rhamondre Stevenson – Christian Gonzalez, Hunter Henry, Kayshon Boutte, Antonio Gibson.
- Game Highlights: Patriots vs. Bills. (6 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Karen Guregian recaps the Patriots’ sense of urgency against Buffalo, competing like crazy for four quarters, showing some game-planning prowess from the coaching staff, and giving the Bills fits.
- Taylor Kyles sees signs of growth in the Pats’ 24-21 loss to Bills. This game was ultimately decided by turnovers, a battle the Patriots lost 3-1 with three straight 2nd half giveaways, and some questionable calls.
- Doug Kyed’s top takeaways from the 24-21 loss the Pats fumbled away to the Bills. 1. Hot start: Who saw the Patriots getting out to a 14-0 start? You’re a liar if you say you did.
- Taylor Kyles shares some quick thoughts on Sunday’s oddly encouraging 24-21 defeat. 1. Turnovers cool hot offensive start.
- Alex Barth gives us six takeaways after the Pats start strong but come up short in Buffalo. Key coaching decisions.
- Chris Mason offers 5 Patriots takeaways from a surprisingly competitive loss in Buffalo. 1. Finally, a fast start.
- Tom E. Curran was happy to see the Patriots ‘finally showed a pulse’ and were competitive vs. the Bills.
- Doug Kyed credits Jerod Mayo for being aggressive with a fake punt to pick up a first down.
- Mike Reiss shares three thoughts on Austin Hooper: Drake Maye’s reaction [to Hooper getting rocked] speaks to a level of caring/empathy for teammates; one of his more endearing traits; More.
- Doug Kyed finds Kayshon Boutte putting his tumultuous week 15 behind him in bounce-back performance.
- Doug Kyed says the Patriots can no longer count on Rhamondre Stevenson to hold onto ball.
- Chris Mason relays Jerod Mayo explaining his controversial 4th down decision, “To me, it’s a field position thing.”
- Andrew Callahan says it’s time to forget about Jerod Mayo getting fired.
- Mark Daniels wonders if player support will be enough to save Alex Van Pelt.
- Pats Procrastination podcast: Clare and Chudders bring festivity to their breakdown of the Pat’s road loss in Buffalo. (46 min)
NATIONAL NEWS
- Jeffri Chadiha (NFL.com) The First Read: Buy/sell on 19 NFL teams still in playoff hunt
- Will Brinson (CBS Sports) Sorting the Sunday Pile: Michael Penix Jr. has sneaky sparkling debut; Lions munch on moldy bread; Plus, the Commanders — playoffs or not — are in great shape at quarterback.
- Albert Breer (SI) Week 16 NFL Takeaways: Commanders have built program for Jayden Daniels to succeed; Plus, respect for the Vikings, the Rams are versatile, Raheem Morris talks about the switch to Michael Penix Jr. and more.
- Gilberto Manzano (SI) What we learned in Week 16: Justin Jefferson can take Vikings on lengthy playoff run; Plus, the Commanders and Bengals greatly improved their playoff odds.
- Around the NFL (NFL.com) Week 16: What we learned from Sunday’s games.
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Bills beat Patriots to stay alive for AFC No. 1 seed. ‘Patriots quarterback Drake Maye continues to impress, making plays with his arm and his legs. The Patriots have a lot of rebuilding to do, but they have to feel good about their young quarterback’.
- John Breech (CBS Sports) Week 16 grades. Bills: C, Patriots: C. The Patriots were leading this game 14-7 at halftime, but then they choked away the lead in the second half. On their first three possessions of the half, the Patriots turned the ball over three times, including a backward lateral that the Bills recovered in the end zone for an easy touchdown. Those three turnovers led to 10 points for Buffalo. Basically, the Patriots put the final nail in their own coffin. Bad teams are good at finding a way to lose and the Patriots were a perfect example of that in Week 16.
- Staff (ESPN) 2024 NFL playoff picture: AFC, NFC seed projections, chances.
- Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports) Week 16 winners and losers. Loser: Josh Allen’s hands.
- Jeff Kerr (CBS Sports) Week 16 overreactions: Jayden Daniels having better rookie season than C.J. Stroud? More.
- Kyle Stackpole (CBS Sports) 2025 NFL Draft order: Giants control destiny for No. 1 pick. Patriots No. 2.
- Michael McCarthy (Front Office Sports) NFL Network undecided about running more ads on ‘RedZone.’ Host Scott Hanson changed his traditional “commercial-free football” intro. /Weasels.