The New England Patriots will be tested when they take on the Buffalo Bills in a Week 15 showdown that could decide the AFC East's fate. This will be a rematch of a Sunday Night game back in Week 5, in which the Patriots won 23-20, thanks to a field goal by kicker Andy Borregales with 20 seconds left in the game. With a win against the Bills in Week 15, the Patriots would clinch the division for the first time since 2019.
One of the reasons for the Patriots' success this season has been the play of second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Through 13 games, Maye has completed an NFL-best 71.5% of his passes, while throwing for 3,412 yards, 23 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. Maye has also been a threat in the running game, scoring two touchdowns and running for 319 yards.
So far in his young career, this Week 15 game may be the most important game in his Patriots tenure, as it's the first game with clear playoff implications. Should the Patriots win, they make the playoffs. Coming off a bye in the previous week, Maye and the rest of the team. Luckily for the offense, the Bills' defense may have some injuries that the Patriots can exploit in the game.
Bills' Christian Benford News Is Great for Drake Maye, Patriots in Week 15
During Thursday's practice, Bills cornerback Christian Benford was limited with a toe injury, per ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg. Losing Benford would be a big blow for the Bills' defense, especially with how Maye played in the previous matchup, throwing for 273 yards and completing 22 of his 30 pass attempts.
Benford had been an important part of the Bills' secondary, allowing only 26 receptions on 43 targets (60.5%) for 303 yards, four touchdowns, and a 93.5 passer rating. He's also intercepted two passes — his third straight season of doing so — while tallying 31 solo tackles and a pair of sacks.
While you always want to play and beat an opposing team fully healthy, you can't control injuries. For New England and Drake Maye, this gives them a perfect area of the Bills' defense to target. If Benford is out on the field, the team could look to target him more, knowing that he isn't fully healthy.
Even though this game isn't a must-win for the Patriots, a Week 15 win would go a long way toward proving doubters wrong and securing a playoff spot with three weeks left after the Bills game. Maye & Co. must take any advantage they can get, and if a banged-up Benford brings them one step closer to AFC East glory, they need to capitalize.