Bills did not punt vs. Patriots, first team ever not to punt against a Bill Belichick-coached team

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 26, 2021, 6:11 PM EST
NFL: DEC 26 Bills at Patriots
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Patriots coach Bill Belichick has coached 474 games in his long head-coaching career. But he saw something today he had never seen before.

The Bills did not punt today. And that made them the first team ever to punt zero times in a game against a Belichick-coached team, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.

Buffalo picked up 28 first downs today, and Bills coach Sean McDermott made clear he didn’t want to have to settle for kicks, going for it on fourth down four times and converting on three of them.

It was an outstanding performance for the Bills in a game that made them the favorites in the AFC East.

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57 responses to “Bills did not punt vs. Patriots, first team ever not to punt against a Bill Belichick-coached team”

  2. I thought the Eagles pulled it off in Super Bowl LII but they did punt once. Hard to believe.

  4. December 26th, 2021…. The silence that patriots nation that Mac Jones is not a young Tom Brady and that two decades of being able to be the most obnoxiously arrogant sports fans in the world has ended.

  5. All those Patriots fan accounts are going back into hibernation like in 2020. It’s going to be very quiet in here; hopefully Miami’s doesn’t knock you out of the playoffs….

  6. He should be embarrassed. Embarrassing loss to a makeshift offense – funny the media won’t play that angle?

  12. And it wasn’t even that close.
    Mac Jones can’t throw the ball ten yards down field.
    No tornado today. The truth came out.

  13. This Bills team is inconsistent as hell. We’ll see what they do in the playoffs. They played a perfect game to beat the patriots and had to, they WILL NOT keep that up. BTW, JC Jackson makes that easy interception late in the 4th, we’d be talking a different result.

  15. godkingskovald says:
    December 26, 2021 at 6:20 pm
    All those Patriots fan accounts are going back into hibernation like in 2020. It’s going to be very quiet in here; hopefully Miami’s doesn’t knock you out of the playoffs….

    45 5 Rate This

    ——————

    Are you a Vikings fan?

  16. 60ftlesbianoctopus says:
    December 26, 2021 at 6:18 pm
    December 26th, 2021…. The silence that patriots nation that Mac Jones is not a young Tom Brady and that two decades of being able to be the most obnoxiously arrogant sports fans in the world has ended.

    51 15 Rate This
    godkingskovald says:
    December 26, 2021 at 6:20 pm
    All those Patriots fan accounts are going back into hibernation like in 2020. It’s going to be very quiet in here; hopefully Miami’s doesn’t knock you out of the playoffs….
    —
    Until they win next week. I do t recall to many Bills fans running there’s mouths after they lost at home to NE or in Tampa to TB.

    Oh wait. They were crying… about the refs

  17. @jackfrostey – Pats were demolished. If you’re going to play that game, then Buffalo had 2 drops in the end zone (Kumerow and Sanders) and Wallace dopped an INT in the end zone.

  18. godkingskovald says:
    December 26, 2021 at 6:20 pm
    All those Patriots fan accounts are going back into hibernation like in 2020. It’s going to be very quiet in here; hopefully Miami’s doesn’t knock you out of the playoffs….

    45 5 Rate This

    ——————

    Are you a Vikings fan?
    —

    No kidding.. it’s one thing for Bills fans to talk , they win
    But a Vikings fan? Talk about a team taking up space in someone’s head.

  19. The Pat’s offensive “system” is entirely dependent on their defense winning. Without an assist from 40 mph wind, mac jones doesn’t have what it takes to keep up with JA.

  20. Bills dominated from the outset, and Allen was unstoppable. Not much to say really – I’m just surprised it was actually still a game in the 4th quarter. Felt like it should have been 40-10.

  21. Flash your tears are delicious and TB6 is speechless? What a Sunday, enjoy your early vacation in January.

  23. Missed this gm but cant wait to see the highlights – or lowlights if you are a Pats fan. Funny how the Boston Bean heads scatter like rats when “Mr Chess” Belichick is bludgeoned.

  24. I like how McDermott wouldn’t give Belichick credit for the win in Buffalo and then goes into NE and wins.

  25. 60ftlesbianoctopus says:
    December 26, 2021 at 6:18 pm
    December 26th, 2021…. The silence that patriots nation that Mac Jones is not a young Tom Brady and that two decades of being able to be the most obnoxiously arrogant sports fans in the world has ended.

    —

    And your comments are lame.
    I’ll let you in on a secret…. IF whatever team it is you root for went on a 20 year run the fans of the team you root for would act the SAME way

    Not sure how it “ended” today but if it make you feel better then it’s cool.

  26. Not a Vikings fan, actually I love when they lose because I’m exhausted about all those sour Vikings fans who were trolling Buffalo for trading for Diggs. Born and raised Buffalo Bills fan and I’m loving this new decade of AFC East where the Patriots have Matt Cassel 2.0 at QB.

  27. The problem with watching the Patriots under Belichick is that this coach gets all the credit for wins and too much blame for losing. It’s a player’s game. When the team had Gronk, Edelman, Brady and Amendola, they were stacked. The receivers never got credit for creating separation.

    They were difficult to defend. Welker is another great example, too. However, we can credit Belichick for drafting some of these players. The receivers are still not distancing themselves from defenders. It’s beyond tiresome. It’s one of the many reasons why Brady left.

  28. Josh owns AFCE, so glad we locked this guy up for the next 8 years! I hope the Pats stick with Mac keep working hard you might get there.. probably not.

  29. godkingskovald says:
    December 26, 2021 at 7:19 pm
    Not a Vikings fan, actually I love when they lose because I’m exhausted about all those sour Vikings fans who were trolling Buffalo for trading for Diggs. Born and raised Buffalo Bills fan and I’m loving this new decade of AFC East where the Patriots have Matt Cassel 2.0 at QB.

    —

    The problem is the Bills haven’t won anything yet, not even the division the tie breakers won’t matter till the season is over.
    So right now you are tied for first. That’s it.

    But enjoy

  30. Flash1224, it’s going to be hilarious when the Dolphins take your spot in the wildcard when Mac Jones throws 4 interceptions against Miami in Week 18

  31. godkingskovald says:
    December 26, 2021 at 7:32 pm
    Flash1224, it’s going to be hilarious when the Dolphins take your spot in the wildcard when Mac Jones throws 4 interceptions against Miami in Week 18

    —

    Is it, iOS it going to be “hilarious “ hopefully they can go to Florida and win. Because we know the Bills can’t. … Jacksonville..Tampa…

  32. jackfrostey says:
    December 26, 2021 at 6:44 pm
    This Bills team is inconsistent as hell. We’ll see what they do in the playoffs. They played a perfect game to beat the patriots and had to, they WILL NOT keep that up. BTW, JC Jackson makes that easy interception late in the 4th, we’d be talking a different result.
    ——————————————————————————————————————OR if that wr had just broke that one tackle, or if Brady was still their QB, or if there were 50 mph wind gusts, or… Guess what? Loss

  33. Miami just needs to worry about tomorrow.

    New England is facing Dec/Jan defenses that aren’t finding themselves, they are facing defenses that already know who they are.

    BB can’t hide Mac Jones right now. He has to make plays.

  34. Mac Jones is not the next TB now matter how much Patriots fans wish for it. They were probably better off with Cam Newton. At least he can make some plays. The only thing Mac Jones can do well is hand the ball off to the running back.

  35. Bills are the class of that division. Not surprised Bill was outcoached again, even with his Baby Brady at the helm.

  36. Bills may not have won the division yet. Gotta take care of business. But I like our chances with JA.

  37. tsamadmadmadmadworld says:
    December 26, 2021 at 7:49 pm
    Mac Jones is not the next TB now matter how much Patriots fans wish for it. They were probably better off with Cam Newton. At least he can make some plays. The only thing Mac Jones can do well is hand the ball off to the running back.
    —

    Stop.. one believes they would be better with Newton.
    Jones is just like any other rookie QB, he’s had good games he’s had just okay games and he’s had bad games

  38. Buffalo, especially Allen, was impressive in a game to decide the division. Played better. Coached better.

    Mckenzie ( is that the guy who replaced Beasley ) kept making plays. The Pats D was winning the red zone in the first half which made it a game but the field position, Patriots mistakes and long drives wore the defense down. Allen’s 4th down run in the 4th quarter was the play of the game.

    The Patriots played a passive defense and Allen didn’t make any key mistakes. Whereas the Patriots had two ill advised unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, dropped catchable balls, and turned it over.

    The Bills earned the win.

  40. A guy who once played for the Patriots, racked up six with them, has more Super Bowl titles in his new town than any Bills player that ever lived or played.

  41. jerrystrashcan says:
    December 26, 2021 at 8:13 pm
    I’m sensing the Dolphins steal this division in the final game of the season.
    _____________

    Not likely. Even with a dolphins win tomorrow, Bills essentially have a two game lead since they won both MIA games. Also, JA v Tua or JA v Mac. I’m taking JA.

  42. If Mac Jones was drafted by the Falcons, they’d be calling him the next Matt Ryan. And that would be a lot more accurate than calling him the next Tom Brady. The AFCE now runs through JA17 and Orchard Park.

  43. Buffalo played a great game, and obviously the Pats aren’t as good as I thought they were. Most of the commenters that showed up as Bills fans are just the cowardly trolls that keep changing their usernames and hate the Pats. No point responding to them. I won’t waste my time. But, the Bills still don’t have a good RB and still can’t stop the run. They’re going nowhere in the playoffs. I, for one, am still impressed with MJones rookie season(a lot better than Allen’s was), and still think the future looks bright for him and the Pats.

  44. This story (and the game itself) was about how the Bills didn’t punt all day. Mac Jones has no bearing over whether the opposing team punts — THAT is why Buffalo won today. Buffalo didn’t shut down Mac, they embarrassed NE’s defense all day long.

  46. The game came down no punts and time. Josh led the Bills on long methodical drives. The Pats couldn’t score quickly enough to match JA with their run heavy approach. Welcome to life without an elite QB. Enjoy the taste.

  47. I love how there are still comments from Pats fans about Taam. TAAAM left to get away from the annoying accents and went somewhere more fun with better fans.

  48. Dominating win by the Bills…
    Except for one area that is concerning.
    Pressure on the Quarterback…
    For the life of me I don’t k is how we can’t dial up pressure. I delayed blitzes, or stunts. Would it kill Frazier to have Tremaine Edmunds Blitz these Statue QBs? The dude is a monster they should use him as such.

  49. “But, the Bills still don’t have a good RB and still can’t stop the run. They’re going nowhere in the playoffs.”
    ___________________

    Since you basically claimed the Pats won the division a few weeks back, and then said the Pats would win this one easily – I’ll take that as a good assessment that the Bills may have a deep run in them this year.

  50. This story (and the game itself) was about how the Bills didn’t punt all day. Mac Jones has no bearing over whether the opposing team punts — THAT is why Buffalo won today. Buffalo didn’t shut down Mac, they embarrassed NE’s defense all day long.

    Max had a 43 qb rating… in what multiverse is that not shutting a qb down

  51. I don’t think y’all saw the game. The Pats offence wasn’t the problem. It was the D. They were unable to put up one stop. I mean 3 fourth downs? And a lots of successful 1st and tens? Even the Bills fans have no clue who Isiah McKenzie is! The WR who clowned today the Pats D.

  52. I categorically did not claim the Pats won the division. I did say they would win easily today. That’s why I was man enough to admit I was wrong in today’s post. If only fans of other teams possessed similar character. We shall see how far the Bills go.

  54. These teams were going to split these two games especially this close together. Now if they face each other again in the playoffs my money is on the Patriots.

  55. Isaiah Mackenzie
    The Beloved unsung hero of the team.
    Just because some Patsy fan doesn’t know your name, (not Surprised), doesn’t mean this was your only good game. Here’s a homework assignment for those who don’t know this man. Watch 2020 week 17 against the Dolphins. Not the entire game, just the 1st half. Have fun!

  56. Like that the Bills won, but that “Bill” on the other side was muttering to himself (or was crazily scribbling on that sheet he carries) “Oh… its going to be like that, huh ?” and planning revenge in the playoffs…..

  57. Mac Jones may not have been Tom Brady, but it didn’t make the difference. No punts? All game? The Pats D, the front 7 anyway, needs a rehaul. Hightower and McCoury’s contracts are up this year, they’re likely both gone. Both were very good, sometimes great, esp. Hightower, but that was then.

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