The New England Patriots appeared to have the AFC East wrapped up when they jumped to a 21-0 lead over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. However, they failed to finish the job and eventually saw the reigning champions claw their way back and eventually leave Gillette Stadium with a 35-31 win in hand.

Here is a Patriots-centric view at some of the key moments of the game.

Moment No. 1: Opening drive statement

With the Bills opting to defer to the second half after winning the coin toss, the Patriots opened the game with the ball. They made the...

The New England Patriots will have to wait before officially being crowned champions of the AFC East.

New England was dominant in the first half of its matchup with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, was watched the division slowly slip through their hands as a 24-7 halftime lead devolved into a devastating 35-31 loss at Gillette Stadium.

I’ve got your takeaways:

MOVING FORWARD

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel didn’t like the phrase “hat and t-shirt game” being thrown around this week, but he’ll have to continue dealing with it after the most disappointing loss of his young tenure.

New...

The New England Patriots are back from their bye and welcoming the Buffalo Bills to a snowy Gillette Stadium in Week 15.

As Mike Vrabel stated this week, it’s a championship week for his Patriots: a win would clinch the team its first AFC East title since 2019. It will be no easy task, however, as reigning MVP Josh Allen, James Cook and one of the league’s best run games stands on the other side.

Follow along live from Gillette Stadium throughout Sunday.

Live score: Patriots 7 : 0 Bills

*Sunday, Dec. 14, 1 p.m. ET | Gillette Stadium,...

The bye week could not have come at a better time for the New England Patriots. After playing football on 13 straight weekends, the team of head coach Mike Vrabel was nursing multiple injuries — leading to several key players being out for the most recent game against the New York Giants.

While not all of them will be back against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday — LT Will Campbell (knee) and DT Milton Williams (ankle) remain on injured reserve, for example — the team is trending in the right direction. Three other core guys missing versus the Giants, after...

The New England Patriots celebrated the end of John Cena’s decorated WWE career.

Cena concluded his year-long retirement tour by losing to Gunther at “Saturday Night’s Main Event” in Washington, D.C. The Massachusetts native received well-wishes from the Patriots before putting on his jorts one final time.

“Congratulations to the greatest WWE Superstar of all time on a legendary in-ring career,” the Patriots wrote Saturday on social media. “THANK YOU JOHN CENA!!”

The WWE posted a tribute video on Friday night, which they played on Saturday night, that featured a message from another all-time legend. Tom Brady wanted Cena to...

The New England Patriots entered the weekend with two players listed on their injury report. While running back Terrell Jennings was later placed on injured reserve because of a concussion, the status of linebacker Robert Spillane was unclear mark heading into Sunday: the defensive captain and starting linebacker was officially questionable because of a foot issue.

However, a look at New England’s inactives for their AFC East showdown with the Buffalo Bills shows that Spillane has been cleared. The 30-year-old is not among the six inactives, suggesting that he should have at least some impact on the game after being...

The New England Patriots will see several starters return to the lineup during their matchup with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

Jared Wilson (ankle), Brenden Schooler (ankle) and Khyiris Tonga (chest) are back after each missed just one game, with the off week helping minimize their absences after they were injured in the Week 12 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Bradyn Swinson, Marcus Bryant, CJ Dippre, Efton Chism, Eric Gregory and Tommy DeVito will all be healthy scratches.

Harold Landry III and Robert Spillane, who each missed time during practices this week, will also be active.

The Bills will be...

The New England Patriots have not won their division since 2019, but they are on the verge of doing so in their first year under head coach Mike Vrabel. Entering Week 15 with an 11-2 record and two-game advantage over the Buffalo Bills, they can clinch the division on Sunday against those very Bills.

Will they do so? While the oddsmakers are not sure about that, Patriots fans are optimistic. The results of the latest SB Nation Reacts survey show that 74% of participants pick the home team to defeat Buffalo and complete not just the first sweep of their...

Mack Hollins clearly isn’t bothered by the cold weather.

The New England Patriots can clinch the AFC East with a Week 15 win over the Buffalo Bills. Mother Nature set the tone for the December division showdown with snow on a frigid Sunday in Foxborough, Mass.

Hollins didn’t dress appropriately for the conditions. The wide receiver arrived at Gillette Stadium shirtless and barefoot.

The Patriots shared a photo of the wide receiver’s bold attire, and the NFL posted a brief video of Hollins walking outside the stadium.

By now, it’s known that Hollins isn’t the biggest fan of shoes. He’s...

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has fans of all shapes, sizes and mythological significance.

Will Campbell displayed his admiration for the gunslinger while arriving to Gillette Stadium. DrakeMayeLover, whoever that may be, has built a significant social media following based off the signal-caller’s ever-growing fanbase. Santa Clause even likes what he’s seen this season.

Yes, Santa Clause.

NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo reported on the sophomore quarterback ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Buffalo Bills, and did so with a special guest in tow…

“(Maye) has got the respect of this Buffalo Bills defense after that performance earlier this year,”...

“Foxboro loooooves Tom Brady!”

It’s been nearly a quarter century since legendary New England Patriots broadcaster Gil Santos uttered those words to describe the club’s young upstart quarterback as he thrived on a huge (and snow-filled) stage in knocking off the then-Oakland Raiders in the 2002 AFC Divisional Round.

Although some of the details have changed, that sentiment still rang true on Sunday.

Drake Maye, the new guy in town, is universally beloved and will have his own opportunity to make some noise on a similar stage as the club takes on the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium — with...

The battle for the AFC East is in full swing, and Sunday could prove to be a deciding moment. A home victory over the Buffalo Bills would guarantee the New England Patriots their first division title since 2019, and end a three-year postseason drought.

Here is all the information you need to follow the Patriots’ 14th game of the season.

How to watch Patriots vs. Bills in NFL Week 15

Kickoff: Sunday, Dec. 14, 1 p.m. ET

Stadium: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

Broadcast: CBS, WBZ-TV Channel 4 (local)

Live stream/mobile: Paramount+ (local), NFL+ (local), NFL Sunday Ticket (out of...