The New England Patriots closed out their season on both a high and low note in Sunday’s win over the Buffalo Bills.
On one hand, the team ended a six-game losing streak and handed a division rival an upset loss (even though they were mainly facing backups). On the other hand, the Patriots knocked themselves out of contention for the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft.
So while a win does end things on a positive note, a loss would have guaranteed the top pick in the draft to help rebuild the roster.
Quarterback Drake Maye only played for a series on Sunday before the team turned to Joe Milton III the rest of the way. The rookie backup put on an impressive performance and closed the curtains on the Patriots’ 2024 season with a 23-16 victory.
Here are the studs and duds from the Week 18 game: