The Buffalo Bills didn't look like themselves in a Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots on "Sunday Night Football". The Bills played erratically, unable to sustain drives in the first half. Buffalo went into halftime down 6-3 and while their offense showed flashes of production in the second half, but it was the Bills' defense that ended up failing to help the offense when things were said and done.
Not only did Buffalo's defense allow 23 points but with the offense only scoring 20, the Bills defense also forced only one turnover. Buffalo hadn't lost a turnover battle outright in 26 straight games entering Week 5.
Bills haven't lost the turnover differential in their last 26 games ... and the Patriots get the first turnover of the game on a botched Bills exchange.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 6, 2025
When the dust settled on the Week 5 loss, the Bills had three turnovers, and the Patriots only had one. Entering the game against New England, Buffalo fumbled the ball four times on the season, but hadn't lost any of them. The Bills' lone turnover was a Josh Allen interception in Week 4. Coming out of the Week 5 loss, Buffalo added another interception and two lost fumbles for their season total.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Here's more on how the Bills lost the turnover battle and the matchup to the Patriots on Sunday night.
Bills turnovers
Josh Allen throws second INT of the season
Josh Allen started the season with three consecutive games without an interception. He threw his first pick of the season in Week 4 against the New Orleans Saints and then threw another one in Week 5 against New England. The Bills were driving down the field, knocking on the red zone in the third quarter. Allen tried to fit the ball into a tight window in double coverage, and the route was jumped by Marcus Jones who came away with the interception.
Marcus Jones jumps to the ball to intercept Josh Allen!
— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2025
NEvsBUF on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/vxawhPDKY0
Josh Allen fumbles the ball
Earlier in the game, Allen also had a fumble. You could easily argue that this turnover wasn't his fault, but it got charged to him in the box score. Buffalo was doing too much with a play action to the tight end, who was motioning across the formation behind the line of scrimmage. Allen couldn't effectively deliver the ball to the passing tight end and ended up losing the ball. It fell to the ground, and Patriots defender Joshua Farmer scooped it up.
Josh Allen fumbles the snap and #Patriots rookie DT Joshua Farmer recovers!!
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) October 6, 2025
New England’s offense will have great field position!pic.twitter.com/yxoXeDh8p7
Keon Coleman fumbles the ball
Allen's fumble occurred halfway through the first quarter. Later in the same frame, the Bills had the ball deep in their own territory and needed to string together some chunk plays to get away from their own goal line. Allen hit wide receiver Keon Coleman on a curl route and the wideout went to turn upfield, but then lost the football as it was punched out by a defender. Coleman tried to grab it between his legs, but wasn't able to control it. Not only did he fumble, but the Patriots took over with great field position in the red zone.
#PATRIOTS DEFENSE FORCES ANOTHER FUMBLE & RECOVER! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0eq53E5m5H
— Throwback Pats (@ThrowbackPATS) October 6, 2025
MORE NFL: Patriots stun Bills as Drake Maye, Stefon Diggs shine
Bills upcoming schedule
| Week | Opponent |
| 6 | at Falcons |
| 7 | BYE WEEK |
| 8 | at Panthers |
| 9 | vs. Chiefs |
| 10 | at Dolphins |
| 11 | vs. Buccaneers |