Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills finally suffered their first loss of the 2026 season on Sunday, falling 29-26 to the New England Patriots. Allen had a chance to put Buffalo back in control late in the game, but his final mistake gave New England the opening it needed to finish the comeback.

Former NFL star Luke Willson did not hold back when comparing the two quarterbacks after the game.

“I’m not saying Josh Allen is a worse player than Drake Maye, but today, he was outplayed by Drake Maye,” Willson said.

The Patriots trailed 26-21 with around six minutes left when Allen connected with Keon Coleman for a 34-yard touchdown. Buffalo failed to convert the two-point attempt, leaving New England within striking distance.

"What went wrong for the Bills on Sunday? Luke Willson joins Jay to discuss," Jay on SC posted on Instagram.

The Patriots quarterback found Efton Chism III for a touchdown before New England added the two-point conversion to take a 29-26 lead.

Buffalo still had one more chance. Allen was trying to set up another possession when he came under pressure and threw a desperation pass.

Patriots safety Craig Woodson came down with it, recording his second career interception and his first regular-season pick. The turnover ended Buffalo’s final push and sent the Bills to 3-1.

Former NFL star and ex-ESPN analyst Ryan Clark also pointed to the loss as a moment for Allen and Buffalo to take notice. The Patriots game was not the first time the Bills had flirted with costly mistakes this season.

In Week 1 against Houston, Buffalo escaped with a 36-31 win despite Allen nearly throwing a late interception.

With less than two minutes remaining and the Bills trailing, Allen sent a deep pass toward the end zone that Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter got both hands on but could not hold onto.

Allen got another chance on the very next play and found Josh Palmer for a 34-yard touchdown to put Buffalo ahead.

Los Angeles had its own chances to make Buffalo pay. Justin Herbert threw an interception in the fourth quarter when C.J. Gardner-Johnson stepped in front of a pass intended for Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the end zone.

Gardner-Johnson returned it 41 yards, and Buffalo later took its first lead on an Allen rushing touchdown.

This time, though, Allen’s late mistake against New England proved too costly. Maye made the plays New England needed down the stretch, while the Patriots handed Buffalo its first defeat of the season.

The Bills now turn the page to Week 5, with the Los Angeles Rams next on the schedule after Sean McVay’s team beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-20.

That mistake also shaped the postgame reaction to Allen’s performance.

What went wrong for Josh Allen in the Bills’ loss to the Patriots?

Josh Allen had a night to forget against the New England Patriots as the Buffalo Bills suffered their first loss of the season, 29-26. Allen finished with 253 passing yards, one touchdown and an interception, while also adding a rushing score. His final turnover proved costly with Buffalo chasing a field goal or touchdown late in the game.

Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski gave Allen a “C-” and pointed to the quarterback’s tendency to make big plays while sometimes taking unnecessary chances.

“Josh Allen can do anything on a football field, which is both a positive and a negative. Usually, Allen makes the necessary plays to give the Buffalo Bills an advantage. He also take unnecessary risks that can lead to significant mistakes,” Sobleski wrote, according to Heavy.

Allen’s interception came with 1:04 left and Buffalo at its own 40-yard line. After escaping pressure, he threw into double coverage, where Patriots safety Craig Woodson made the pick.

“They went man, made a guy miss, I threw one up, and should have thrown that one out of bounds and live another day,” Allen said, via Fox Sports. “That's what I should have done. These ones sting. Got to find a way to learn from this and move it to the back of our brain, learn from it and move on.”

Allen will now look to bounce back against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5.

Written by

Debanjali Rakshit