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Bills–Patriots rivalry
AFC East Rivalry

Bills–Patriots

AFC East's longest-running power struggle

Matchup:Bills–Patriots
First Meeting:1960
Division:AFC East
2026 Meetings:2

A charter AFL rivalry between the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots that has run continuously since 1960. It has swung through long eras of dominance by each side, most famously two decades of Patriots control followed by a Buffalo resurgence.

The Rivalry

Both clubs were founding AFL members in 1960, making this one of pro football's oldest uninterrupted rivalries. Early decades saw the lead trade hands, and Buffalo's four-Super-Bowl run around 1990 included a strong stretch against New England. The defining era arrived with Tom Brady: from the early 2000s through 2019, the Patriots overwhelmingly controlled the series, stacking up wins and long division reigns while Buffalo struggled to keep pace. The rivalry was reborn when quarterback Josh Allen emerged in Buffalo; since 2020 the Bills have won the majority of meetings and reclaimed the division. The capstone of the turnaround came in the January 2022 playoff round, when Buffalo crushed New England. The matchup runs hot because of its sheer longevity, the painful memory of one-sided years, and the satisfaction Buffalo fans now take in flipping the script.

What's at Stake

As an AFC East rivalry, nearly every meeting affects the division race and playoff seeding. For Buffalo fans, the games carry extra emotional weight after roughly two decades of New England dominance, making each win a measure of how thoroughly the balance of power has shifted. The Northeast geography — Western New York against New England — fuels a regional grudge, and with both franchises chasing the same division title, results routinely shape the AFC playoff picture.

Famous Moments

  • 1960 — Buffalo shut out the Patriots 13-0 in the franchises' first regular season meeting.
  • 2007 — New England routed Buffalo 56-10, one of the most lopsided results in the series.
  • 2011 — The Bills erased a 21-0 deficit to beat the Patriots 34-31.
  • 2022 — Buffalo demolished New England 47-17 in an AFC Wild Card playoff game, scoring on every offensive drive.
  • 2025 — The Bills overcame a 21-0 deficit to defeat the Patriots 35-31.

The Bills–Patriots Games in 2026

The Two Teams

Plan the Trip

This rivalry offers a classic Northeast football road trip. A game in Buffalo means Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, legendary tailgates, and a fan base that lives and breathes its team. A trip to New England brings Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, set between Boston and Providence. The drive between the two regions is manageable, making a home-and-home weekend doubly appealing — and any cold-weather edition belongs on a bucket list.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bills–Patriots

The two teams first met in 1960. A charter AFL rivalry between the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots that has run continuously since 1960. It has swung through long eras of dominance by each side, most famously two decades of Patriots control followed by a Buffalo resurgence.

As an AFC East rivalry, nearly every meeting affects the division race and playoff seeding. For Buffalo fans, the games carry extra emotional weight after roughly two decades of New England dominance, making each win a measure of how thoroughly the balance of power has shifted. The Northeast geography — Western New York against New England — fuels a regional grudge, and with both franchises chasing the same division title, results routinely shape the AFC playoff picture.

Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.

Buffalo Bills host at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo; New England Patriots play at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

Sources

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