The New England Patriots are one step closer to the number one playoff seed in the AFC thanks to a 37-16 victory over the Buffalo Bills. The defending world champions improved their regular season record to 12-3 and depending on the outcomes of the games involving the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Jacksonville Jaguars might either secure a first round bye or homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
New England started the game slowly on both offense and defense: First, the Patriots went three-and-out before the defense surrendered a 16-play drive that took more than eight minutes off the clock and ended in a Buffalo field goal.