The Buffalo Bills have already lost to the New England Patriots once this season, and quarterback Josh Allen wants to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
While speaking to reporters this week, Allen acknowledged that the Bills are a better team now than they were when they fell to the Patriots back in Week 7, but also understands that Bill Belichick is still on the other side.
“We’ve grown as a group collectively,” Allen said, via the Bills’ official team website. “I don’t want to take credit away from them. Their defense is playing at a very high level. They’ve got guys that are smart. They can play multiple positions. They’re rushing the passer very well right now. It’s a Bill Belichick-coached team. So we’ve got to take that into account.”
New England beat Buffalo by a score of 29-25 in the first meeting, marking the Pats’ highest-scoring outing of the season.
Allen is fully aware of the potential pitfalls of overlooking the Patriots.
“The fact that we lost game one, I think, shows we’ve got to put our best stuff on the field or we’re not going to win this game,” said Allen. “Frankly, it’s a game that we need to win. They know that. We know that. If I’m in the New England Patriot locker room, I’m looking to ruin (Buffalo’s season). An opponent’s hopes are on the line, a division rival. They’re going to be ready to go. I can guarantee that.”
The Bills have won three games in a row to improve to 9-6. They currently hold the second Wild Card spot in the AFC playoff picture, but it’s still a very delicate situation, and as Allen noted, one loss could ultimately sabotage Buffalo’s postseason hopes.
“So that, in turn, makes us ready to go as well,” he added. “With the guys we have in this locker room, there’s very little doubt we will be ready to go.”
Josh Allen has thrown for 3,778 yards, 27 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while completing 66.5 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 93.7 this season. He went 27-for-41 with 265 yards, a couple of touchdowns and a pick in the loss to New England earlier this year.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
