After a big road win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bills needed a win on Sunday to keep their playoff hopes alive.
They failed to do that.
The Bills in striking range following 30 minutes of play wound up falling to the New England Patriots 23-3.
The Bills started the game on a high note when they took their drive all the way down inside the Patriots 10-yard line but a interception thrown by Tyrod Taylor on 1st and goal eventually gave the Patriots their first points of the game after settling for a field goal off the turnover.
It was a 9-3 game at the break, thanks in part to the Buffalo defense. While the Bills gave up an average of nearly eight yards a carry in the 1st half, they managed to keep the Patriots out of the endzone and instead settle for three field goals.
In the 2nd half of play, the Patriots capitalized on their first drive of the half as Western New York native Rob Gronkowski made a couple of big catches that helped cap off a 1-yard touchdown run by Rex Burkhead to extend their lead 16-3. Burkhead would add another touchdown later in the game to make it a 20 point lead.
Gronkowski finished the game with 9 catches for 147 yards.
The Bills lost starting QB Tyrod Taylor in the early 4th quarter after he was carted off the field with a knee injury and was ruled out for the rest of the game. Taylor finished just 9-of-18 for 65 yards and the interception in the 1st quarter.
Bills backup Nate Peterman came into the game and eventually marched the Bills down the field until they came up short on 4th and goal.
The Bills are now 6-6 on the season.
They'll be back at home on December 10th when they host a 3-9 Indianapolis Colts team.
