How great did it feel watching the Buffalo Bills (12-3) dominate the New England Patriots (6-9) in every conceivable way during a 38-9 trouncing on Monday Night Football?
Today’s edition of the Bills daily links recaps the win—the second-largest defeat of a Bill Belichick-coached team during his tenure in New England.
We offer up report cards and instant observations, discuss why quarterback Josh Allen strengthened his MVP candidacy, examine why the Allen-to-Stefon Diggs combination is unstoppable, highlight how Allen and Diggs etched their names into Buffalo’s record books in the win, break down where the Bills currently sit in the AFC playoff picture, see Belichick continue his assault on sideline technology, address whether head coach Sean McDermott will rest his starters in the Week 17 clash with the Miami Dolphins, and much more!
Recapping the Beatdown in Foxborough
Bills complete season sweep of Patriots, improve to 12-3 – The Athletic
The Bills clinched the AFC East eight days earlier, but Monday night, they could spread their arms, toss back their heads and feel unbound. (Subscription required).
The Game Story: Bills earn 1st sweep of Patriots since ’99 with 38-9 win - newyorkupstate.com
Buffalo cruises to a win on Monday Night Football.
Allen and Diggs shine in Bills’ blowout of Patriots - WGR 550
Josh Allen threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns, with three of them going to Stefon Diggs, in the Bills’ 38-9 win over the Patriots in Week 16.
Analysis: Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs set strength of Pats defense on fire | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“Man coverage? Blitzes? Three-man rushes and eight men in coverage? The Bills’ third-year quarterback had the answers for all of it...”
Josh Allen baffles Patriots as Bills steam toward playoffs – The Athletic
This felt personal for Josh Allen and the Bills, one final box to check on their way to the postseason. (Subscription required).
Bills rout Patriots to complete season sweep - WGR 550
The Buffalo Bills defeated the New England Patriots 38-9 in their Week 16 matchup on Monday Night Football.
Bills blow out Patriots for first 12-win season since 1993 - Democrat & Chronicle
The Bills put on quite a show on Monday Night Football with a 38-9 rout of New England.
Jason Wolf: Bills sweep Patriots, and Belichick can’t do anything about it | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“One of the greatest coaches in NFL history could do nothing to stop the AFC East champion Bills from embarrassing his Patriots 38-9 on ‘Monday Night Football’ at Gillette Stadium.”
Stefon Diggs, Bills make statement with decimation of Pats - NFL.com
“Each time Stefon Diggs hauled in a pass Monday night, one could almost feel New England’s will evaporating. By the time he scored his third TD, the only thing left to resolve was the expiration of the remaining game clock.”
Buffalo Bills thrash New England Patriots to sweep Bill Belichick’s team for first time since 1999 - CNN
“For almost 20 years, the Buffalo Bills have been the New England Patriots’ whipping boys.”
Relax: Bills’ Stefon Diggs on altercation with Patriots’ J.C. Jackson - newyorkupstate.com
Diggs and Jackson got into it on the sidelines after an early incompletion.
Bills’ Jerry Hughes on blowout win vs. Patriots: ‘Nice feeling to return punch in the face’ - newyorkupstate.com
Bills sweep season series over Patriots for first time since 1999.
Quarter by quarter: Bills hand Bill Belichick worst home loss with Pats | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Don’t miss Mark Gaughan’s quarter-by-quarter look at the Buffalo Bills’ 38-9 victory over the New England Patriots on Monday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.
Report Card/Observations
Arrow Up/Arrow Down: Bills at Patriots - WGR 550
“The Buffalo Bills beat the New England Patriots handily on Monday Night, 38-9, and in the process, swept them for the first time since 1999.”
Report Card: Bills were aggressive from start to finish in burying Patriots | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Jay Skurski weighs in with his grades on the Buffalo Bills' 38-9 victory over the New England Patriots on Monday night at Gillette Stadium.
Bills report card: Allen-Diggs duo has been unstoppable - Democrat & Chronicle
TheJosh Allen-Stefon Diggs duo has been fun to watch, impossible to defend.
Josh Allen, Bills make changing of the guard official vs. Patriots in 38-9 beatdown (Week 16 report card) - newyorkupstate.com
Buffalo got out to a commanding 24-7 lead at halftime.
10 observations: Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs make it look laughably easy in rout of Patriots | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs absolutely toyed with the New England Patriots,” writes Jay Skurski.
Stefon Diggs, Josh Allen rewriting Buffalo Bills record book; Buffalo crushes Patriots 38-9: Instant observations - newyorkupstate.com
Offense puts on a show vs. New England.
What we learned from Bills’ victory over Patriots on Monday night - NFL.com
“Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs and the Buffalo Bills made an emphatic statement.”
Top 3 things we learned from Bills at Patriots | Week 16 - BuffaloBills.com
A historic sweep of the Patriots, Allen and Diggs set franchise records and the Bills get aggressive on fourth down.
Josh Allen Strengthens his MVP Case
Vic Carucci: Josh Allen’s MVP argument gets louder in Bills’ pounding of Patriots | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
“Allen has done every bit as much to earn the honor, even if oddsmakers have him third on the list of front-runners behind Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes.”
Bill Belichick ‘wasn’t buying’ Josh Allen hype ahead of Bills- Patriots MNF showdown - newyorkupstate.com
ESPN’s Brian Griese and Louis Riddick discussed their conversation with Belichick before the game started.
Does Belichick believe Josh Allen hype now? Bills’ MVP candidate torches Pats - Democrat & Chronicle
Maybe Bill Belichick is an “I’ll believe it when I see it” kind of guy.
Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs the reason Bills are top contenders – The Athletic
“As the Bills start to think bigger this season, it’s difficult to imagine a better pairing heading into the playoffs.” (Subscription required).
Records Fall in Dominant Win
Josh Allen breaks Jim Kelly's Bills passing TD record, gets congrats from Kelly | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Allen went 5-for-5 for 41 yards on the Bills' first drive, and exited the game with 4,436 yards on the season.
Stefon Diggs sets Bills’ record for receiving yards in a season | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Stefon Diggs added the Bills’ mark for receiving yards in a season on his 50-yard touchdown reception from Josh Allen in the second quarter.
Playoff Positioning Updates
Updating AFC playoff picture: Bills can win No. 2 seed by beating Miami | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Buffalo can still win the No. 2 with a win against the Miami Dolphins.
Bills stay in position to land AFC’s No. 2 seed with sweep of Patriots - Buffalo Bills Blog- ESPN
Buffalo delivered a statement with a dominant road performance, sweeping the Patriots for the first time since 1999.
NFL playoff picture 2020 - Week 16 standings, bracket, scenarios and outlook for the postseason - ESPN.com
Week 16 brought a lot of playoff race clarity, including two more division champs. Here is the full postseason outlook, along with the scenarios.
Bills Today | Win gives Buffalo clarity on its potential AFC playoff seed - BuffaloBills.com
Here are three things to know about the Bills for Tuesday, Dec. 29.
Bill Belichick Hates Sideline Technology
Bill Belichick smashes sideline phone in loss to Bills - WGR 550
Patriots coach Bill Belichick continued his war on sideline technology Monday night, smashing a phone in frustration after he made a bad challenge.
Bill Belichick smashes phone after losing challenge against Bills - New York Post
“It has been a rough year for Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots, who in their first season without Tom Brady are going to miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2008 season.”
Bill Belichick threw a sideline phone in frustration during Bills-Patriots | Boston.com
"Whoever suggested to Coach Belichick that he might want to challenge that got an earful."
Bill Belichick fires down phone after bad challenge - Yahoo!Sports
Bill Belichick was frustrated, probably at more than just a bad challenge.
Odds and Ends
Watch now: Sean McDermott on embrace with Bill Belichick: ‘Pretty cool’ | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Bills coach Sean McDermott had a long embrace with Patriots coach Bill Belichick after Buffalo’s 38-9 victory Monday night.
Will Bills rest starters in Week 17? McDermott says no decision yet | Buffalo Bills News | NFL | buffalonews.com
Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills have a decision to make.
Donations now over $1 million in honor of Bills’ Josh Allen’s grandmother - newyorkupstate.com
Lifelong Bills fan Sue McCollum made $217k donation to push total to new high.
Featured on Buffalo Rumblings
Takeaways: Buffalo Bills embarrass New England Patriots, 38-9 - Buffalo Rumblings
The Bills went in and took over the home of the Patriots.
Buffalo Bills 38, New England Patriots 9: Rapid recap and notes - Buffalo Rumblings
Yet another rout on national television.
Circling the Wagons: Buffalo Bills sweep the New England Patriots to go 12-3! - Buffalo Rumblings
Listen now to some sweeping noises for an hour!
Buffalo Bills getting it done in primetime right now - Buffalo Rumblings
The Buffalo Bills have won three straight primetime games to finish off the 2020 season.
Josh Allen sets Bills record for passing touchdowns in a season - Buffalo Rumblings
Allen tied Jim Kelly’s (1991) record for most passing TDs in a single season. In 15 games.
Josh Allen breaks Buffalo Bills’ single-season completion record - Buffalo Rumblings
Josh Allen passes Drew Bledsoe (375) to become Bills’ single-season completion leader.
Stefon Diggs breaks Buffalo Bills’ single-season receiving-yards record - Buffalo Rumblings
Diggs passes former Bills great Eric Moulds.
Buffalo Bills set team record for consecutive games with 24+ points - Buffalo Rumblings
A record set against the same opponent when things began.
AFC Playoff Picture: Buffalo Bills clinch second or third seed with MNF win - Buffalo Rumblings
Buffalo held onto the two seed this week.
NFC South, Kansas City Chiefs highlight Buffalo Bills’ 2021 schedule - Buffalo Rumblings
Here are Buffalo’s 2021 opponents.