The Buffalo Bills‘ offense took the field at Gillette Stadium on Sunday expecting a big day.

Patriots QB Mac Jones’ game winning drive vs the Buffalo Bills, October 22nd, 2023 (colorized) pic.twitter.com/RtCQb5luWl

— El Capitãn (@DomGonzo12) October 22, 2023

While the Bills were coming off scoring just seven points in the first three quarters of the last two games combined, the New England Patriots defense came into Week 7 allowing 25.3 points per game (ranked 24th coming into Week 7). Quarterback Josh Allen had thrived against the Patriots in recent years, with 18 touchdowns, two interceptions and a total QBR of 81.6 in the past seven meetings.

But on Buffalo’s first offensive play, Allen threw a pass intended for tight end Dawson Knox that was picked off with relative ease by safety Jabrill Peppers.

The play was a sign of the offensive struggles to come, with the Bills scoring only three points in the first half and 10 in the first three quarters in what became a 29-25 loss. The offense showed life in the fourth quarter with 15 points scored in just under four minutes, but it was too late to change the outcome.

“We’re going to get [opponents’] best shots, whatever it is,” defensive tackle Jordan Phillips said. “We’re a team everybody wants to beat and we got to stop playing down to certain different people. We got to do our thing and play Buffalo Bills football. We haven’t done that the last couple weeks, even though we won last week.”

Sunday’s loss leaves the Bills with more questions than answers ahead of a short week with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coming to town Thursday.