Week 1, 2026

played in Buffalo, NY

53 degrees, fair, 10 mph wind

New England Patriots	14	14	14	7	-	49
Buffalo Bills	7	0	3	10	-	20

Scoring Summary
1Q: 12:42 BUF - Jonathan Luigs 15 fumble return (Taylor Mehlhaff extra point)
1Q: 10:12 NED - Dixon Pasquarella 13 pass from Joe Flacco (Stephen Wheeler extra point)
1Q: 01:57 NED - Rodney Lyons 5 pass from Joe Flacco (Stephen Wheeler extra point)
2Q: 08:41 NED - Mike Smith 8 pass from Joe Flacco (Stephen Wheeler extra point)
2Q: 00:56 NED - Rodney Lyons 77 pass from Joe Flacco (Stephen Wheeler extra point)
3Q: 12:17 NED - Rodney Lyons 45 pass from Joe Flacco (Stephen Wheeler extra point)
3Q: 06:40 BUF - Taylor Mehlhaff 36 field goal
3Q: 03:10 NED - Mike Smith 30 pass from Joe Flacco (Stephen Wheeler extra point)
4Q: 13:37 NED - Rodney Lyons 23 pass from Joe Flacco (Stephen Wheeler extra point)
4Q: 06:32 BUF - Taylor Mehlhaff 26 field goal
4Q: 00:02 BUF - Kendall Carswell 14 pass from Phillip Rotzell (Taylor Mehlhaff extra point)

Scoring Summary
1Q: 12:42 BUF - Jonathan Luigs 15 fumble return (Taylor Mehlhaff extra point)
1Q: 10:12 NED - Dixon Pasquarella 13 pass from Joe Flacco (Stephen Wheeler extra point)
1Q: 01:57 NED - Rodney Lyons 5 pass from Joe Flacco (Stephen Wheeler extra point)
2Q: 08:41 NED - Mike Smith 8 pass from Joe Flacco (Stephen Wheeler extra point)
2Q: 00:56 NED - Rodney Lyons 77 pass from Joe Flacco (Stephen Wheeler extra point)
3Q: 12:17 NED - Rodney Lyons 45 pass from Joe Flacco (Stephen Wheeler extra point)
3Q: 06:40 BUF - Taylor Mehlhaff 36 field goal
3Q: 03:10 NED - Mike Smith 30 pass from Joe Flacco (Stephen Wheeler extra point)
4Q: 13:37 NED - Rodney Lyons 23 pass from Joe Flacco (Stephen Wheeler extra point)
4Q: 06:32 BUF - Taylor Mehlhaff 26 field goal
4Q: 00:02 BUF - Kendall Carswell 14 pass from Phillip Rotzell (Taylor Mehlhaff extra point)

Team Statistics NED BUF
Record 1-0 0-1
First Downs 24 20
- by Rushing 2 3
- by Passing 21 17
- by Penalty 1 0
Total Net Yards 533 346
- Offensive Plays 53 67
- Yards per Play 10.06 5.16
Net Rushing Yards 53 96
- Rushing Attempts 16 27
- Yards per Rush 3.31 3.56
Net Passing Yards 480 250
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt 36 - 28 - 0 37 - 23 - 0
- Gross Passing Yards 487 269
- Sacks/Yards Lost 1/7 3/19
- Yards per Pass Play 12.97 6.25
Fumbles/Lost 4/2 1/1
3rd Down Conversions 10/12 5/13
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down 8.3 8.1
4th Down Conversions 0/0 1/1
Penalties/Yards 6/35 6/42
Punt Returns/Yards 3/18 1/9
Kick Returns/Yards 3/36 3/76
Interception Ret./Yards 0/0 0/0
2pt Conversions 0/0 0/0
Red Zone Visits 4 3
- Red Zone TDs/FGs 4/0 1/2
Avg. Drive Start OWN 25 OWN 24
Time of Possession 27:35 32:25

Team Statistics	NED	BUF
Record	1-0	0-1
First Downs	24	20
- by Rushing	2	3
- by Passing	21	17
- by Penalty	1	0
Total Net Yards	533	346
- Offensive Plays	53	67
- Yards per Play	10.06	5.16
Net Rushing Yards	53	96
- Rushing Attempts	16	27
- Yards per Rush	3.31	3.56
Net Passing Yards	480	250
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt	36 - 28 - 0	37 - 23 - 0
- Gross Passing Yards	487	269
- Sacks/Yards Lost	1/7	3/19
- Yards per Pass Play	12.97	6.25
Fumbles/Lost	4/2	1/1
3rd Down Conversions	10/12	5/13
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down	8.3	8.1
4th Down Conversions	0/0	1/1
Penalties/Yards	6/35	6/42
Punt Returns/Yards	3/18	1/9
Kick Returns/Yards	3/36	3/76
Interception Ret./Yards	0/0	0/0
2pt Conversions	0/0	0/0
Red Zone Visits	4	3
- Red Zone TDs/FGs	4/0	1/2
Avg. Drive Start	OWN 25	OWN 24
Time of Possession	27:35	32:25

Drive Charts

New England Patriots
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	12:32	2:30	OWN 31	7	69	Touchdown
1	5:45	3:59	OWN 2	10	98	Touchdown
2	13:52	5:21	OWN 42	9	58	Touchdown
2	6:56	3:08	OWN 18	6	22	Punt
2	1:41	1:03	OWN 20	2	80	Touchdown
3	15:00	3:02	OWN 20	5	80	Touchdown
3	6:32	3:35	OWN 18	6	82	Touchdown
3	0:45	2:25	OPP 30	6	30	Touchdown
4	6:27	2:23	OWN 11	3	0	Punt

Buffalo Bills
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	15:00	2:28	OWN 20	6	20	Punt
1	10:02	4:17	OWN 20	9	37	Punt
1	1:46	2:54	OWN 31	7	34	Missed FG
2	8:31	1:35	OWN 20	3	9	Punt
2	3:48	1:27	OWN 5	3	1	Punt
2	2:21	0:40	OWN 47	2	-3	Punt
2	0:38	0:38	OWN 20	2	26	Half
3	11:58	5:26	OWN 20	11	61	Field Goal
3	2:57	2:12	OWN 21	3	19	Fumble
4	13:20	6:53	OWN 33	12	58	Field Goal
4	4:04	4:04	OWN 37	9	63	Touchdown

Game MVP: Joe Flacco, New England Patriots

Rushing Statistics

New England	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	10+
Vincent Chandler	6	14	2.33	4	0
Allen Hartman	6	17	2.83	11	1
Joe Flacco	4	22	5.50	8	0

Buffalo	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	10+	TD
Lee Wright	16	61	3.81	11	2	0
Rod Washington	11	35	3.18	7	0	0

Passing Statistics

New England	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
Joe Flacco	36	28	487	1/7	7	77	0	158.3

Buffalo	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
Phillip Rotzell	37	23	269	3/19	1	26	0	93.2

Receiving Statistics

New England	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG	TD
WR Rodney Lyons	10	13	270	27.00	142	77	4
WR Mike Smith	9	12	152	16.89	66	42	2
TE Dixon Pasquarella	4	5	30	7.50	16	13	1
RB Vincent Chandler	2	2	21	10.50	13	14	0
TE Donnell Elmore	2	3	12	6.00	1	7	0
FB Dwayne George	1	1	2	2.00	2	2	0

Buffalo	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG	TD
WR Broderick Hammond	7	9	81	11.57	22	26	0
WR James Hardy	5	10	46	9.20	11	15	0
WR Colin Saenz	4	4	58	14.50	0	16	0
TE Kendall Carswell	4	5	54	13.50	3	16	1
FB Marshall Quaccia	1	1	4	4.00	0	4	0
TE Winfred Gilmore	1	4	12	12.00	0	12	0
WR Ian McDaniel	1	3	14	14.00	4	14	0
WR Kirk Cole	0	1	0	0.00	0	0	0

Interception Statistics

New England	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD

Buffalo	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD

Fumble Statistics

New England	Fumb	Recov	Force
Willie Hayes	3	1	0
Allen Hartman	1	0	0
Michael Mitchell	0	1	0
Shawn Lauvao	0	1	0
Dean Wilde	0	0	1

Buffalo	Fumb	Recov	Force	TD
Lee Wright	1	0	2	0
Jonathan Luigs	0	1	0	1
Terrance Cole	0	1	0	0
Jack Marsh	0	0	1	0
Byron Schepis	0	0	1	0

Punting Statistics

New England	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
Larry Mirkovich	2	116	58.0	53.5	61	1

Buffalo	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
Thomas Morstead	5	254	50.8	43.2	62	3

Kicking Statistics

New England	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
Stephen Wheeler	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	7/7

Buffalo	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
Taylor Mehlhaff	2/3	0/1	0/1	36	2/2

Punt Return Statistics

New England	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Willie Hayes	3	18	6.0	0

Buffalo	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Kirk Cole	1	9	9.0	0

Kick Return Statistics

New England	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Harris Bruce	2	29	14.5	0
Chris Cook	1	7	7.0	0

Buffalo	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
James Hardy	2	53	26.5	0
Kirk Cole	1	23	23.0	0

Defensive Statistics

New England	Tack	Asst	Sack	RPlay	PPlay
S D.J. O'Neal	7	2	0.0	24	28
CB Doug Nichols	6	1	0.0	22	35
ILB Charlie Gerbasi	5	2	1.0	22	25
S Earl Woodson	5	0	0.0	13	23
OLB Curtis Zuck	4	1	1.0	26	37
DT Darrin Middleton	4	0	1.0	23	31
S Michael Mitchell	3	1	0.0	21	31
ILB Lewis Sonneman	3	1	0.0	13	21
OLB Travis Ellard	3	1	0.0	10	14
DT Corey Brilz	3	0	0.0	6	12
CB Chris Cook	2	1	0.0	17	31
DE Daryl Perry	2	0	0.0	14	23
CB Willie Hayes	2	0	0.0	17	27
ILB Dean Wilde	1	1	0.0	6	16
DE Andy Ellison	1	0	0.0	13	17
OLB Eugene Duran	1	0	0.0	5	5
ILB Tavares Gooden	0	1	0.0	1	0
DT Robbie West	0	1	0.0	4	9
CB Steven Ravas	0	1	0.0	19	26

Buffalo	Tack	Asst	Sack	RPlay	PPlay
ILB James Laurinaitis	8	2	0.0	10	28
ILB Sean Lee	5	2	0.0	9	24
OLB Tommy Wyden	3	3	1.0	10	22
CB Jerome Murphy	3	1	0.0	16	32
S Jerry Peters	3	0	0.0	14	26
S Byron Schepis	3	0	0.0	12	22
DT Glenn Dorsey	2	0	0.0	5	15
S Kendrick Green	2	0	0.0	7	22
OLB Donald Yeager	2	0	0.0	9	20
CB Vinny Washington	1	2	0.0	10	26
S Rich Goeas	1	1	0.0	1	6
OLB Eli Wolflick	1	1	0.0	15	27
G Louis Vasquez	1	0	---	---	---
OLB Jack Marsh	1	0	0.0	4	13
CB Quentin Hammett	1	0	0.0	1	9
CB Darrin Sebek	1	0	0.0	10	19
DT Jonathan Dees	0	1	0.0	2	2

Pass Rush Statistics

New England	Sack	Block	Hurry	Knock	PPlay
ILB Charlie Gerbasi	1.0	0	0	1	25
OLB Curtis Zuck	1.0	0	0	0	37
DT Darrin Middleton	1.0	0	0	0	31
DE Mike McCulley	0.0	1	1	0	28
DT Corey Brilz	0.0	0	1	0	12

Buffalo	Sack	Block	Hurry	PPlay
OLB Tommy Wyden	1.0	0	1	22
DE Doug Worthington	0.0	1	1	18
DT Toby Barker	0.0	1	0	20

Pass Defense Statistics

New England	Caught	Defnsd	PPlay
CB Doug Nichols	6	1	35
S Earl Woodson	4	1	23
S Michael Mitchell	3	2	31
S D.J. O'Neal	3	0	28
CB Willie Hayes	2	1	27
DT Corey Brilz	2	0	12
OLB Curtis Zuck	1	1	37
CB Chris Cook	1	0	31
DT Darrin Middleton	1	0	31
OLB Travis Ellard	0	1	14
ILB Charlie Gerbasi	0	1	25
CB Steven Ravas	0	1	26

Buffalo	Caught	Defnsd	PPlay
ILB James Laurinaitis	5	0	28
ILB Sean Lee	5	0	24
CB Jerome Murphy	3	0	32
OLB Eli Wolflick	3	0	27
OLB Donald Yeager	2	1	20
OLB Tommy Wyden	2	0	22
CB Darrin Sebek	2	0	19
S Jerry Peters	1	1	26
S Rich Goeas	1	0	6
CB Vinny Washington	1	0	26
OLB Jack Marsh	1	0	13
S Kendrick Green	1	0	22
S Byron Schepis	1	0	22
DE Craig Sellers	0	1	29
CB Quentin Hammett	0	1	9

Blocking Statistics

New England	KeyBl	BlOpp	RPly	SckA	PPly
Maurkice Pouncey	1	3	16	0	37
Shawn Lauvao	1	3	13	0	30
Wayne Kamego	1	1	9	0	10
Archie Dudley	0	4	14	1	37
Donnell Elmore	0	1	6	0	14

Buffalo	KeyBl	BlOpp	Panc	RPly	SckA	PPly
Jorge Lynn	5	6	2	23	0	35
Marshall Quaccia	1	2	0	20	0	27
Brock Pearson	1	2	0	21	0	34
Jonathan Luigs	1	1	0	10	0	17
J.C. Iafrate	0	5	0	20	0	27
Kenyon Fulcher	0	4	0	24	1	37
Louis Vasquez	0	3	0	22	2	36
Brent Randle	0	2	0	11	0	9
Donald Buckner	0	1	0	9	0	10
Terrance Cole	0	1	0	6	0	4

Special Teams Tackles

New England	Tackles	STPlays
Eugene Duran	2	11
Vincent Chandler	1	18
Harris Bruce	1	12

Buffalo	Tackles	STPlays
Jack Marsh	3	20
Lee Wright	2	10
James Laurinaitis	1	2

Participation

New England	RPlyOff	PPlyOff	RPlyDef	PPlyDef	STPly	Total Plays
Chris Cook	---	---	17	31	20	68
Curtis Zuck	---	---	26	37	3	66
Doug Nichols	---	---	22	35	3	60
Darrin Middleton	---	---	23	31	3	57
Michael Mitchell	---	---	21	31	3	55
Maurkice Pouncey	16	37	---	---	2	55
D.J. O'Neal	---	---	24	28	2	54
Joe Flacco	16	37	---	---	---	53
Mike McCulley	---	---	21	28	4	53
Rodney Lyons	16	37	---	---	---	53
Steven Ravas	---	---	19	26	7	52
Mike Smith	16	35	---	---	---	51
Archie Dudley	14	37	---	---	---	51
Earl Woodson	---	---	13	23	14	50
Charlie Gerbasi	---	---	22	25	3	50
Willie Hayes	---	---	17	27	5	49
Vincent Chandler	7	22	---	---	18	47
Dwayne George	9	24	---	---	11	44
Marvin Jenkins	10	33	---	---	---	43
Shawn Lauvao	13	30	---	---	---	43
Tyrone Wand	12	29	---	---	1	42
Dixon Pasquarella	9	25	---	---	8	42
Lewis Sonneman	---	---	13	21	5	39
Daryl Perry	---	---	14	23	2	39
Andy Ellison	---	---	13	17	6	36
Donnell Elmore	6	14	---	---	13	33
Dean Wilde	---	---	6	16	5	27
Travis Ellard	---	---	10	14	1	25
Courtney Levine	4	7	---	---	14	25
Allen Hartman	9	15	---	---	---	24
Wayne Kamego	9	10	---	---	2	21
Eugene Duran	---	---	5	5	11	21
Corey Brilz	---	---	6	12	---	18
Roger Green	1	3	---	---	14	18
Robbie West	---	---	4	9	4	17
Neil James	5	9	---	---	2	16
Deron Taylor	---	---	0	1	14	15
Tavares Gooden	---	---	1	0	12	13
Harris Bruce	0	0	---	---	12	12
Brian Downs	3	3	---	---	5	11
Stephen Wheeler	0	0	---	---	8	8
Ricardo Meadows	1	0	---	---	2	3
Larry Mirkovich	0	0	---	---	2	2
Bill Serino	0	0	---	---	1	1
Emmanuel Lynn	0	0	---	---	---	0
Kerry Newhart	0	0	---	---	---	0

Buffalo	RPlyOff	PPlyOff	RPlyDef	PPlyDef	STPly	Total Plays
Phillip Rotzell	27	40	---	---	---	67
Kendall Carswell	23	36	---	---	7	66
Louis Vasquez	22	36	---	---	4	62
Kenyon Fulcher	24	37	---	---	---	61
Marshall Quaccia	20	27	---	---	13	60
Jorge Lynn	23	35	---	---	---	58
Brock Pearson	21	34	---	---	---	55
Jerome Murphy	---	---	16	32	6	54
James Hardy	15	29	---	---	8	52
J.C. Iafrate	20	27	---	---	4	51
Lee Wright	16	23	---	---	10	49
Vinny Washington	---	---	10	26	12	48
Craig Sellers	---	---	15	29	1	45
Sean Lee	---	---	9	24	10	43
Tommy Wyden	---	---	10	22	10	42
Eli Wolflick	---	---	15	27	---	42
Kendrick Green	---	---	7	22	12	41
James Laurinaitis	---	---	10	28	2	40
Jerry Peters	---	---	14	26	---	40
Brent Randle	11	9	---	---	19	39
Jack Marsh	---	---	4	13	20	37
Colin Saenz	12	12	---	---	12	36
Jonathan Luigs	10	17	---	---	8	35
Winfred Gilmore	6	9	---	---	20	35
Ian McDaniel	6	17	---	---	12	35
Byron Schepis	---	---	12	22	---	34
Broderick Hammond	12	18	---	---	---	30
Donald Yeager	---	---	9	20	---	29
Toby Barker	---	---	9	20	---	29
Darrin Sebek	---	---	10	19	---	29
Donald Buckner	9	10	---	---	8	27
Rod Washington	11	15	---	---	---	26
Kirk Cole	3	5	---	---	17	25
Doug Worthington	---	---	7	18	---	25
Glenn Dorsey	---	---	5	15	2	22
Everett Kinsella	---	---	5	14	1	20
D.J. Dole	---	---	5	13	---	18
Terrance Cole	6	4	---	---	8	18
Quentin Hammett	---	---	1	9	1	11
Taylor Mehlhaff	0	0	---	---	7	7
Rich Goeas	---	---	1	6	---	7
Thomas Morstead	0	0	---	---	5	5
Jonathan Dees	---	---	2	2	---	4
Mack Lowe	0	0	---	---	3	3
Rhett Bomar	0	0	---	---	---	0
Gabe Blasingame	0	0	---	---	---	0

Directional Rushing Statistics

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	5	9	1.8
Middle	10	33	3.3
Right	1	11	11.0
None	0	0	0.0

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	5	19	3.8
Middle	16	45	2.8
Right	6	32	5.3
None	0	0	0.0

Detailed Passing Statistics

New England	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
Joe Flacco	36	28	9	0	0	4	2	0	0

Buffalo	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
Phillip Rotzell	37	23	1	0	2	9	2	1	0

Directional Passing Statistics

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	8	8	91	11.4
Short (0-8 Yds)	12	9	84	7.0
Medium (9-18 Yds)	8	6	150	18.8
Long (19+ Yds)	8	5	162	20.3

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	1	0	0	0.0
Short (0-8 Yds)	10	9	81	8.1
Medium (9-18 Yds)	19	13	172	9.1
Long (19+ Yds)	7	1	16	2.3

Detailed Receiving Statistics

New England	Targt	Caugt	Yards	20+	PPlay
WR Rodney Lyons	13	10	270	6	37
WR Mike Smith	12	9	152	3	35
TE Dixon Pasquarella	5	4	30	0	25
TE Donnell Elmore	3	2	12	0	14
RB Vincent Chandler	2	2	21	0	22
FB Dwayne George	1	1	2	0	24

Buffalo	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
WR James Hardy	10	5	1	46	0	29
WR Broderick Hammond	9	7	0	81	1	18
TE Kendall Carswell	5	4	0	54	0	36
WR Colin Saenz	4	4	0	58	0	12
TE Winfred Gilmore	4	1	1	12	0	9
WR Ian McDaniel	3	1	0	14	0	17
WR Kirk Cole	1	0	0	0	0	5
FB Marshall Quaccia	1	1	0	4	0	27

Red-Zone Rushing Statistics

New England	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg
Joe Flacco	1	4	4.00	5.50
Vincent Chandler	1	2	2.00	2.33
Allen Hartman	1	6	6.00	2.83

Buffalo	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg
Rod Washington	1	7	7.00	3.18
Lee Wright	1	2	2.00	3.81

Red-Zone Passing Statistics

New England	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
Joe Flacco	5	4	31	6.20	13.53

Buffalo	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
Phillip Rotzell	2	1	14	7.00	7.27

Red-Zone Receiving Statistics

New England	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
TE Donnell Elmore	2	1	5	2.50	4.00
WR Mike Smith	1	1	8	8.00	12.67
WR Rodney Lyons	1	1	5	5.00	20.77
TE Dixon Pasquarella	1	1	13	13.00	6.00

Buffalo	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
WR James Hardy	1	0	0	0.00	4.60
TE Kendall Carswell	1	1	14	14.00	10.80

Third Down Rushing Statistics

New England	Rushes	Conversions
Joe Flacco	1	1
Vincent Chandler	1	0

Buffalo	Rushes	Conversions
Lee Wright	2	0
Rod Washington	1	0

Third Down Passing Statistics

New England	Att	Comp	Conversions
Joe Flacco	10	10	9

Buffalo	Att	Comp	Conversions
Phillip Rotzell	10	6	5

Third Down Receiving Statistics

New England	Targ	Catch	Conversions
WR Rodney Lyons	5	5	5
WR Mike Smith	3	3	3
TE Donnell Elmore	1	1	1
FB Dwayne George	1	1	0

Buffalo	Targ	Catch	Conversions
WR James Hardy	3	1	1
WR Broderick Hammond	3	2	1
TE Winfred Gilmore	2	1	1
WR Colin Saenz	1	1	1
WR Ian McDaniel	1	1	1

Section Attendance
Stadium 27,600 (75,300 capacity)
Upper Deck 10,600 (23,100)
End Zone 6,600 (16,700)
Mezzanine 2,700 (9,600)
Sideline Seats 5,000 (14,800)
Club Seats 2,300 (8,900)
Luxury Boxes 400 (2,200)

Section	Attendance
Stadium	27,600 (75,300 capacity)
Upper Deck	10,600 (23,100)
End Zone	6,600 (16,700)
Mezzanine	2,700 (9,600)
Sideline Seats	5,000 (14,800)
Club Seats	2,300 (8,900)
Luxury Boxes	400 (2,200)