The Buffalo Bills were facing a tough situation on the road against the New England Patriots in Week 15, but were able to come out with a hard-fought win by a final score of 35-31.
As they continue to fight for positioning in the AFC playoff picture, the win over the Patriots was crucial. That win moved the Bills to 10-4 on the season and greatly improves their chances of getting into the playoffs.
Josh Allen put together a strong performance in the win, completing 19 of his 28 pass attempts for 193 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. James Cook carried the football 22 times for 107 yards and two scores.
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Unfortunately, in the process of getting that big win, Buffalo suffered an injury that could be a serious blow down the stretch of the regular season.
As shared by head coach Sean McDermott on Monday, kicker Matt Prater suffered a quad injury and will be week to week. He spoke out with honesty that the injury could become problematic for the Bills moving forward.
“Not ideal. Matt’s done a really good job having that consistency during the year. Obviously, T-Bass had the surgery, so he’s not an option either. So we’ll figure that piece out,” McDermott said.
Prater has been an excellent addition for Buffalo this season. He has made 18 of his 20 field goal attempts this season. On extra points, the 41-year-old has gone 43-for-46.
There are some options available in free agency that the Bills could target. Justin Tucker could make some level of sense, while other potential kickers include Greg Joseph and John Parker Romo. Buffalo will have to figure that situation out quickly.
Hopefully, Prater is able to get back to full health before the end of the regular season. The Bills are going to need kicking consistency ahead of the playoffs.
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Buffalo now holds the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoff picture with the Houston Texans hot on their heels.
Next up for the Bills will be a Week 16 matchup against the Cleveland Browns on the road. That should be a favorable matchup on paper, but Buffalo will need to take care of business.
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